e-RUPI

The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi launched e-RUPI– a cashless and contactless way of making payments digitally under the ‘Digital India’ initiative on 2nd August 2021 via video conferencing. 

According to the PM, beneficiaries can receive a QR Code or an SMS-based electronic voucher on their mobile phones. Moreover, they do not require a card, digital payment app, or even internet banking access to redeem the e-voucher to avail any service. Find out more about e-RPUI in this article below.

What is e-RUPI?

e-RUPI is developed by the National Payments Corporation of India in collaboration with the department of financial services, health ministry, and the National Health Authority. It is a QR Code/SMS-based e-voucher which is delivered to the mobile of the beneficiaries. Users will be able to redeem the voucher without a card, digital payments app, or internet banking access of this seamless one-time payment mechanism.

Benefits of e-RUPI

Following are the benefits of e-RUPI:

• Cashless and contactless digital payment
• Sponsors and beneficiaries are connected digitally
• Ensures leak-proof delivery of various welfare services
• Less chances of a transaction being declined

How does e-RUPI Work?

• e-RUPI will work as a prepaid voucher that can be easily redeemed as payment to a service provider. It will eliminate the need for a card, digital payment app, or access to internet banking
•  It will ensure timely payment without the involvement of any intermediaries
•  Since it is a two-step redemption process and the user is not required to share any personal details while redeeming the voucher

How to Redeem e-RUPI Voucher?

No card/ hard copy of the voucher is needed for redeeming e-RUPI voucher as only the QR code received via message is required.

Where Can One Use e-RUPI?

One can use e-RUPI for the following services:

• The digital payment service can be used to ensure ‘a leak-proof delivery of welfare services’ 
• To deliver services under schemes providing drugs and nutritional support under Mother and Child welfare schemes, TB eradication programmes, drugs & diagnostics under schemes like Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, fertiliser subsidies, etc.
• These digital vouchers can be used as a part of its “employee welfare and corporate social responsibility programs” for the private sector

Difference Between e-RUPI and Other Digital Apps

e-RUPI is not a platform or an app in fact it is a voucher that can be redeemed for specific services only. Whereas other payment services require the user to have a digital payment app or even a bank account to redeem this voucher.