Amazon Pay launches UPI Circle, brings payments to smartwatches in partnership with NPCI

Amazon-Pay-UPI-Circle

Amazon Pay has introduced UPI Circle, a new feature designed to let primary UPI account holders enable trusted family members or contacts to make instant UPI payments without needing individual bank accounts. Announced at the Global Fintech Festival 2025, Amazon Pay also revealed plans to expand UPI payments to smartwatches and other connected devices in partnership with NPCI.

Features
UPI Circle allows users to add family members or trusted individuals under a shared payment setup with preset spending limits. Each added member receives a unique UPI ID or QR code to transact instantly. Payments are PIN-less and secured through biometric authentication, while the primary user retains full control — including approval rights, expense tracking, and limit management.

The feature supports both one-time approval (full delegation) and every-time approval (partial delegation), catering to varied household needs. Users can make payments for store purchases, online shopping, or money transfers through Amazon Pay UPI. Upcoming updates will include bill payments and subscriptions.

How to enable Amazon Pay UPI Circle
To activate UPI Circle, users can open the Amazon app and go to the Amazon Pay section. Under UPI Circle, they can set up the feature by verifying their primary UPI account and inviting family members or trusted contacts. Each invitee receives a link to create their UPI ID under the Circle, after which the primary user can define spending limits and authentication preferences. Once set up, members can start making payments instantly through the Amazon Pay interface.

Payments on smart devices
In collaboration with NPCI, Amazon Pay is expanding the UPI ecosystem to smartwatches and other trusted wearables. These devices will soon support secure tap-and-go payments, featuring biometric authentication, device-level encryption, and instant transaction alerts. Users will be able to manage and monitor payments across connected devices in real time.

Rewards and accessibility
The UPI Circle also extends Amazon Pay’s cashback rewards to all family members. Each transaction earns personalized shopping rewards, with assured 5% cashback on select categories for users meeting monthly milestones.

Girish Krishnan, Director, Payments & Merchant Services, Amazon Pay India, said these innovations aim to make payments inclusive, secure, and convenient, helping more Indian households adopt UPI for daily transactions.