New Delhi, September 24, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is processing more than 20 billion transactions a month, emerging as a global benchmark for real-time payments and demonstrating how digital public infrastructure can combine scale with financial inclusion, according to a Boston Consulting Group (BCG) report released on Thursday.
The report said global payments revenue is projected to reach $2.6 trillion by 2030, although annual growth is expected to moderate to 5 per cent, compared with 7 per cent recorded over the previous five years.
Growth is expected to vary significantly across regions. The Middle East and Africa are projected to expand at 8 per cent annually through 2030, while growth is expected at 7 per cent in North America and around 5 per cent in Europe, according to the report.
“India’s real-time payments scale is a remarkable achievement in digital public infrastructure. The model is instructive globally as it combines inclusion and scale rather than trading one off for the other,” said Vivek Mandhata, Managing Director and Partner at BCG.
He said India had brought hundreds of millions of users into digital payments while continuing to increase transaction volumes at a pace matched by few other markets.
Mandhata added that credit cards were also continuing to grow, particularly in online transactions, creating opportunities for banks, fintech companies and payment firms to develop value-added services on top of the digital payments infrastructure.
According to him, India’s next phase of growth will involve a transition towards agent-driven transactions while maintaining a balance between user experience, trust and economic viability for consumers and merchants.
The report also highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence in payments and transaction banking. AI is helping companies reduce costs, enhance products and automate processes that have traditionally relied heavily on paperwork, including trade finance and payment operations.
Nearly 73 per cent of large merchants surveyed said they would consider switching payment acquirers if another provider offered better support for preparing for agent-initiated transactions, indicating the growing importance of readiness for agentic commerce.
The report further noted that payment sovereignty is reshaping global payment infrastructure, with 137 countries now having 24/7 instant payment systems. This expansion is contributing to greater fragmentation in the global payments landscape.
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