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- Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

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India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) Expands to Seven Countries for Digital Payments

India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has made significant strides in global acceptance, allowing Indians to make digital payments in seven countries. The expansion of UPI is a testament to its growing popularity and the need for secure and efficient payment methods. Let's explore the countries where UPI can now be used and its impact on international transactions. UPI's Journey and Growing Popularity Introduced by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in 2016, UPI has gained rapid momentum in India. The mobile-based fast payment system enables customers to make instant payments round-the-clock using a Virtual Payment Address (VPA). With over 300 participating banks and partnerships with popular third-party application providers like Google Pay, Amazon Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm, UPI has become the go-to choice for retail digital payments in India. Expanding UPI's Reach Beyond India Recognizing the potential of UPI beyond India's borders, the Indian government aims to extend its benefits internationally. This vision has become a reality with UPI's recent expansion to seven countries, allowing Indians to make digital payments seamlessly. 1. Sri Lanka and Mauritius: On 12th February, UPI services were rolled out in Sri Lanka and Mauritius. The launch was celebrated during a virtual ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the top leadership of the two island nations. This marked an important milestone in UPI's global expansion. 2. France: The iconic Eiffel Tower became the first merchant in France to offer UPI payments. This service will soon be extended to other merchants in the tourism and retail sectors across France and Europe, opening up new avenues for Indian tourists and businesses. 3. UAE: In August 2021, NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL) partnered with Mashreq, one of the leading financial institutions in the UAE, to enable UPI acceptance in the country. This collaboration has facilitated seamless UPI transactions for Indians residing or visiting the UAE. 4. Singapore: Singapore, known for its advanced digital infrastructure, also embraced UPI as a payment platform. This integration enables Indians in Singapore to leverage UPI for their daily transactions, further enhancing convenience and ease of use. 5. Bhutan: UPI was first adopted by Bhutan in 2021, highlighting the neighboring country's trust in India's payment system. Bhutan's adoption of UPI has strengthened the economic ties between the two nations and facilitated cross-border transactions. 6. Nepal: In February 2022, Nepal became the first country to deploy UPI as a payment platform outside India. This development has not only eased financial transactions between India and Nepal but also paved the way for other countries to explore UPI integration. The Impact of UPI's International Expansion The expansion of UPI to these countries has significant implications for individuals, businesses, and bilateral trade. It enables Indians traveling or residing in these countries to make digital payments seamlessly, eliminating the need for currency exchange or reliance on local payment systems. This convenience also encourages tourism and facilitates cross-border transactions between India and these nations. The availability of UPI in these countries also presents new opportunities for Indian businesses. Merchants in France, for example, can now accept UPI payments, making it easier for Indian tourists to transact while exploring the country. This integration fosters economic cooperation and promotes the growth of bilateral trade. Furthermore, UPI's international expansion aligns with India's vision of financial inclusion. By enabling Indians to use UPI for digital payments abroad, it ensures that individuals from all segments of society can participate in the global economy. This inclusivity strengthens India's position as a digital payment leader and fosters financial empowerment for its citizens. As UPI continues to expand its reach, it is crucial to ensure the security and privacy of transactions. The NPCI and its partner banks have implemented robust security measures to safeguard user information and prevent fraudulent activities. Users are advised to remain vigilant and follow recommended security practices while using UPI for international transactions. The expansion of India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) to seven countries marks a significant milestone in the realm of digital payments. Indians can now leverage UPI for seamless transactions in Sri Lanka, Mauritius, France, UAE, Singapore, Bhutan, and Nepal. 

16 Feb 2024
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Sohna-Dausa Stretch of Delhi-Mumbai Expressway: A Game-Changer for Travellers!

The new Sohna-Dausa stretch of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway will soon be opened to the public after its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 12, 2023. This exciting development means that the distance between Delhi and Jaipur, approximately 270 km, can now be covered in under two hours. The 1,390 km long Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, the longest in the country, will reduce travel time between the two cities to 12 hours, cutting the previous travel time of 24 hours. The eight-lane expressway, which is expandable to 12 lanes, is part of the first phase of the Bharatmala Pariyojana and is expected to be completed by March 2023. The expressway will cover five states, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat, and is expected to drive economic growth in the regions it passes through. The Bharatmala Pariyojana aims to optimize the efficiency of the movement of goods and people across India. Its first phase, approved in October 2017, involves the development of 34,800 km of national highways, with a focus on corridor-based development to ensure infrastructure symmetry and consistent road user experience. The Vadodara-Ankleshwar section of the expressway is nearly complete, along with the Ambala-Kotputli Corridor and the Amritsar-Jamnagar Corridor. The new Sohna-Dausa stretch of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway marks a significant step forward in road travel between Delhi and Jaipur and is a testament to the government's commitment to improving India's infrastructure and promoting economic growth.

