As India continues to expand the global reach of UPI, authorities are yet to take a final call on linking the payment system with Ant International’s Alipay+ network. Officials are still evaluating the proposal from operational and security perspectives, according to people familiar with the matter.
Sources said discussions with Alipay+ representatives were held in recent months as part of efforts to explore cross-border digital payment options for Indian users. However, no decision has been made, and there has been little progress on the proposal in recent weeks.
People aware of the discussions said any possible integration would require detailed assessment of banking ecosystem readiness, operational feasibility and security considerations before moving ahead.
If approved in the future, the arrangement could allow Indian travellers to use UPI for payments at merchants connected to the Alipay+ network across international markets.
Sources also said there have been no discussions regarding the integration of Apple Pay with India’s digital payments ecosystem. While such possibilities could be reviewed later as digital payment systems evolve, neither proposal is currently under active consideration.
India has been steadily strengthening UPI’s international presence through partnerships with multiple countries and payment networks. At the same time, authorities continue to maintain a cautious approach to ensure the security and resilience of the country’s digital payments infrastructure.
Queries seeking clarification were sent to the Press Information Bureau on June 11, but no response had been received at the time of publication.
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