One97 Communications, the parent company of Paytm, has distributed 2.44 lakh equity shares to qualified workers through its different employee stock ownership programmes (ESOPs). During its meeting on December 5, 2024, the company’s nomination and remuneration committee approved the distribution of 244,801 equity shares with a face value of INR 1 each, fully paid up, to eligible employees upon exercise of vested options, according to a filing made by Paytm. Of these, 2,006 shares were distributed under ESOP 2008, while 242,795 shares were awarded under the ESOP 2019 programme. The company’s issued and paid-up equity share capital has increased from INR 63.71 Cr to INR 63.73 Cr (or INR 63,73,82,630 to be exact) as a result of this allocation. The newly allotted shares are worth INR 23.41 Cr based on the stock’s most recent closing price on 5 December 2024.
Giving ESOPs in Massive Capacities
Paytm has been giving out ESOPs in large quantities at the moment. The fintech giant gave its staff members 4 lakh stock options in November. Before that, in October, it granted 4.81 lakh stock options, increasing the size of its ESOP pool. Shares of Paytm have been rising recently. Several broking firms praised the company for reducing losses and increasing income, and a few days ago, the stock reached a new 52-week high of INR 951.90 per share.
Bernstein also boosted its price objective for Paytm from INR 750 per share to INR 1,000, while UBS lifted its price goal from INR 490 per share to INR 1,000. Paytm has unveiled UPI Lite, a new Unified Payments Interface (UPI) product that enables users to set up pin-free automated top-ups for daily payments under INR 500.
Current Financial Dynamics of Paytm
In contrast to the INR 292 Cr loss reported in the same period last year, Paytm declared a consolidated profit after tax (PAT) of INR 930 Cr in the September quarter (Q2) of the fiscal year ending March 2025 (FY25). However, a one-time exceptional gain of INR 1,345 Cr from the sale of its entertainment ticketing business was the reason for the profit. From INR 2,519 Cr in Q2 FY24 to INR 1,660 Cr during the quarter, revenue from operations fell 34% year over year (YoY). On December 5, Paytm’s stock ended the day 1.8% higher on the BSE at INR 956.5.
ESOP’s Popularity is Rising in India’s Startup Sector
As part of their initiatives to reward staff, several modern internet businesses have issued ESOPs this year, including Delhivery, Nykaa, ixigo, and ideaForge, among others. The travel tech business ixigo gave 17.57 lakh stock options last month, while logistics giant Delhivery increased its ESOP pool by allocating 73K stock options. Only a few days after raising INR 8,500 Cr through the placement of eligible institutions—its first significant fundraising effort since its 2021 IPO—Zomato announced its ESOP.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) raised the UPI Lite wallet limit from INR 2,000 to INR 5,000 in an effort to further boost the nation’s adoption of digital payments. On December 4, the central bank also declared that the offline transaction limit for the UPI Lite service would be raised from the existing INR 500 to INR 1,000 per transaction. The new restrictions will take effect right away.
RBI Amends its Framework
As a result of the RBI’s amendment to its framework for facilitating minor value digital payments in offline mode, the new changes were implemented. The framework stipulates, among other things, that a payment instrument may not exceed INR 2,000 in total at any given moment and that the maximum amount for offline digital payment transactions is INR 500. According to the notification, the offline framework has been modified, and the increased limitations for UPI Lite are INR 1,000 per transaction, with INR 5,000 being the maximum limit at any given time.
Launched in 2022, UPI Lite allows customers to conduct small-value transactions online without a PIN or internet connection. The solution allows offline debit for payments but only allows credits to be made once the user is online, avoiding the need for a bank’s basic banking systems in real-time. This comes a few months after the central bank announced plans to raise the UPI Lite transaction ceiling to INR 1,000 following the October meeting of its Monetary Policy Committee.
Next to Increase Per Transaction Limit of UPI123 Pay
Additionally, the RBI had stated that the existing INR 5,000 per transaction restriction for UPI123 Pay would be raised to INR 10,000. In an effort to increase the use of UPI payments throughout the nation, the RBI has been aggressively testing out new UPI products at the same time. RBI governor Shaktikanta Das introduced UPI Circle in August 2024, enabling users to connect with reliable secondary users on the UPI app for partial or complete payment delegation.
UPI Tap & Pay and Hello UPI!
UPI Tap & Pay, which allows users to make payments by tapping their phone on a contactless reader, and Hello UPI, a conversational UPI payment solution, were both introduced by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) last year. Digital payments are still growing throughout the nation because of rising internet and smartphone usage.
In November 2024, UPI recorded INR 1,548 Cr transactions, a 38% increase over the INR 1,100 Cr transactions recorded during the same period last year. In the meantime, the value of transactions on the payments infrastructure increased from INR 17.4 Lakh Cr in November 2023 to INR 21.55 Lakh Cr last month, a 24% increase.
