Srinagar, April 4 -- Kashmir is changing. In the bustling markets of Lal Chowk, the quiet corners of Anantnag, and the apple orchards of Sopore, a different kind of transaction is taking place. There was a time when people moved through these spaces with thick wallets in their pockets, careful with each note. Now, they carry phones. Payments happen with a few taps. A beep, a flash of light, and the money moves.

For many, it feels like progress. Cash shortages and long bank queues once made daily transactions inconvenient. Digital payments offer a simpler way. QR codes are everywhere - taped to shop windows, printed on cardboard, even scribbled on pieces of paper. The old tin cashboxes beneath the counters are still there, but they're rar...