Kathmandu. NPCI International Payments Ltd. (NIPL), the international arm of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has reiterated its commitment to further strengthen digital payments connectivity between India and Nepal through a seamless cross-border payment system.

The growing use of QR based UPI payments amongst Indian travelers visiting Nepal and the recently launched remittance linkage between India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Nepal’s National Payments Interface (NPI) reinforce this commitment. This system facilitates real-time money transfers between the two countries on person-to-person (P2P).

India’s real-time account-to-account payment system, UPI, handles over Rs 23 billion of financial transactions every month. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recognized it as the world’s largest payment system.

This accounts for about 50 percent of the world’s real-time payments. Its open and interconnected infrastructure has made it possible to easily integrate with the payment infrastructure within Nepal. It provides both merchant QR payments and sending P2P remittances.

India is one of the major source countries for tourists visiting Nepal every year. In 2025 alone, more than 290,000 Indian tourists visited Nepal. The number of tourists visiting Nepal from India is significant due to entertainment, religious travel, business and family relations. For such travelers, UPI payment facility has made it possible to make payments easily and instantly at business establishments across Nepal.

This service is also available in popular tourist and religious places like Chandragiri Hills, Manakamana Temple and Pashupatinath Temple. This reduces the compulsion of passengers to carry cash or exchange currency.

Through the FonePay network, merchants can easily accept UPI payments. This has expanded access to UPI payments across a range of sectors, including retail, hospitality and daily shopping.

Apart from making payments easier for travelers, UPI has also created a significant opportunity for businesses in Nepal. By accepting UPI payments, merchants get access to a large customer base accustomed to digital payments.

In addition, faster digital payments, improved cash flow management, and reduced dependence on physical currencies will make business operations easier and more efficient. It also helps in the growth and expansion of the business.

Further, the UPI-NPI relationship with Nepal Clearing House Limited (NCHL) facilitates real-time P2P fund transfer in both ways. Nepalese and Indian users can send money to Nepal using the receiver’s mobile number or Virtual Payment Address (VPA). Similarly, Indian users in Nepal can send money to India through UPI ID. This eliminates the need for sensitive bank account details, making payments between the two countries easier and safer for the millions of families and individuals who rely on remittances in a timely and affordable manner.

Ritesh Shukla, MD & CEO, NPCI International, said, “NPCI International is focused on providing a seamless cross-border payment experience enhancing connectivity and ease for consumers and businesses.

Our efforts are primarily focused on expanding the adoption of digital payments in Nepal, making transactions easier for Indian travelers and facilitating faster and more affordable fund transfers for remittance-dependent families across India and Nepal. Together with FonePay and NCHL, we are rolling out a secure and real-time payment solution that further cements economic ties and deepens our long-standing people-to-people ties between India and Nepal.” ”