UPI Was Down? Here’s Everything You Needed to Know
On March 26, 2025, India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) experienced a significant outage. This accident has disrupted digital transactions nationwide and left users unable to process payments through platforms like Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm.
Extent of Disruption
The outage is said to have begun around 7 PM, with users reporting failed transactions and connectivity issues. Downdetector recorded approximately 2,750 complaints by 7:50 PM. While some banks, such as ICICI Bank, remained operational, others, including HDFC Bank, experienced service interruptions.
NPCI's Response
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), which manages UPI operations, acknowledged technical issues, attributing them to intermittent challenges that led to partial transaction failures. By approximately 8:40 PM, NPCI reported that the system had stabilized and expressed regret for the inconvenience caused.
Public Reaction
The disruption flared frustration among users, with many taking to social media to voice their concerns. Anupam Mittal, founder of Shaadi.com and a judge on Shark Tank India, criticized NPCI on the platform. He stated that digital payments via UPI continued to struggle even after 24 hours and urged for a resolution, emphasizing its importance to the nation's economy.
Digital payments via #UPI continue to struggle after 24 hrs while we have media reporting it was down only for an hour. Increasingly problem solving is become problem spinning 🤷🏻@NPCI_NPCI solve karo pls🙏🏼 Desh ke GDP ka sawaal hai 😅
For users who experienced failed transactions during the outage, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has established guidelines to address such situations. If a transaction fails but the amount is debited from the user's account, the bank is bound to reverse the transaction within a specified timeframe. Failure to do so may result in the bank being liable to pay the customer a penalty of ₹100 per day to the customer.
Conclusion
The recent UPI outage highlights the critical role of digital payment systems in India's economy. NPCI has fixed the immediate technical issues. Keeping these platforms reliable and stable is important for public trust and the digital economy.
How can India further strengthen its digital payment infrastructure to prevent future disruptions? Share your opinion in the comments!