Definition
RuPay
RuPay is India's home-grown card payment network, built by NPCI, that powers debit, credit and prepaid cards as a domestic alternative to international networks.
RuPay is NPCI's card scheme, processing card transactions within India and reducing reliance on global networks. It issues debit, credit and prepaid cards accepted at ATMs, POS terminals and online merchants.
A notable feature is that RuPay credit cards can be linked to UPI, letting users scan-and-pay from a credit line, blending card credit with UPI convenience. Domestic processing can also mean lower switching costs for banks.
RuPay has expanded internationally through tie-ups and is central to government schemes; its growth is part of India's strategy for payment sovereignty and lower transaction costs.
Related terms
- Tokenisation of CardsCard tokenisation replaces your actual card number stored by merchants with a unique, device- or merchant-specific token, so real card details are never saved or exposed online.
- Virtual CardA virtual card is a digitally generated card number, linked to your real card or account, used for online payments to limit exposure of your primary card details.
Plain-English explainer from The Dispatch Investors Encyclopedia. General information, not financial advice.