MeitY launches Digital Payments Utsav to promote digital transformation

New Delhi, Feb 10 (KNN) With the aim to promote digital payments across India, the Minister for Electronics & Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday launched the ‘Digital Payments Utsav.’

Digital Payments Utsav is a campaign aimed at showcasing India’s digital transformation journey. With regards to this, a series of events will be held between 9th February to 9th October 2023, the ministry said in a statement.

The focus of the campaign will be on promoting digital payments in the country, especially in the cities of Lucknow, Pune, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru, as part of the G20 Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG) event.

Addressing the occasion, Vaishnaw shared his vision of the complete rollout of the digital credit system in 2023. He directed National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to take the lead in this direction.

The electronics and minister also informed that Mission Bhashini – National Language Translation Mission and Digital Payments have come together to make UPI 123 Pay available in local languages.

“This will enable a common person to make payments in her local language interface through voice,” he said.

Alkesh Kumar Sharma, Secretary, MeitY, pointed out that UPI services will soon be available to Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) living in 10 countries: Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, UAE, the UK, and the USA.

As per the official statement, several significant initiatives were launched during the event, including a G20 Co-branded QR code, a G20 edition of the preloaded RuPay On-The-Go device, innovative products from banks and FinTechs, a joint campaign by MeitY and Delhi Police to promote secure digital payments, and a Coffee Table Book titled ‘Towards a Developed India Catalysing Inclusive Growth Through Digital Payments.’

During the event, awards were presented to top-performing banks, bankers, and fintech companies in different categories for their outstanding performance in the digital payments space.

The event was attended by Alkesh Kumar Sharma, Secretary, MeitY, Simmi Choudhary, Economic Advisor, MeitY, Sanjay Bahl, Director General, CERT-In, Shri Akash Tripathi, CEO, MyGov, and Dilip Abse, MD & CEO, NPCI and other dignitaries.  (KNN Bureau)