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Npci International

Can India's domestically-built payment infrastructure (UPI and RuPay) become a globally adopted, sovereign-owned alternative to Western card networks and cross-border payment rails?

Founded2020
HQMumbai, India
IndustryInfrastructure / Payments
The story

NPCI International was established in 2020 as the international arm of the National Payments Corporation of India, created specifically to export India's domestic payment infrastructure — primarily RuPay and UPI — to global markets. The company functions as a B2B infrastructure enabler, forming partnerships with overseas banks, fintechs, and payment networks to allow Indians abroad and foreign nationals to access India-origin payment rails. Its embedded finance angle is primarily cross-border remittances and card scheme expansion, positioning itself as a sovereign-backed alternative to Visa/Mastercard for India-linked corridors.

Last 12 months
2025-03
2024-01
Product timeline
2020
NPCI International Payments Limited incorporated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of NPCI to expand RuPay and UPI internationally.· pivot
2022
Enabled RuPay card acceptance across multiple international markets including UAE, Singapore, and Bhutan.· banking
2023
Expanded UPI-based cross-border payment corridors with partnerships in Southeast Asia, Middle East, and Europe.· banking
2024
Partnered with LuLu Financial Holdings to enable real-time UPI-based remittances to India.· banking
2025
NPCI issued e-KYC Setu System notification for regulated entities under SEBI, IRDAI, and PFRDA to facilitate Aadhaar-based e-KYC authentication.· banking
Regulated entities
Payment System Operator / Subsidiary of NPCI
India · 2020
NPCI International Payments Limited
The stack
Payments / PSP
UPI (self-operated)RuPay (self-operated)
Accounting gap: none