31 Jan 2023
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Know More About India’s First Carbon Neutral Power Exchange!

The leading and most renowned energy market platform in India, Indian Energy Exchange (IEX), has achieved carbon neutrality. IEX has become the first power exchange in India to use market-based tradable instruments to offset its carbon emission. A statement released by the company stated that in order to lessen its carbon footprint, IEX used market-based tradable instruments and voluntarily canceled CERs (certified emissions reductions) from clean projects that were registered under the Clean Development Mechanism of the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change). Shri SN Goel, Chairman and MD, IEX stated that they were honored to reach another milestone as a carbon-neutral exchange and this would deepen their commitment to India's Net Zero goals. “This accomplishment marks another significant turning point in our 15-year quest to support India's sustainable energy transition”, he added. IEX’s mission to mitigate climate change will benefit businesses and sectors that wish to be identified with an organization that is committed to environmental responsibility and will allow them to make a significant contribution to the crucial problem of climate change. Achieving carbon neutrality indicates IEX's dedication to supporting India's sustainability goals, and it accomplishes this goal by building an ecosystem for emissions reduction.

3 Jan 2023
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Shopaholics Rejoice As Indian Railways Start On-board Shopping in Train

The Ahmedabad Division of the Western Railway zone has started an airlines-like initiative to allow railway passengers to shop while travelling. This service has been introduced in train number 12934 Ahmedabad Junction – Mumbai Central Karnavati Express. There is good news for passengers travelling in Indian Railways as it introduces an onboard shopping experience. A total of 16 Mail/Express trains were shortlisted by Indian Railways for which the contract was awarded for 5 years to HBN Network Private Limited. Items For Sale The shopping cart includes FMCG goods under the category of home and kitchen appliances, beauty along with other fitness products. Sale of cigarettes, tobacco, gutka or any type of eatables is not permitted under the contract. Passengers can make cash or cashless payment using credit cards, debit cards, Google Pay and Paytm. Airline Like Experience As is in the case of aircraft, passengers will be given catalogues and they will be allowed to choose from the variety of options. The sales staff who are in uniform with company ID will move along with the trolly enabling passengers to buy the products of their choice. The Railways has set the time of sale from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM so that no inconvenience is caused to the passengers. The sales staff are given training so that they don’t shout and indulge in loud promotional activities.  

11 Aug 2019
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Mumbai Delhi Rajdhani Express Gets Airplane Makeover.

The coaches of the premium train, Mumbai Delhi Rajdhani Express got a makeover recently. Right after the Mumbai- Ahmedabad Shatabdi Express got the refurbished coaches, the WRs introduced the same in Mumbai Delhi Rajdhani Express on February 6th. The whole makeover was done under the Project Swarn. "In a bid to enhance the travelling experience and riding comfort of its passengers, we have refurbished the Rajdhani Express," Ravinder Bhakar, chief spokesperson of Western Railway, said. According to Bhakar, the refurbished coaches have an anti-graffiti coated designer vinyl wrap in the passage, entrances, toilets and ceilings, as well as a new paint scheme on its wall panels.

15 Feb 2018
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Coming Soon a New Fastest Rajdhani Express

The Mumbai Delhi rail route is important as it is championed by business travelers, but of late it has been losing passengers to airways. The railways have decided to introduce a new faster Rajdhani Express that will cover the distance in just 13 hours. According to senior officials, the train, which is the third Rajdhani train on the route will be introduced within a month. The train from Bandra to Nizammudin will have Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches. LHB coaches are of a superior design that reduces the chance of derailment and mitigates the possibility of grievous injury or death in case of accidents. These coaches have anti-climbing features and provision of superior braking. According to a senior railway officer, the trial run will begin in a couple of days. The Mumbai Delhi route is also one of the two to be developed into special corridors with semi high-speed services. Currently, the Mumbai Rajdhani has a sanctioned speed of 130 kmph. However, a large number of curves on the route and speed restrictions has brought down its speed to 89 kmph. The railways are hoping to increase its speed to 90-95 kmph. The current six halts of the Rajdhani train on the Mumbai Delhi route will may also be brought down to 2-3 stops to achieve the 13 hour cut-off.

20 Sep 2017
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