Global visitors to AI Impact Summit get to use UPI via wallet

MUMBAI: National Payments Corporation of India has extended its ‘UPI One World’ wallet service as a pilot for international delegates attending the India AI Impact Summit 2026, enabling foreign visitors from over 40 countries to make person-to-merchant UPI payments in India without an Indian mobile number or bank account, during the summit being held from Feb 16 to Feb 20 in New Delhi, to familiarise global participants with India’s real-time payments ecosystem through a controlled rollout.The pilot allows inbound foreign travellers to make real-time P2M UPI payments during their stay in India using “Made in India” UPI technology, without the need for a local bank account or mobile number. The service is aimed at easing day-to-day transactions for international visitors while reducing dependence on cash and foreign exchange conversions. The wallet is available through authorised prepaid payment instrument issuers at New Delhi International Airport and at the NPCI Pavilion at Bharat Mandapam. Users can load the wallet using approved payment methods and transact by scanning UPI QR codes through a PPI-UPI application. Any unused balance can be transferred back to the original payment source, according to foreign exchange regulations.To access the service, visitors must download the CheqUPI app by Transcorp, complete the application by submitting personal details and uploading passport and visa documents, complete a selfie-based verification, and set a UPI PIN, after which a unique UPI ID is generated. The wallet can be loaded using international debit or credit cards and used immediately for payments. Users can load up to Rs 25,000 per transaction, with a maximum of two wallet loadings per month, capped at Rs 50,000.Sohini Rajola, executive director, growth, NPCI, said, “UPI is the world’s largest real-time payment system. By extending the ‘UPI One World’ service to foreign guests at the India AI Impact Summit, we are providing a convenient way to experience India’s real-time payments ecosystem and Made in India technology. This initiative also offers a glimpse into how smoother cross-border payment systems can support a more connected global digital economy.”The initiative comes at a time when UPI continues to scale rapidly, with the platform processing a record 21.7 billion transactions worth Rs 28.3 lakh crore in Jan 2026, underscoring the depth of adoption of India’s real-time payments infrastructure. NPCI said some countries have been excluded from the pilot, according to regulatory guidance.