Nationwide UPI Outage Disrupts Digital Transactions Across India
DownDetector, a platform tracking service disruptions, recorded a peak of over 23,000 complaints by 7:50 PM,.........
Nationwide UPI Outage Disrupts Digital Transactions Across India- On Wednesday, March 26, 2025, India experienced a widespread outage of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), a cornerstone of the country’s digital payment ecosystem. The disruption, which began in the late afternoon and peaked around 7:00 PM IST, affected millions of users relying on popular platforms such as Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm.
Reports indicate that the outage halted both peer-to-peer and merchant transactions, leaving individuals and businesses scrambling for alternatives. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), which oversees UPI, later confirmed that the issue stemmed from intermittent technical glitches, underscoring the system’s vulnerability despite its widespread adoption.
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The NPCI acted swiftly to address the outage, announcing resolution by approximately 8:12 PM IST. In an official statement, the corporation acknowledged that “intermittent technical issues” had caused a partial decline in UPI functionality but assured users that the system was stabilized.
DownDetector, a platform tracking service disruptions, recorded a peak of over 23,000 complaints by 7:50 PM, with specific grievances tied to apps like Google Pay (296 reports), Paytm (119 reports), and even banking services like the State Bank of India (376 reports). While services resumed, some users reported lingering delays, highlighting the ripple effects of the brief but impactful disruption.
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The outage sparked a wave of reactions across social media, with users expressing frustration over failed payments at shops, eateries, and online platforms.
Posts on social media platform captured the sentiment, with one user humorously noting friends stuck at a pani puri stall for 30 minutes due to non-functional UPI apps.
Amid the chaos, some advocated for keeping cash on hand. The incident reignited discussions about the need for robust contingency plans in an increasingly cashless society.
Today’s outage served as a stark reminder of UPI’s pivotal role in India, where it facilitates over 80% of retail payments. While NPCI’s quick response mitigated broader fallout, the event underscored the delicate balance between technological convenience and operational stability, leaving stakeholders to ponder how to safeguard this vital financial lifeline moving forward.
