Summary of this article
Diwali UPI transaction volume rose 32 per cent year-on-year.
UPI payments worth Rs 90,029 crore were made on Diwali.
UPI is now accepted across 11 countries, including Uzbekistan.
Digital payment activity picked up during Diwali, with the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) recording 916.90 million transactions on November 8, 2026. This was 32 per cent higher than the 695.70 million transactions registered on the same day last year, according to data from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
UPI Transaction Value Sees Growth
The total value of UPI payments also registered an uptick during the festive period. Transactions worth Rs 90,029.43 crore were recorded on November 8, compared to Rs 88,350.79 crore on Diwali last year.
The payment activity was even higher on the day before the festival. On November 7, UPI processed 975.80 million transactions, involving a total amount of Rs 1,36,118 crore. The numbers clearly indicate an increase in digital payment activity during the festival period, when consumers usually spend on groceries, garments, gifts, electronics and other household items.
Record Transaction Using UPI
UPI had registered high transaction activity throughout October, supported by purchases linked to the festive season.
The platform has processed 25.47 billion transactions during the month, with the total value reaching Rs 31.53 lakh crore. The monthly figures indicate the scale of digital payments made by consumers during one of India’s busiest shopping periods.
UPI is an instant payment system developed by NPCI. The organisation was set up as an initiative of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA). It operates retail payment and settlement systems across the country.
UPI Now Accepted In 11 Countries
Apart from its in India, UPI has also expanded its presence overseas. The payment system is now accepted in 11 countries, with Uzbekistan being the latest addition. Other countries where UPI payments are accepted include Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, France, Mauritius, Nepal, Bhutan, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and Greece.
UPI Records Major Rise Over A Decade
Since its launch on August 25, 2016, UPI has seen a major increase in transaction value. The value of payments made through the platform stood at Rs 700 crore in the financial year 2016-17. This figure rose to around Rs 314 lakh crore in FY26, marking a more than 4,000-fold increase over the past decade.
