- Wednesday, April 23, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
UNIFIED Payments Interface (UPI), India’s most successful payments system, will be used in France, prime minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (13) said while addressing the Indian diaspora in Paris.
The Indian leader, who reached the French capital on a two-day visit to take part in the Bastille Day celebrations on Friday (14), said that India and France have agreed to use UPI in the European nation and it will begin from the Eiffel Tower, implying that the Indian tourists will now be able to pay in their currency, the Indian rupees.
Glimpses from a memorable community programme in Paris. Gratitude to all those who joined us. We are very proud of the accomplishments of our diaspora. pic.twitter.com/LYgCAQCYJl
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 13, 2023
The step is expected to open up big possibilities for Indians as the UPI will help in avoiding both cumbersome forex cards and cash.
It is with great humility that I accept the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor. This is an honour for the 140 crore people of India. I thank President @EmmanuelMacron, the French Government and people for this gesture. It shows their deep affection towards India and resolve for… pic.twitter.com/Nw7V1JVgpb
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 14, 2023
The UPI, which has been developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NCPI), powers several bank accounts into one mobile application (of any participating bank) and merges multiple bank features, seamless fund routing and merchant payments into one place.
The NCPI conducted a pilot launch with 21 member banks in 2016 and has seen a massive growth since then. In India, even street hawkers accept payments over UPI and for as little as Rs 5.
Last year, the NCPI entered into a memorandum of understanding with Lyra, France’s fast and secure online payment system. In 2023, the UPI has signed an agreement with Singapore’s PayNow, enabling users in either nation to make transactions from across borders.
Currently, talks are underway to extend UPI services in the US and other parts of Europe as well as West Asia.
Modi, who also met his French counterpart Elisabeth Borne and senate president Gerard Larcher on Thursday, told the Indian diaspora at an event at La Seine Musicale Center in Paris that his latest visit to France is special. He congratulated the people of France for the National Day and thanked them for inviting him. He said the welcome he received in Paris from top French leaders showed the unbreakable relationship between New Delhi and Paris.
Borne received Modi at Paris’s Orly Airport on arrival.
Modi also thanked French president Emmanuel Macron for conferring him the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor, saying it is an honour for 140 crore (1400 million) Indians.
