New Delhi, Feb. 25 -- The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has been expanding UPI's global footprint since its first international collaboration with Singapore in 2020. Countries that now accept UPI payments include Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Bhutan, Nepal and France.

Arun Panicker, a 56-year-old traveler from India, recently experienced this firsthand during a trip to Colombo. On arrival, he noticed a sign at the airport that said UPI payments were now available in Sri Lanka.

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When he visited a local coffee shop, he saw a QR code with the UPI logo and decided and give it a try. "At the counter, I scanned the QR ...