All you need to know about UPI’s new biometric authentication

In a major leap towards secure and seamless digital payments, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has unveiled biometric authentication for UPI transactions, allowing users to make payments using their fingerprint or facial recognition instead of a traditional PIN.

The announcement was made at the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai on October 7, marking a significant milestone in India’s digital payment evolution.

Seamless, Secure, and User-Friendly

Launched by M. Nagaraju M, Secretary, Department of Financial Services (Ministry of Finance), the new feature is designed to enhance convenience without compromising security.

The on-device biometric authentication will serve as a secure alternative to PIN-based verification and can also be used for setting or resetting UPI PINs and cash withdrawals at ATMs using UPI.

Customers can opt in for the feature, retaining full control over their preferred authentication mode.

Boost for New Users and Senior Citizens

The move is expected to make onboarding simpler, especially for senior citizens and first-time users. Until now, setting up a UPI PIN required debit card details or Aadhaar OTP verification. With Aadhaar-based face authentication, the process becomes faster and more inclusive.

Stronger Defence Against Fraud

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has been urging banks to adopt alternative second-factor authentication amid rising PIN-related frauds.

By combining device binding with biometric verification, NPCI ensures that each transaction is independently verified using robust cryptographic checks, offering users a safer and smarter way to pay.