WhatsApp May Introduce UPI Lite for Quick Low-Value Transactions
WhatsApp is said to be developing the implementation of UPI Lite functionality in order to ease low-value payments for users. In a recent report, this feature was said to enable users to make payments without having to input a PIN, making payment within the application easier.
Android Authority found the revelation through an APK teardown of WhatsApp beta version 2.25.5.17. The update had several code strings that mentioned UPI Lite, indicating payment features that would be coming. The feature would allow users to make transactions in one click, even when the servers are down, reducing failed transactions.
UPI Lite, as built by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), will be targeted towards small-value transactions under 
500 and can also work offline. There could even be the provision of adding and deducting money within WhatsApp itself, though the initiation will be device-specific and cannot be switched across devices tied to the same account.
500 and can also work offline. There could even be the provision of adding and deducting money within WhatsApp itself, though the initiation will be device-specific and cannot be switched across devices tied to the same account.
This comes after news that WhatsApp is developing bill payment functionality for Indian users, which could support payments for electricity, water, gas, mobile recharges, rent, and postpaid landline bills. With more than 500 million Indian users, the addition of UPI Lite could solidify WhatsApp's place in India's digital payments market.
By adding more financial features, WhatsApp is looking to become a more inclusive platform, serving not just communication but also daily transactions. If implemented, this feature would greatly increase the convenience of using WhatsApp as a one-stop-shop for messaging and payments.
Although WhatsApp has not made the launch of UPI Lite official, its inclusion in the beta version indicates the company's ongoing expansion into India's booming fintech sector. As WhatsApp streamlines its payment capabilities, consumers can expect a more seamless and trustworthy experience for low-value transactions in the coming days.
Keep reading for more information as WhatsApp prepares to revolutionize in-app payments for millions of consumers nationwide.
