UPI Circle – Multiple Users Can Access One Single UPI Account

Read this article to know about the latest UPI Circle feature. Now 1 single UPI account can be accessed by multiple users.

What is UPI Circle?

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has introduced a new feature called UPI Circle in August 2024. UPI Circle feature allows multiple users to access 1 single UPI account. In this feature, the primary user, usually the account holder, has the ability to grant access to a trusted person, like a family member or friend, and assign them as a secondary user. Both users can then use the shared bank account and UPI ID for transactions.

The primary user can set a predefined access limit for the secondary user. To ensure security, the NPCI has provided the primary user with the ability to manage access, allowing them to grant or remove permissions as required.

Why the need for UPI Circle arose?

The UPI Circle feature has addressed the problems faced by common people and their need for financial ease.
For example:

Elderly family members who rely on younger relatives for financial management.
Children or dependents who need access to funds for daily expenses.
Household workers who need to make digital transactions but do not manage their own bank accounts.
Granting access to people who do not have their own bank account to use UPI for any transactions will also increase the number of UPI users.

How to give UPI Circle Access to other users?

You (primary user) can give UPI account access to other (secondary users) using UPI Circle feature by following below steps :-

Primary users first need to scan QR or enter the UPI ID.
Now select the contact from your contact list to which you wish to provide access to your UPI ID.
Once you select the contact, the linking process shall begin.

NOTE :-

Manually entering the contact number is restricted. The contact should be selected from the contact list of primary users only for security purposes.

The steps shall be more precise once the UPI Circle feature will be finally launched.

Types of UPI Circle Access

There are two types of access under UPI Circle feature – Full and Partial.

Full Delegation: The primary user gives the secondary user the authority to initiate and complete transactions within predefined spending limits. The secondary user does not need further approval to complete these transactions. As per NPCI, the maximum UPI limit for secondary users is Rs. 15,000 per month and per transaction limit is Rs. 5,000.
Partial Delegation: The secondary user can initiate transactions, but the primary user must authenticate and finalise the payment using their UPI PIN. This offers greater control over large transactions while still granting flexibility for routine payments.

Guidelines by NPCI for Primary & Secondary Users

To ensure UPI Circle is a safe method of access delegation, NPCI has provided following guidelines that work as security protocols.

The realization that users must navigate through various UPI apps, each with their own unique user journey, created a somber atmosphere, as the simplicity and convenience of a unified experience seemed lost.
For all the secondary users, a biometric or app-password is mandatory.
A primary user can give access to 5 secondary users or devices, but a secondary user can have only one primary user. There can not be multiple primary users giving access to a secondary user.
The maximum per month transaction limit for secondary users is Rs 15,000 and per transaction limit is Rs. 5,000.
For partial delegation, the existing UPI limits are applicable.
Primary user shall decide if the secondary user should be provided with full authorization or partial authorization.
The primary user shall have the entire control of the secondary user UPI usage.
If you have newly linked your UPI, for the first 24 hours, the per transaction limit shall be Rs. 5000 for both primary and secondary users.
The primary user shall have access to the transaction history of the secondary user and the entire bank account statement shall be visible to the primary user.

Conclusion

UPI Circle feature is introduced to support families where only one member has a bank account and a linked UPI ID. With this update, other family members can also access the shared UPI ID. To ensure security and prevent misuse, the primary user retains control over access, managing who can use the UPI ID and setting limits as needed. This helps maintain safe and effective use of the shared account. Flastra Store Ltd. is eager to see the response of common public when this feature is launched and see its helpful effect.