WhatsApp may soon allow users in India to pay for their morning 'Chai'
A new feature could let users load money into the chat app and make payments instantly.
If you live in India, chances are you use WhatsApp every day—for texting, calling, sharing memes – maybe even coordinating weekend plans with family.
Now, WhatsApp wants to be your go-to place for payments, too.
A recent APK teardown by Android Authority discovered evidence in the latest beta version of WhatsApp (v2.25.5.17) that suggests the company is working on integrating UPI Lite into the platform. UPI Lite is an extension of India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) that is designed for frequent, low-value transactions.
While it already supports UPI transactions, it initially faced certain restrictions imposed by government authorities to provide a level playing field for other competitors. But, with those restrictions now lifted, it looks like a big upgrade is on the way.
Unlike standard UPI payments, which require real-time bank authentication, UPI Lite works more like a prepaid wallet. Users can load money into it and make payments instantly, without going through multiple layers of authentication each time. This not only makes transactions faster but also reduces the risk associated with exposing an entire bank account for minor payments.
Emmanuel Oyedeji
At the moment, WhatsApp is not yet listed as an official UPI Lite partner, whereas competitors like Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, and even Samsung Wallet already support the feature.
If it succeeds in releasing this feature, combined with the recently spotted bill payment functionality, WhatsApp come be making a big play as a digital payment platform.
That said, this feature is still in beta, meaning there is no confirmation on when (or if) it will be released to all users. But given WhatsApp’s ambitions in India’s fintech space, it seems likely that UPI Lite could soon become a part of its broader payment strategy allowing it to tap into the $17 billion dollar UPI market.
If and when that happens, it could make WhatsApp an even more convenient tool allowing you to send a message and pay for your morning chai (a blend of black tea with herbs and spices) in the same place.
