UPI Payments To Support Face ID And Biometric Authentication Soon
UPI payments currently rely on a PIN for verification, but this is about to change. Indian users will soon be able to use Face ID or fingerprint authentication to approve UPI transactions directly from their smartphones.
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) announced the update on Tuesday during an event showcasing new UPI-based features and services. This marks a major step toward making digital payments more secure and user-friendly.
By moving beyond PIN-based verification, UPI aims to reduce fraud risks while making the payment process faster and more convenient. UPI is now deeply integrated into everyday transactions across India—and even expanding globally—but rising scams have made stronger authentication methods a necessity.
How UPI Biometric Authentication Will Work
Most modern smartphones already support biometric features like Face ID or fingerprint sensors. UPI will now leverage these built-in tools to authorize payments securely through apps such as Google Pay, Paytm, PhonePe, and others.
According to NPCI, this shift is driven by growing concerns around the vulnerability of PINs and OTPs. The biometric authentication option will be voluntary, giving users the freedom to choose between the new system and traditional PIN-based security.
The biometric verification will be connected to the Aadhaar database, which is already linked to most Indian bank accounts through KYC processes. Users without Aadhaar-linked accounts can continue using their UPI PIN as usual.
This integration will not only make payments faster and safer but also minimize the chances of scams that exploit PIN or OTP vulnerabilities.
Additionally, NPCI has removed the “payment request” feature from UPI apps this month to further protect users from fraudulent money requests and phishing scams.
In short, biometric authentication is set to make UPI payments simpler, faster, and far more secure for millions of users across India.
