Summary of this article
UPI adopts biometric verification for PIN-free payments.
RBI launches AI-based UPI HELP for assistance.
Integration boosts security, speed, and financial inclusion.
From October 8, 2025, Unified Payments Interface (UPI) users can authenticate transactions through face recognition and fingerprint authentication, doing away with the use of the conventional Personal Identification Numbers (PINs). This feature uses biometric information on the government-run Aadhaar platform under the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) suggestion of alternative modes of authentication for the purpose of strengthening security and convenience to the customer.
National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has launched this feature, under which users can authorise payments with the help of biometric sensors on their smartphone. This is a welcome change in reducing PIN dependency and ensuring each digital transaction is more secure.
AI-Powered UPI HELP
As a part of its biometric authentication initiative, RBI launched the AI-based UPI HELP system during the Global Fintech Festival 2025. UPI HELP was built in association with NPCI and uses in-house Small Language Model (SLM) to offer end-to-end real-time user support. The AI-based assistant can help users in verifying transaction status, processing mandates, and resolving disputes on UPI apps.
Initially launched in English, the system will also support a variety of Indian languages in the near future and allow digital payments to a very large and dispersed set of consumers. With AI used as a component of UPI, RBI is also hoping to streamline the payment process and provide customers with an improved experience.
Increased Security and Speed
Combining biometric verification with AI support makes transactions faster and more secure. Users can instantly and securely make payments with their biometric information, thus preventing unauthorised access.
AI-powered monitoring also detects fraud patterns and informs users of potential fraud, thus providing an additional layer of security.
These innovations are also consistent with the RBI’s vision to develop a safe, efficient, and consumer-oriented digital payment system.
Enabling Financial Inclusion
Biometric verification and AI assistance also help in financial inclusion. Those who face challenges with the complexities involved in the conventional means of banking, such as dealing with multiple PINs, can greatly benefit from these eased processes.
Harsh Vardhan Masta, head of digital payments at Policybazaar group, said the initiative will ease the integration process. “What’s equally notable is how this change makes digital payments easier for people of all age groups, from tech-savvy youngsters to seniors who may not be comfortable typing PINs. It’s a move towards a future where payments are secure, seamless, and truly inclusive and NPCI is leading that change,” he said.
