Meta Fully Enters Indian Payment Services Market

WhatsApp Pay was granted the right to provide payment services to all users in India through the local Unified Payments Interface (UPI).

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) announced the removal of previous restrictions on WhatsApp Pay. Starting in 2025, the Meta subsidiary will be authorized to serve all users in the country through the UPI integration.

According to the press release, this decision aims to foster India’s digital economy and encourage competition in the UPI payments market. Notably, local media reports indicate that approximately 85% of the UPI market is currently controlled by PhonePe and Google Pay, with market shares of 48% and 37%, respectively.

WhatsApp Pay enables users to make instant bank transfers directly within the messenger. The regulator believes that access to millions of users will create new opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses, making it easier for them to accept customer payments.

To ensure payment security, WhatsApp Pay employs multi-layered data protection mechanisms in compliance with regulatory requirements. NPCI reps expressed confidence that WhatsApp Pay’s expanded presence in the Indian market will be a significant step toward achieving national goals of increasing cashless transactions and financial inclusion.

In 2024, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) integrated the digital rupee (CBDC) into the UPI system to enhance usability and accessibility for digital currency.