On March 26, 2025, India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) experienced a significant outage, disrupting digital transactions across the country. The technical glitch affected major payment platforms, including Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm, leaving users unable to complete payments and fund transfers.
According to Downdetector, a website that monitors service outages, over 23,000 complaints were registered shortly after 7:00 PM, with 81% of users reporting payment issues and 14% facing fund transfer problems. Google Pay users accounted for 296 complaints, while Paytm and State Bank of India (SBI) platforms saw 119 and 376 reports, respectively. SBI customers primarily faced difficulties with fund transfers and online banking services.
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), which operates the UPI network, acknowledged the issue, attributing it to “intermittent technical issues” that led to partial transaction declines. NPCI assured users that the problem had been addressed and the system stabilized, expressing regret for the inconvenience caused.
This incident highlights the critical role of digital payments in India’s financial ecosystem and underscores the need for a resilient and robust digital infrastructure. Notably, this is not the first time UPI has faced technical challenges; a similar large-scale outage occurred on February 6, affecting platforms like Google Pay, PhonePe, BHIM, and Paytm.
As digital transactions continue to surge, financial institutions and regulatory bodies must prioritize technological advancements and contingency planning to ensure seamless payment experiences for users.
