India has enabled UPI payments without the need for internet connectivity, which significantly benefits rural and mountainous areas with poor or no internet access.

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) introduced the *99# USSD-based service that allows users to make UPI transactions completely offline by dialing a simple code on a basic mobile phone. This service does not require a smartphone or data, making it ideal for rural residents and those in remote regions.

Key points about UPI without internet include:Users dial *99# from their bank-registered mobile number and access a menu for sending money, requesting money, checking balance, or changing UPI PIN.Payments can be made by entering a mobile number, UPI ID, or bank account number.The service supports multiple Indian languages for ease of use.

Daily transaction limits typically stand at ₹5,000 with up to 20 transactions per day.This service empowers rural users, small vendors, daily wage earners, and first-time digital users without internet access to conduct digital payments securely and conveniently.

NPCI also offers UPI 123PAY, which allows feature phone users to conduct payments via Interactive Voice Response (IVR) or missed call methods.Additionally, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has launched an offline digital rupee (e₹) feature that permits payments without internet by using tap or QR code methods, echoing the goal of financial inclusion in remote areas.Overall, UPI without internet successfully extends the benefits of digital financial inclusion across rural, mountainous, and low-connectivity areas in India, helping these populations partake in the cashless economy �������.