Archive · 1 Sep 2026
UPI Transactions Hit Record 24.51 Billion in August
UPI is a system that lets people make digital payments in India.
In August, people used it more than ever before.
There were 24.51 billion UPI transactions during the month.
The total amount paid was slightly lower than in July, even though the number of payments increased.
UPI handled an average of 791 million payments each day.
Policymakers and payment companies are discussing how UPI businesses can earn money while keeping the system easy to use.
NPCI is considering ways for users and merchants to move recurring payment instructions between UPI apps.
New services are also being developed for payments abroad and for people who use feature phones.
UPI transaction volume rose nearly 4% month over month to a record 24.51 billion in August, up 22% from August 2025.
Total transaction value edged down to ₹29.82 lakh crore from ₹29.88 lakh crore in July, but increased 20% year over year.
Average daily transactions climbed to 791 million, while average daily value fell to ₹96,205 crore.
A 2026 amendment replaced the blanket statutory ban on merchant discount rates with a government-notified exemption framework.
NPCI is exploring portable UPI AutoPay mandates, while new initiatives target international payments and feature-phone users.
- Who
- UPI users, payment companies, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), policymakers, and the government.
- What
- UPI transaction volume reached a record 24.51 billion in August, while transaction value declined slightly from July.
- When
- August, compared with July and August 2025.
- Where
- India; related initiatives also involve payments in Uzbekistan.
- Why
- Growing UPI adoption drove transaction volumes, while policymakers and industry participants addressed monetisation, competition, interoperability, and wider access.
- August transaction volume
- 24.51 billion, a nearly 4% increase from July and a 22% increase from August 2025.
- August transaction value
- ₹29.82 lakh crore, down from ₹29.88 lakh crore in July and up 20% year over year.
- Average daily volume
- 791 million transactions, compared with 763 million in July.
- Average daily value
- ₹96,205 crore, compared with ₹96,383 crore in July.
- July platform data
- PhonePe processed 1,085.8 crore transactions worth ₹14.4 lakh crore; Google Pay processed 764.98 crore transactions worth ₹10 lakh crore.
- MDR framework
- The Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 replaced the blanket statutory bar on MDR for UPI and RuPay debit-card transactions with a government-notified exemption framework.
- New initiatives
- NPCI is reportedly working on portable UPI AutoPay mandates; NIPL signed an agreement with HUMO for UPI-enabled payments in Uzbekistan; PhonePe launched UPI 123Pay for feature phones.