“Can a government-mandated bill payment network evolve into India's universal interoperable payments and collections infrastructure for all recurring financial obligations?”
Originally launched in 2014 under RBI mandate as a utility bill payment network, NPCI Bharat BillPay Limited operates the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) — India's national interoperable bill payment infrastructure. Over time, the platform expanded from utility bills (electricity, water, gas) to loan EMI repayments and credit card dues. In 2024, the company updated its regulatory framework per revised RBI Master Directions and rebranded as 'Bharat Connect', signalling an ambition to become a broader B2B payments and collections platform for Indian businesses and consumers.