NPCI Launches ‘UPI One World’ for Foreign Visitors at India AI Impact Summit

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has introduced a new digital payments solution titled ‘UPI One World’, aimed at enabling foreign nationals to make seamless transactions during their stay in India. The initiative has been rolled out in conjunction with the upcoming India AI Impact Summit, being held in New Delhi.

Designed as a prepaid wallet linked to India’s widely used Unified Payments Interface (UPI), the service allows international delegates to make real-time digital payments without the need for an Indian bank account or local mobile number. Visitors from over 40 countries attending the summit can register for the wallet after completing a verification process using their passport and visa details.

Once registered, users receive a UPI ID and can load funds into the wallet using international debit or credit cards. The facility enables them to scan UPI QR codes and make instant person-to-merchant payments across India, similar to domestic users. NPCI has also ensured that any unspent balance can be refunded in accordance with foreign exchange regulations.

The service is being made available at key access points such as the international airport in New Delhi and designated counters at the summit venue, Bharat Mandapam. Officials say the move is aimed at showcasing India’s digital public infrastructure to global policymakers, innovators and industry leaders attending the event.

NPCI representatives described the initiative as a step toward expanding UPI’s global footprint and simplifying cross-border payment experiences for visitors. By reducing reliance on cash and traditional currency exchange, the platform seeks to make digital payments more accessible for international travellers.

The launch underscores India’s ambition to position its homegrown digital payment architecture as a scalable and exportable model, reinforcing the country’s growing influence in the global fintech ecosystem.