India is set to introduce facial and fingerprint authentication to users. Starting October 8, UPI users will be able to authenticate transactions using facial recognition or fingerprints, according to sources familiar with the matter, reported Reuters.
The new authentication will use biometric data stored under the government’s Aadhaar system. This marks a shift from the current method, which requires users to enter a numeric PIN to approve payments. The move follows recent guidelines from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) that allow alternative methods of authentication for digital payments.
The feature aims to reduce failed transactions, improve ease of use, and offer stronger protection against phishing and social engineering risks. Users can enable or disable biometric authentication anytime within the app. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), which operates UPI, plans to showcase the new biometric feature at the ongoing Global Fintech Festival in Mumbai.
The sources requested anonymity as they were not authorised to speak to the media. UPI has become the backbone of India’s digital payments ecosystem, handling billions of transactions every month. The introduction of biometric authentication is expected to further enhance convenience and security for users, reducing reliance on PINs while maintaining safety standards. Meanwhile, NPCI did not provide any comment on the above.
