PhonePe has introduced a new feature called UPI Circle to make digital payments easier and more inclusive. This feature is designed for people who want to help family members or friends make payments, especially those who may not have a bank account or aren’t familiar with using digital financial services.
What is UPI Circle?
UPI Circle allows a primary user to create a group or “circle” of trusted people — like family members, friends, or anyone close. The primary user can then give these people permission to make payments using their account. This way, even if someone doesn’t have their own bank account or is not comfortable using UPI, they can still make payments with help from someone they trust.
For Example: You can make payment from your brother’s bank account. Your brother can create a UPI Circle and add you in that circle and you can do payments without having even your bank account.
How Does UPI Circle Work?
The primary user starts by creating a UPI Circle and adding secondary users (trusted people) to it. They can do this by scanning the secondary user’s QR code or entering their UPI ID. Once the person accepts the invitation, they become part of the UPI Circle. From then on:
- The secondary users can use the primary user’s account to make payments.
- The primary user stays in control at all times. They can:
- Review all payment requests
- Track expenses
- See payment history
- Remove any secondary user at any time if needed
How to Use UPI Circle on PhonePe (Step-by-Step):
1. Open PhonePe app and click on Profile. After that, click on manage payments.
2. Click on UPI Circle
3. Click on ‘Invite a Requester’
4. Select Contact and send invitation and User can join your UPI Circle.
Why is UPI Circle Useful?
This feature is especially helpful for:
- Elderly people who struggle with apps and digital payments
- Children or students who don’t have bank accounts
- People in rural areas with limited access to banking services
It gives them a safe and easy way to pay digitally using someone else’s account — with full permission and transparency.
About PhonePe Group
PhonePe is one of India’s largest fintech companies. As of March 2025, it has:
- Over 600 million registered users
- More than 40 million merchants in its network
- Around 330 million transactions happening daily