Paytm’s parent company, One 97 Communications Limited (OCL), declared on 25 November that Paytm UPI Lite now offers automatic top-up. In order to ensure smooth small-value transactions without requiring a PIN, the feature will enable users to immediately replenish their UPI Lite balance when it drops below a predetermined level. It is perfect for regular daily payments because it allows payments of up to INR 500 each transaction and has a daily cap of INR 2000.
By doing away with the requirement for a PIN, Paytm UPI Lite simplifies everyday activities like managing subscriptions, paying for transportation, buying groceries, and paying small invoices. Because regular payments are handled via an on-device wallet rather than gaining direct access to the primary bank account, it helps keep bank accounts clear of congestion.
UPI Statement Download Feature
A UPI statement download tool has also been added by the firm, allowing users to view and download comprehensive records of all UPI transactions, including those done through Paytm UPI Lite. According to the firm, the Paytm UPI Lite auto top-up feature is currently available for a limited number of users on Yes Bank and Axis Bank accounts and will shortly be extended to all consumers and the remaining partner banks.
According to a Paytm spokeswoman, the addition of automatic top-up to Paytm UPI Lite speeds up and simplifies daily payments for everything from daily meals and tea to bus, subway, and car rides. It ensures that tiny, regular transactions don’t overtake the main bank statement by keeping it clear of clutter. Users can efficiently track and manage all of their payments with the Paytm app’s comprehensive UPI statement, which also includes Paytm UPI Lite expenditures.
Paytm’s Partners
To facilitate UPI payments, Paytm has worked with institutions such as State Bank of India, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, and Yes Bank. For peer-to-peer transactions, online and offline payments, self-account transfers, and account balance checks, the platform lets users link their bank accounts and get UPI IDs. It improves the entire payment experience by providing auto-pay, RuPay Credit Card linkage on UPI, and UPI Lite for small-value transactions. According to Paytm, the platform has expanded its reach by enabling international UPI payments in countries including the UAE, Singapore, France, Mauritius, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal where UPI is accepted.
By enabling cashless payments for dining or shopping, the international UPI service streamlines spending at well-known locations across the globe. As leaders in mobile payments, Paytm is excited to provide its services to Indian tourists, particularly as the holiday season draws near, a Paytm representative stated. The company’s dedication to empowering users anywhere in the world is demonstrated by this invention.
Between September and October of 2024, the volume and value of transactions using the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) increased fairly. According to figures released by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the digital payment network logged 16.58 billion transactions in October, a 10% rise from 15.04 billion in September.
From INR 20.64 lakh crore in September to INR 23.50 lakh crore in October, the transaction value increased by 14%. A 37% increase in transaction value and a 45% increase in transaction quantity year over year drove this gain.
Average Daily Transaction Grows to 535 Million in October
Additionally, from September to October, the average daily transaction volume climbed from 501 million to 535 million, with the daily transaction amount reaching INR 75,801 crore, a significant rise from INR 68,800 crore the month before.
PhonePe continued to hold the top spot in the UPI market in India in September, accounting for 48% of all transactions. Second place went to Google Pay with 37.4%, and third place went to Paytm with 7%. The October market share figures are still pending.
New Adjustments Made by the NPCI
The parent firm of Paytm, One97 Communications Limited, was recently given permission by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to onboard new users onto its UPI network. It is anticipated that the Noida-based company will benefit from the new authorisation by increasing its user base and market share in the cutthroat UPI industry.
Significant adjustments to UPI transaction restrictions have been made by NPCI in recent weeks. The restrictions for UPI Lite Wallet and UPI 123Pay have also been lifted, and the maximum amount for some UPI payment types has been raised to Rs INR lakh. With these changes, the Indian government hopes to support its ambitious aim of 1 billion transactions per day by 2026–2027 by promoting a higher use of digital transactions.
How UPI has Become a Game-Changer in India’s Financial Market?
The Unified Payments Interface is a ground-breaking technology that has completely changed the financial scene in India. It has greatly simplified digital transactions and increased the accessibility and convenience of money transfers.
Additionally, UPI is essential for strengthening the Indian economy. This payment interface is equipped with a cutting-edge payment system, and it examines its features, advantages, and noteworthy influence on India’s economic development. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) created the real-time payment system known as UPI. It makes it possible to combine several bank accounts into one mobile app. Fund transfers are made quick and simple by combining a number of banking functions.
With more than 100 banks providing UPI-based services, UPI has gained widespread acceptance in India and enables instantaneous, round-the-clock interbank transactions.
On September 9, 2024, the Reserve Bank of India amended the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) limitations, which were previously set at INR 2,000 and now stand at INR 5,000.
