Yes India launches offline Digital Rupee for payments without internet
The RBI unveiled the offline Digital Rupee (e₹) on October 22, 2025, at the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai. This marks a pivotal advancement in India’s digital financial ecosystem. This will help seamless money transfers and payments without reliance on internet connectivity, leveraging two primary technologies: telecom-assisted payments, which require only minimal network signals, and Near Field Communication (NFC)–based tap payments for completely offline transactions. Citizens in underserved and rural areas can now send and receive digital currency by simply tapping their smartphones—a major leap towards bridging the connectivity gap and deepening financial inclusion nationwide
How the Offline Digital Rupee Works
The e₹ is India’s official Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), carrying the same legal status and value as physical rupees. Unlike Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which requires bank accounts and internet access, the Digital Rupee allows direct wallet-to-wallet transactions without any intermediary bank infrastructure. Users can access this service by downloading digital wallet applications from participating banks via the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. You can make payments by scanning UPI-style QR codes or utilizing tap-to-pay NFC technology, ensuring instant person-to-person and person-to-merchant payments—even in places with poor or no mobile signals.
The system so designed for inclusivity and ease of use. There are no minimum balance requirements, wallet recovery features protect funds in case of phone loss, and the entire process is meant for maximum security. Reports confirm that the system supports a daily transaction cap of ₹50,000 or 20 transactions, with total wallet limits set at ₹1 lakh. The e ₹ also introduces programmable features: funds geofenced, set to expire, or restricted for targeted government subsidy delivery, expanding the currency’s utility for social benefit schemes and corporate disbursements.
Participating Banks and Rollout
Fifteen leading Indian banks are currently part of the retail CBDC pilot offering Digital Rupee wallets, including State Bank of India, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Punjab National Bank, Yes Bank, IDFC First Bank, Union Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, IndusInd Bank, Federal Bank, Karnataka Bank, and Indian Bank. Users of these institutions can immediately enroll by downloading the respective mobile banking application and registering for a Digital Rupee wallet.
With this launch, India is among the first nations to operationalize an offline CBDC at scale—one that supports both privacy and programmability, mirroring the convenience and trust of traditional cash while harnessing the traceability and flexibility of digital finance.
“The Digital Rupee complements India’s Digital Public Infrastructure, strengthening financial inclusion and supporting the growth of the FinTech ecosystem,” RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra stated at the inaugural event.
In effect, the RBI’s offline Digital Rupee brings universal access to secure digital payments, promising a future where no citizen is left behind by technological barriers or geography