NPCI BHIM Services Ltd (NBSL), a subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has introduced the 'UPI Circle' feature on the BHIM app, marking a significant step towards enhancing digital payment flexibility and inclusivity. This innovative functionality empowers users to securely delegate UPI payment capabilities to trusted individuals, enabling seamless and controlled transactions.

What is UPI Circle?

UPI Circle enables a primary user to authorize up to five secondary users to initiate UPI payments from their account. Each transaction initiated by a secondary user requires explicit approval from the primary user via their UPI PIN on the BHIM app. This real-time oversight ensures transparency and control over delegated transactions. The maximum allowed limit for transactions through UPI Circle in Full Delegation is ₹15,000 per month. The maximum limit per transaction for Full Delegation transactions is ₹5,000.

Key Benefits

• Empowering Senior Citizens: Family members can assist elderly relatives who may be hesitant or unfamiliar with digital payments by approving transactions on their behalf.
• Supporting Young Adults: Parents can allow children to manage daily or educational expenses through controlled, delegated access, ensuring financial responsibility.
• Facilitating Small Businesses: Business owners can enable staff to initiate payments for operational expenses, such as fuel or vendor payments, maintaining accountability without handling cash.
• Assisting Digitally Inexperienced Users: Working professionals can support dependents or individuals less familiar with digital platforms by providing secure payment delegation.
• Financial Inclusion: UPI Circle promotes financial inclusion by allowing people without a UPI-linked bank account to request payments from a trusted user, who can approve the transaction in real-time within the new BHIM app.

How to Use UPI Circle on BHIM

1. Download the Latest BHIM App: Ensure you have the updated version of the BHIM app installed. The feature is available on the newly updated BHIM app (v4.0.2).
2. Access UPI Circle: Open the app and navigate to the 'UPI Circle' section from the home screen or menu.
3. Add Secondary Users: Tap on 'Add Secondary User' and enter their UPI ID or scan their QR code.
4. Set Delegation Type: Choose the delegation type as 'Approve every payment' (Partial Delegation).
5. Secondary User Acceptance: The secondary user will receive a request. Once accepted, they can initiate payments, which the primary user approves in real-time.

Lalitha Nataraj, Managing Director and CEO of NBSL, stated that "UPI Circle on BHIM is more than just a feature; it's a step towards a more inclusive and connected financial ecosystem". She added that by offering a secure and flexible way to delegate financial responsibilities, UPI Circle enhances the way we share and manage our money and supports a more interconnected society.

UPI Circle is designed to promote financial inclusion and flexibility while maintaining security. All transactions are fully visible to the primary user, ensuring complete transparency and control. This feature is intended to create a more inclusive and connected financial ecosystem by enabling secure and flexible sharing of payment responsibilities.