Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions in August 2025 were dominated by categories such as debt collections, groceries, fuel, and utility payments, with several merchant segments crossing Rs 5,000 crore in transaction value.
According to data from NPCI, debt collection agencies recorded the highest value at Rs 77,007 crore, followed by securities brokers and dealers at Rs 45,687 crore.
On the consumer side, groceries and supermarkets saw the largest spending, registering Rs 68,116 crore across 3.1 billion transactions. Service stations, including fuel pumps, recorded Rs 34,547 crore in payments. Dining continued to perform well, with eating places and restaurants at Rs 19,432 crore, while fast food outlets and QSR chains logged Rs 14,542 crore.
Essential services also contributed significantly to digital payments. Telecommunication services stood at Rs 21,218 crore, while utility payments for electricity, gas, water, and sanitary services amounted to Rs 22,368 crore.
Among discretionary spends, drug stores and pharmacies recorded Rs 12,581 crore. Clothing shops for men and women saw Rs 11,811 crore, and electronics shops reported Rs 10,209 crore. Government services also crossed the Rs 10,000 crore mark in August.
In contrast, spending on digital games declined sharply. The category registered 271 million transactions worth Rs 7,441 crore, compared with 351 million transactions worth Rs 10,076 crore in July. The fall is linked to the ban on real money gaming apps introduced in the second half of the month.
Other categories above Rs 5,000 crore included online marketplaces at Rs 7,822 crore and liquor stores at Rs 6,116 crore.
The data highlights how UPI continues to drive payments across essential and discretionary spending, while regulatory actions such as the gaming ban are reshaping digital spending behaviour.
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