TV
India’s flagship digital payment app, BHIM, has unveiled its biggest upgrade yet after NPCI Bhim Services (NBSL), a subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), launched BHIM 3.0 on Tuesday.
The event saw the introduction of a host of new features aimed at simplifying finances for users, empowering merchants, and boosting financial inclusion. Further, the update, set for a phased rollout with full availability by April 2025, promises to reshape how Indians transact digitally.
What’s New in BHIM 3.0?
The third major overhaul since BHIM’s 2016 debut focuses on accessibility, user experience, and smarter financial tools. The app now supports 15+ Indian languages and caters to 486 banks, ensuring smoother transactions even in areas with unstable internet.
Family Mode: Shared Finance Made Simple
A standout feature is Family Mode, which allows users to onboard family members, track shared expenses, and assign specific payments. Whether splitting rent, utility bills, or group purchases, families gain a consolidated view of spending.
Split Expenses, another key addition, lets users divide bills instantly with friends or colleagues, eliminating manual calculations.
Spend Smarter with Analytics
BHIM 3.0’s Spends Analytics Dashboard will now automatically categorise monthly expenses such as groceries, travel, and entertainment into visual charts. “It replaces complex spreadsheets, helping users budget effortlessly,” says the NPCI release.
Never Miss a Payment
The app’s Task Assistant sends alerts for pending bills, UPI Lite top-ups, or low balances. Users can activate UPI Lite for small transactions (under Rs 500) and receive warnings before funds run dry.
BHIM Vega for Merchants: Seamless In-App Payments
BHIM Vega, a merchant-centric feature, integrates payments directly into seller platforms. Customers no longer need to switch apps to pay, reducing checkout friction.
Experts Weigh In
While BHIM holds a modest 0.23% of UPI’s transaction volume (as of February 2025), experts believe that Version 3.0 could shift the needle. “Features like Split Payments and UPI Circle elevate BHIM to compete with giants like PhonePe and Google Pay,” says Rahul Jain of NTT DATA Payments.
With 42 million transactions worth Rs 8,731 crore processed in February 2025 alone, BHIM 3.0 aims to bridge urban-rrural digital divides and challenge private players like Google Pay, CRED, PhonePe, and PayTM.
