- UPI was launched in 2016 by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), enabling users to transfer money instantly using any mobile app linked to their bank accounts.
- A French woman shared her surprise at the extensive use of QR codes for payments in India, noting their presence at various small businesses and street vendors.
- In her video, she expressed that she was familiar with UPI but did not realize how widely it was used for even the smallest purchases.
- BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra criticized Congress for mocking UPI, stating that even golgappa and vegetable sellers are smarter than Rahul Gandhi.
- Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw remarked on the occasion, stating it has been '10 years of proving them wrong'.
- The Congress party responded by crediting Manmohan Singh for laying the foundation of India's digital payments infrastructure.
A French woman recently highlighted the extensive use of QR-code payments in India, noting their presence in everyday transactions, from street food to local shops. She remarked, "Coming from France, this was one of those little everyday cultural differences that made me think, 'Wow… I really didn't expect this.'"2
Her observations come as UPI (Unified Payments Interface), launched in 2016 by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), marks a decade of transforming digital payments in the country. In January 2026, UPI processed 21.70 billion transactions worth over Rs 28.33 lakh crore, solidifying its status as the world's largest retail fast payment system by transaction volume, according to the International Monetary Fund.1
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra defended UPI against criticism from Congress, stating, "Don't underestimate the intelligence of a vegetable vendor. People are far more intelligent than the Gandhi family and its dynasty." He highlighted UPI's growth, noting a 13,000-fold increase in transaction volume from 1.78 crore in 2016-17 to 24,162 crore in 2025-26, and a rise in transaction value from Rs 0.07 lakh crore to Rs 314 lakh crore in the same period.4
Patra's remarks were a response to former finance minister P. Chidambaram, who criticized UPI as a "big blunder". The Congress party countered, asserting that the foundation for India's digital payments infrastructure was laid by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.6
As UPI continues to evolve, it is now available in 11 countries, with the number of banks on the UPI interface increasing from 44 in 2016-17 to 703 today.
“UPI processed 21.70 billion transactions worth over ₹28.33 lakh crore in January 2026, and the IMF recognized it as the world's largest retail fast payment system. Patra also noted transaction volume surged 13,000-fold from 1.78 crore in 2016-17 to 24,162 crore in 2025-26.”
Deccan Herald
