Prime Minister Narendra Modi told attendees at the Global FinTech Fest 2026 that UPI, marking a decade since its launch, should move beyond its domestic success and pursue broader international connections.
He outlined an objective to connect India’s payment ecosystem with more countries to lower transaction costs for Indians living abroad and to broaden fintech activity beyond a payments-centric model.
Modi cited the linkage between India and Singapore as an example of deeper international payment integration that could be replicated with other countries.
The move matters for taxpayers, businesses, and investors because reduced remittance costs can ease financial transfers for overseas Indians and may broaden opportunities for fintech firms, while regulators may need to align cross-border payment frameworks with expanded international linkages.
