Archive · 20 Aug 2025
UPI Growth Impacts Debit Card Usage in India
Think of UPI and debit cards as different ways to pay.
UPI is becoming super popular in India, like a favorite toy.
UPI payments have grown a lot, while debit card payments have slightly shrunk.
The shift shows how digital payments are changing.
UPI is now used way more often than before, replacing cash and affecting how people use debit cards.
Banks are seeing these changes, with some sending more UPI payments and others receiving more.
UPI's share in retail digital payments rose from 40% in November 2019 to 91% by May 2024.
UPI transactions increased sixfold from January 2021 to May 2024.
Debit card transactions decreased by nearly a quarter from FY21 to May 2024.
State-owned banks are top UPI remitters while private banks are largely beneficiaries.
A Re 1 increase in UPI transaction value reduces debit card transaction value by 14 paise.
- Who
- UPI users, debit card users, banks.
- What
- UPI is growing in India while debit card usage declines.
- When
- From November 2019 to May 2024.
- Where
- India
- Why
- As digital payment methods evolve and gain popularity.
Debit Cards
UPI
Payment Method Popularity
Debit Cards
Decreasing Usage
UPI
Increasing Usage
- UPI Share in Retail Payments (Nov 2019)
- 40%
- UPI Share in Retail Payments (May 2024)
- 91%
- UPI Transactions (Jan 2021)
- 2.07 billion
- UPI Transactions (May 2024)
- 18.67 billion
- Debit Card Transactions (FY21)
- 4.02 billion
- Debit Card Transactions (May 2024)
- 1.61 billion
- Top Remitter Bank (July)
- SBI
- Top Beneficiary Bank (July)
- Yes Bank