The internet has brought the world to our fingertips. Thanks to smartphones and reliable internet connections, now banking, shopping, booking your next trip, or health appointments are just a few taps away. When it comes to making payments, smartphones have made it easy for users to make transactions securely.
Unified Payment Interface (UPI), developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in 2016, has made it easy for millions to send and receive cash to their bank accounts. Now, users can instantly transfer money between bank accounts using their unique UPI ID. But what happens when the internet is down? Thankfully, you will no longer be stuck in the absence of the internet.
UPI also facilitates offline transactions, making it easier for users when stuck in areas with poor connectivity. To make payments via your smartphone, follow these steps:
📌 Dial *99# through your registered mobile number. This is a USSD-based service that has been introduced by NPCI, and it offers key features like sending money, checking balances, and managing UPI. This service is ideal for those in low-connectivity areas.
📌You will be asked to pick a language. This service is available in 13 languages, including Hindi and English.
📌Later, users will be asked to input the IFSC code of their bank in the text field.
📌Considering that one is using a smartphone to make the transaction, they will be shown options of all accounts registered with the phone number. One can input option 1 or 2 to link the desired bank account number and set up the process.
📌Users will then be required to enter their debit card’s last six digits and expiry date to complete the verification process.
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📌Finally, users will need to enter their UPI PIN to confirm and process the UPI offline transaction. It is also important to note that one can disable the offline UPI service again by dialling the *99# from the registered number and following the instructions.
For the uninitiated, USSD stands for Unstructured Supplementary Service Data, which is a communication protocol used in GSM networks to relay and receive text-based messages. This is often used for basic mobile services, such as checking balance or activating any mobile features.
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