UPI Circle: Know how to extend the benefits of UPI payments to your trusted ones

Advantages of UPI Circle:

• Complete Control: You decide the level of control you want. You can approve each transaction or set spending limits, giving you the flexibility to share finances according to your preferences and needs. A primary user can get up to five secondary users in one account.

• Efficient Financial Management: You streamline the process of managing household budgets, allowances, and other financial duties toward family, friends, and trusted ones. It offers a practical solution for families and caregivers, ensuring efficient and organized financial handling.

• Empower Trust and Independence: It empowers you to confidently delegate financial freedom to trusted individuals.

• Secure and User-Friendly: It is built with robust security and user-friendliness in mind. Whether you are a parent, partner, or caregiver, this feature simplifies financial management while safeguarding your funds, giving you peace of mind.

Who is the Primary User and Secondary User

• Primary User: An existing UPI user who can extend the UPI authentication to the secondary user to make UPI payments

• Secondary User: An Individual who is granted permission to conduct UPI payments by a Primary User using his/her account. Even if their own bank account is not linked to UPI, the authorised person can make payments.

You can add your friends, families, employees or any trusted contact as a "secondary" user to your UPI Circle by choosing any one option from below:

• Partial Delegation: You retain full control, approving each payment request initiated by your secondary user.

• Full Delegation: Set a monthly limit of up to ₹15,000, allowing your secondary users to make payments independently within that limit.

Steps to use UPI Circle:

• Go to the UPI Circle Menu in the BHIM UPI App and Tap "Add Family or Friends"

• Enter a secondary UPI ID, scan their UPI QR code, or search your phone contacts to add

• Set Permissions by choosing between "Spend with Limits" or "Approve Every Payment"

• The secondary user will receive a notification to accept the request

• Once accepted, secondary users can start making payments using the primary user's UPI account

(A secondary user making payment to a third person from the assigned account)

Meanwhile, a primary user can add up to five secondary users. The secondary user can only accept a single primary user. The primary user can also revoke access to the secondary user at any time by simply going to the UPI Circle Menu, selecting the secondary user, and tapping on 'Revoke Access '.

UPI Circle was launched in India in September 2024 by National Payments Corporation of India to bridge the gap for those still dependent on cash and who are hesitant about using UPI payments in day-to-day transactions. This feature allows trusted friends, family members, and employees to help them make digital payments by using the extended benefits of UPI payments by a primary user, enabling a seamless blend of trust and oversight and making financial transactions simpler, easier, and more secure.