UPI becomes acceptable in France
Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has become an accepted mode of payment in France. The first payment was made at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, during Prime Minister Modi’s trip to the country.
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), whch offers the UPI services, had signed an MoU with France’s secure online payment system, Lyra in 2022.
UPI is an Indian innovation that has become wildly popular across the country because of its ease of use and safety. It is an app-based mode of payment, which works by connecting the app to the mobile number which is linked to one’s bank account.
The NPCI has plans to extend UPI services to several countries in Europe, West Asia and in the US.
Bhutan was the first foreign country to allow its use, in July 2021. It was followed by (in this order) Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, UAE, Nepal, France (agreement signed in June 2022), United Kingdom, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Oman.