In a major setback to digital transactions, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) services went down across India on Saturday morning, leaving millions of users struggling to make online payments. The widespread technical glitch severely impacted users' ability to send and receive money, affecting both individuals and businesses that rely heavily on UPI for everyday financial activities.
According to real-time outage tracking platform DownDetector, users started reporting issues early in the day. The platform recorded approximately 1,168 complaints related to UPI services by the afternoon. Among these, Google Pay users filed 96 reports, while Paytm users logged 23 complaints, highlighting how widespread the disruption was across different payment apps.
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the organization responsible for managing UPI operations, has acknowledged the technical difficulties. In an official statement, NPCI confirmed that users were experiencing failed transactions due to ongoing system issues. They assured users that efforts are underway to resolve the problem as quickly as possible. NPCI also apologized for the inconvenience caused and promised to provide timely updates.
NPCI is currently facing intermittent technical issues, leading to partial UPI transaction declines. We are working to resolve the issue, and will keep you updated.
— NPCI (@NPCI_NPCI) April 12, 2025
We regret the inconvenience caused.
"We are aware that some users are facing transaction failures. Our teams are actively working to restore services to normal. We regret the inconvenience and appreciate your patience," NPCI said in a brief statement.
This is not the first time users have faced disruption in UPI services. On March 26, 2025, a major outage crippled UPI operations for nearly two to three hours, during which users were unable to access various UPI applications. NPCI had then attributed the downtime to technical glitches within their systems.
During that previous incident, everyday users as well as businesses encountered significant challenges, as UPI has become an essential mode of payment across India. The downtime impacted activities ranging from simple peer-to-peer transfers to large-scale merchant transactions.
UPI has transformed the way India transacts by offering a seamless and instant method of transferring money. It is now integrated into almost every aspect of digital payments, including mobile wallets, banking apps, e-commerce platforms, and even government services. A sudden outage of this magnitude not only disrupts daily life but also raises concerns over the stability and scalability of the digital infrastructure that supports billions of transactions each month.
For users who rely solely on UPI for their payments — be it for groceries, cab rides, food deliveries, or paying utility bills — such technical issues highlight the risks of over-dependence on a single mode of digital payment.
While NPCI works on restoring services, experts suggest a few alternative methods to continue transactions:
Use credit or debit cards for urgent payments.
Opt for net banking if UPI fails.
Keep some cash handy for essential purchases.
Try alternative apps that may not be affected by the outage.
Regularly check for updates from your payment service provider.
As India moves toward a cashless economy, ensuring the robustness of systems like UPI is more critical than ever. While technical glitches are sometimes inevitable, timely communication and quick resolution are key to maintaining users' trust. NPCI's prompt acknowledgment is a positive sign, but it also serves as a reminder of the need for continuous improvement in digital payment infrastructure.