The Reserve Bank of India’s governor, Shaktikanta Das, announced that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) had decided not to alter the repo rate and that instead, the central bank would be raising specific restrictions for different types of transactions. “We have decided to increase the UPI lite wallet limit from INR 2,000 to INR 5,000 and the per transaction limit from INR 100 to INR 500.” “We have decided to increase the per transaction limit in UPI123Pay from INR 5,000 to INR 10,000,” Das added. According to Das, the action is intended to promote the broader use of UPI and improve its accessibility and convenience.
Appreciating this move, Kaushik Chatterjee, Founder & CEO of Unifinz Capital India Limited, stated, “The RBI’s decision to enhance UPI limits will encourage users to use it more frequently and make it more inclusive. Borrowers who were restricted by the transaction limit of UPI will now be able to pay higher loan instalments up to INR 10,000 through the UPI. At Lending Plate, where our customers are more comfortable making payments through UPI, this move will be a blessing for them. The increase in UPI limits shall boost the recovery efficiencies of every lending nonbank and, more significantly, the digital lenders whose loan size is smaller and so their loan instalments. Moreover, borrowers, by paying more promptly because the payment option now becomes more friendly with this move, will see their credit history improving, and that will have a positive bearing on the overall lending ecosystem.”
Similar thoughts were shared by Vikkas Goyal, Founder of Rupee 112; he said, “The RBI’s decision to increase the UPI Lite wallet limit and raise the transaction cap for UPI 123Pay represents a transformative step toward greater financial inclusion. For fintech platforms like us, this move enhances our ability to offer seamless and secure loan disbursement to salaried professionals across India. By leveraging UPI, we can streamline the loan disbursement process, making access to emergency loans faster and more efficient. The emphasis on strengthening cybersecurity is timely, and as we continue to expand, safeguarding customer data will remain a core priority for us.”
“The UPI transaction limit hike is a game-changer for digital lenders, especially those like Bharatloan that focus on bridging financial gaps for the underserved. This development enhances our ability to offer seamless, paperless loan disbursement and collection processes for our customers, allowing them to manage their financial needs with greater ease. While the RBI has rightly raised concerns around underwriting practices, we are committed to continually improving our risk management protocols to ensure responsible lending as we scale. We welcome these progressive changes that will support both growth and stability in the digital finance space,” opined Amit Bansal, Founder of Bharatloan.
For People Using Non-Smart Phone/Feature Phones
The revision of the UPI limit for UPI123 Pay is beneficial to those who use feature phones or non-smart phones. The RBI has raised the current payout threshold for this category to INR 10,000. People who want to use UPI for digital payments but don’t have internet access generally use this function. In order to use this service, customers must enter their 4- to 6-digit transaction pins.
With UPI123 Pay, users with feature phones (i.e., non-smartphones) can quickly and easily make payments utilising the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payment service without needing to access the internet. The goal of this service is to reach the 400 million feature phone users in the nation while being more inclusive. In addition to using Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) signalling technology and adhering to the UPI two-factor authentication protocol for transactions, the service also requires an account number and phone number.
Users will need to set up a UPI ID on their feature phone in order to utilise the UPI123PAY service.
Step 1: Enter *99# and select the name of your bank.
Step 2: Enter your debit card’s last six numbers as well as the number of expiration.
Step 3: Following this, you’ll be prompted to create a UPI pin.
Step 4: The UPI ID will be activated after your UPI pin has been set.
Enhancing the Usage of UPI Lite Wallet
With their UPI Lite wallets, users may now make payments up to INR 5,000. Previously, the limit stood at INR 2,000. Similar to a digital wallet on your smartphone, UPI Lite caters to small-scale transactions. This payment mechanism operates without the need for the primary banking infrastructure. Users can store a balance limit (INR2,000 earlier) with UPI Lite. Customers can use this updated balance of INR 5,000 for low-value transactions. The RBI increased the per-transaction limit for this mechanism from INR 100 to INR 500.
You can replenish the wallet’s balance when it runs out by using the associated bank account. Das stated that the MPC has chosen to maintain the repo rate at 6.50% for the 10th consecutive time during the announcement. People often accept that repo rates represent interest rates on loans to commercial banks.
“The move will enhance the customer experience by allowing larger value transactions with lower failure rates. In addition, this will reduce the strain on the payment gateways and servers as more transactions will be conducted using the UPI Lite – a system which does not require a two-factor authentication. From a technical standpoint, this offers tremendous benefits as it minimizes downtime risks because less frequent database hits for authentication and processing will lead to greater stability of the system. It also creates opportunities for FinTech businesses to optimize backend infrastructure to support a larger number of transactions at minimum additional cost. The business will also have to spend less on server and bandwidth-associated costs improving the green footprint of the company,” stated Dipal Dutta, CEO and founder- RedoQ.
Nitin Konde
