NPCI Google PayPhonePe, Paytm and UPI A new circular has been issued for similar apps as well as partner banks. According to this new circular issued under the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) rules, it is mandatory not to display the complete mobile numbers of users. NPCI has given UPI service providers and banks a deadline of September 4 to comply with this requirement.
According to information received, NPCI has issued this new order to protect mobile numbers and personal data of UPI users. The organization had issued a circular last month, which required masking of mobile numbers of UPI users. Several users had complained to NPCI about the issue through social media platforms and this step has been taken to protect the privacy, identity and security of users, especially women.
In its circular, NPCI said that banks and UPI apps should respect users’ privacy. Users’ information, particularly UPI ID, mobile number and account number, should be masked at every customer-facing interface. The order states that only the last four digits of the user’s mobile number should be visible to the other party in transactions through QR codes. The mobile number should be hidden after the payment process is completed.
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Additionally, the NPCI order also said that Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm and UPI apps should provide facility to create UPI ID without mobile number, so that users can always choose a username. Currently, most of the users use their mobile number as their UPI ID, as they don’t know how to create a username-based ID.
This NPCI order will ensure that users are free from the fear of exposing their mobile number and other personal information in future transactions. Their mobile number will remain hidden, so that other parties cannot disturb them by calling or sending messages. This is a big step taken for the security and privacy of user’s personal data.
Another news to UPI surfaced last month, which claimed that NPCI is working on a feature that will allow users to view all automatic payments at one place. This feature will benefit not only the users but also the banks. Users can access automatic payments across all apps in a single UPI app.
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