After more than two years of waiting, Nepalis travelling to India will soon be able to pay using their phones — just like Indians have been doing in Nepal since 2024.
Nepal and India signed an agreement on Saturday during Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal’s visit to New Delhi. The deal links Nepal’s National Payments Interface with India’s UPI system, so Nepalis can scan a QR code and pay at shops, restaurants, and other places while in India.
How did it start?
In March 2024, the two countries launched a one-sided system. Indian tourists visiting Nepal could pay digitally using their phones. Nepalis going to India still had to use cash. That gap frustrated people for over two years.
Why the long wait?
Two things held it back.
Money was one problem. In Nepal, merchants pay a 1.3 to 2 percent fee on every digital transaction. In India, UPI has been completely free since 2020. Nobody could agree on who should cover the cost when a Nepali pays an Indian merchant.
Politics was the other. India’s NPCI wanted the launch to happen during a prime ministerial visit. That never lined up. December 2024 was one deadline that passed quietly with no announcement.
Saturday’s foreign minister meeting finally broke the deadlock. Both sides sorted out the fee issue and agreed to go ahead.
What it means for you
If you are a Nepali student, patient, or traveller in India, you will soon be able to pay with your phone instead of hunting for cash or exchange counters. The exact go-live date has not been announced yet, but the technical and political roadblocks are now cleared.