NBSL launches UPI Circle on BHIM app for delegated payments: What it means and how it works

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NPCI BHIM Services Ltd (NBSL), a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has rolled out a new feature on the BHIM Payments App called UPI Circle Full Delegation. The tool aims to make shared payments easier by allowing a user to authorise a trusted family member, dependent, or staff to make UPI payments directly from their account—within a fixed monthly limit.

Until now, UPI has mostly been a single-user model—only the owner of a bank-linked UPI ID could make payments. UPI Circle changes that by introducing a secure delegation layer, where the primary user remains in full control of the money while still enabling someone else to make payments on their behalf.

For many households and small businesses, daily transactions—like paying for groceries, fuel, school expenses, medicines, or small business purchases—often involve handing over cash or sharing UPI PINs, which is risky. UPI Circle now offers a formal, secure alternative.

• UPI Circle how allows you to set a monthly spending limit of up to Rs15,000
• It allows you to decide time a delegation stays; active—from 1 month to 5 years
• Not just this, the new feature tracks every transaction in real time
• In case of any doubts, you can revoke or modify permissions anytime

With Full Delegation, a primary user authorises a secondary user (such as a parent, child, domestic helper, or staff member) to make UPI payments from the primary user’s bank account. The secondary user can complete transactions entirely on their own—no approvals needed—within the set spending limit.

Senior Citizens: Elderly family members can make small digital payments independently without the anxiety of managing UPI accounts or remembering PINs.

Young Adults & Students: Parents can allow teenagers or college-going children to spend on daily needs within a safe limit.

Small Businesses: Owners can authorise staff to pay for routine expenses (fuel, tolls, supplies) while maintaining accountability.

 Digitally Inexperienced Dependents: Users who find digital banking difficult can still participate with guidance and oversight from a primary account holder.

UPI Circle is available on the latest BHIM App (Version 4.0.10), which also brings new features like Split Expenses, Family Mode, Spend Analytics, multilingual support, and a refreshed design.

• Open BHIM Payments App. Now navigate to the UPI Circle feature on the home screen.
• To invite add a person, tap ‘Invite to circle’ and enter the person’s mobile number.
• Add their UPI ID or simply scan their QR code.
• Choose ‘Approve a Monthly Limit (Full Delegation)’.
• You have to select the relationship (child, spouse, staff, etc.) and verify their identity using Aadhaar or other valid documents.
• Set the monthly limi and validity period.
• Pick the bank account to be used and confirm using your UPI PIN.

The secondary user receives the invitation, accepts it, and after a short cooling period, can start making payments.