BharatQR, UPI, BHIM, NUUP: How these digital payment apps, services work

The growth of digital payment services is fueled by introduction of apps and services by the NPCI

As India leaps toward a digital economy, the adoption of digital payment platforms is on the rise as well. Before the demonetisation drive, which started on November 8, 2016, there were a handful of digital wallet services -- PayTm, FreeCharge and MobiKwik. But, none of them offered comprehensive digital payments structure and had their own limitations.

As the government shifts focus toward cashless society, it also pushed a bouquet of digital payment options in the form of apps and USSD services like BharatQR code, Unified Payments Interface (UPI), BHIM app, and National Unified USSD Platform. These services were introduced alongside existing banking services such as internet banking, mobile banking and immediate payment service (IMPS).

Let’s take a look at these digital payment options and how they function:

BharatQR code

BharatQR code is a National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and payments companies, Mastercard and Visa led initiative to enable digital payments without card or card swiping machines.

Quick response (QR) codes carry certain information that could only be decoded with the help of a QR code scanner and that is exactly what BharatQR code does. Banks have been integrating BharatQR services to their existing mobile apps and therefore no extra app or service is required to exercise BharatQR. (more)

Cognizant rings alarm bell for Indian IT services players

With Cognizant, which has so far defied the trend of moderate growth in information technology (IT) services sector, projecting lower growth in calendar year (CY) 2016, export-dependant Indian companies have a major reason to worry.

The Nasdaq-listed IT services company on Monday said it expects revenue to grow at 9.9–14.3 per cent, one of its lowest ever, and cautioned about spending cuts by the clients in financial services and healthcare sectors.

It has come as a surprise for many that Cognizant, which was known for best growth among its peers, has given outlook whose lower end trails the overall industry guidance issued by Nasscom. For CY16, Nasscom expects IT services to grow between 10-12 per cent, lower than the previous year.