Smaller UPI apps seek NPCI consultation on UPI Meta amid concentration concerns

Smaller UPI players have urged NPCI to widen consultation on UPI Meta, arguing that saved default payment-app preferences on merchant platforms could reinforce PhonePe and Google Pay’s dominance and constrain customer acquisition for emerging apps.

— Filed Fri, 24 Jul, 2026, 08:45 IST · Source The Hindu BusinessLine · Updated

Smaller UPI apps have asked NPCI for wider consultation on UPI Meta, warning that saved default payment-app preferences on merchant platforms could entrench PhonePe and Google Pay, limiting customer acquisition and transaction-share growth for emerging players.

Why this matters

The consultation push follows reports that NPCI is developing offline NFC tap-to-pay UPI and may enable offline NFC UPI transactions up to ₹2,000, extending its work on UPI payment experiences.

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