Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched UPI based mobile payment application called BHIM (Bharat Interface for Money) – a rebranded version of UPI (Unified Payment Interface) and USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data), at the Digi Dhan Mela event in Talkatora stadium in New Delhi.
Download link : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=in.org.npci.upiapp
“Be it a smartphone or feature phone of Rs 1,000-1,200, BHIM app can be used. There is no need to have Internet connectivity. One only needs a thumb. There was a time when an illiterate was called ‘angutha chchap’. Now, time has changed. Your thumb is your bank now. It has become your identity now,” PM said at the event
He dedicated the new app to Dr B.R. Ambedkar and said: “The mantra of Dr Ambedkar was to work for the uplift of the poor. And the biggest power of technology is that it can empower the poor.”
Taking a dig at the Congress, Modi said during the earlier United Progressive Alliance rule at the Centre, money lost in the scams made news but now the nation is talking about money coming back into the system.
“Look at the newspapers or video clips from three years ago — the news was all about what we lost in scams. However, today, it is about what has come back or what is the gain,” Modi said.
The Prime Minister recalled the days when India was called ‘sone ki chidiya’ (bird of gold) and said the nation still had the potential to become the same again.
He said boosting digital connectivity will “do wonders for our nation”, adding that the day was not far off when the cash-based transaction will turn completely digital.
The Prime Minister also thanked the media for highlight issues related with digital payments.
For those with a positive mindset, India has several opportunities, said PM.
The day is not far when people will get loans in five minutes, PM hoped.
PM Modi also asked people to atleast do five digital transactions from 1st January 2017.
How does it work?
You have to register your bank account with BHIM, and set a UPI PIN for the bank account. Your mobile number is your payment address (PA), and you can simply start transacting.
You can send, receive from friends, family and customers through a mobile number or payment address. Money can also be sent to non UPI supported banks using IFSC and MMID. You can also collect money by sending a request and reverse payments if required
You can check your bank balance and transactions details on the go.
You can create a custom payment address in addition to your phone number.
You can scan a QR code for faster entry of payment addresses. Merchants can easily print their QR Code for display.
Maximum of Rs. 10,000 per transaction and Rs. 20,000 within 24 hours is allowed under this.
The app supports Hindi and English, and more languages will be added in coming times.
