UPI hits record 24.51 billion monthly transactions and expands to Uzbekistan

India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) reached a new milestone in August 2026, processing a record 24.51 billion transactions. According to data from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), this represents a 3.6% increase from July and a 22% rise compared to the same month last year. While transaction volumes surged, the total value of transactions saw a marginal monthly decline, totaling ₹29.82 lakh crore, suggesting a growing trend in smaller, everyday digital payments.

Simultaneously, UPI is expanding its international footprint through a new partnership in Uzbekistan. NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) has signed a commercial agreement with Uzbekistan’s National Interbank Processing Centre (NIPC), which operates the HUMO payment system. This integration allows Indian tourists, students, and business travelers to make merchant payments in Uzbekistan by scanning the local UZQR code using their UPI-enabled applications.

The rollout, which follows approvals from the Reserve Bank of India and the Central Bank of Uzbekistan, aims to facilitate seamless cross-border transactions and reduce reliance on cash and international payment cards. This expansion brings the number of countries where UPI is accepted to 11.