GFF 2025: NPCI’s UPI Innovations Power Plethora Of Launches By Fintech Players

Like the past few editions of the Global Fintech Fest (GFF), UPI parent National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) was on a spree of unveiling UPI innovations at GFF 2025.

Over the first couple of days, the NPCI launched new UPI products like UPI Reserve Pay and Banking Connect, and new innovations like smart glass payments and on-device biometric authentications.

On the back of these launches, Indian fintech players introduced a host of new products during the three-day event. While the likes of Paytm, PhonePe and Amazon Pay unveiled their products for pre-existing product categories, several players made new launches on the new UPI features on the third day of the GFF. 

Let’s take a quick look at the key launches:

Razorpay, OpenAI Join Hands To Launch Agentic Payments

Combining Razorpay’s strength in digital finance, NPCI’s UPI infrastructure and OpenAI’s AI models, the trio have partnered to launch agentic payments on ChatGPT and explore AI-driven commerce at a national scale. 

Currently in the pilot stage, the AI agent will help consumers discover and shop in smarter ways. 

Powered by Razorpay’s banking partners, Axis Bank and Airtel Payments Bank, and built on UPI innovations such as UPI Circle and UPI Reserve Pay, the initiative delivers UPI transactions for AI-native shopping. As of now, BigBasket is among the first merchants to allow customers to shop through AI-powered experiences on ChatGPT.

The new product will work like this: A ChatGPT user can ask, “Help me order ingredients for a Thai-style vegetable curry for 4 people from BigBasket.” The AI agent checks BigBasket’s catalogue, presents product options, and, with a single confirmation, places the order via Razorpay’s payments stack. Users retain full control with real-time tracking and instant revocation, ensuring a secure and user-first shopping experience. 

Lenskart Announces UPI Integration With Upcoming B Camera Smartglasses

Becoming the first company to offer smartglass powered UPI payments, Lenskart is introducing the new feature in its upcoming B camera smart glasses. With this, users can now instantly complete transactions by simply scanning a QR code with their smart glasses, requiring neither a phone nor a PIN.

The launch is planned in the next few months, Lenskart said. The direct UPI integration will connect the glasses to the user’s bank account and remove the need to pull out a phone or manually enter a PIN during a purchase.

IPO-Bound Navi’s Launch Spree Continues

Navi announced two new UPI features today based on yesterday’s UPI product launches. Reserve Pay and EV Recharge via Banking Connect will now soon be featured on Navi’s app. The features are being introduced in phases across Android and iOS devices and will be available to all Navi UPI users over the coming days.

“By introducing innovations like Reserve Pay and EV Recharge, we’re delivering solutions that address real-world needs- from secure, flexible payment options to seamless energy top-ups for EV owners. It’s about building a connected ecosystem that works effortlessly for consumers and businesses alike,” Navi’s MD & CEO Rajiv Naresh said.

PayU India Rolls Out UPI NXT Stack

Prosus-owned fintech startup PayU India launched UPI NXT Stack and and TPAP NXT, entering India’s rapidly growing UPI ecosystem following its recent acquisition of a majority stake in Mindgate Solutions. 

The two flagship products aim to deliver speed, reliability, and customisation for merchants across sectors. 

While TPAP NXT allows businesses to integrate full-scale UPI payment capabilities, UPI NXT helps businesses reduce delayed refunds.

The company said that the initiative will complement PayU’s growth strategy. Important to mention that PayU India has been looking to file for its initial public offering (IPO) for the past few years. However, burgeoning losses have led to delays in its plans. 

Cashfree Payments Unveils Agentic Payments

Besides Razorpay, Cashfree Payments also launched agentic payments at the GFF to embed the online shopping experience inside a chat without redirects or pop-ups. 

Cashfree’s agentic payments MCP will integrate with the merchant’s MCP (model context protocol) and take over the conversation when the customer is ready to make the payment. 

The payments MCP is powered by the latest innovations in payments: UPI Reserve Pay,  card device token, and biometric authentication.

[Edited by: Vinaykumar Rai]