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Foreigner explains why India’s payment system feels years ahead of most countries: ‘I barely needed any cash’
A foreigner praised India’s UPI system, saying it made payments easy almost everywhere during her trip.
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A foreign traveller has praised India’s digital payment system after being surprised by how easily she could make payments during her trip without relying much on cash. Taking to Instagram, a woman named Julija shared a video in which she spoke about her experience of using digital payments across India.
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The text overlaid on the clip read, “India's payment system is years ahead of most countries.”
In the video’s caption, Julija wrote, “One of the things that surprised me most in India was how little cash I actually needed. Almost everywhere I went, whether it was a small chai stand, a local restaurant, or even a random shop on the side of the road, people would just point at a QR code.”
She added that this was because of UPI, India’s instant payment system, which allows people to transfer money within seconds by simply scanning a QR code.
‘One of the most convenient payment systems’
Explaining what made the system stand out for her, Julija wrote, “That's because of UPI, India's instant payment system. Instead of typing in bank details, people simply scan a QR code, and the money is transferred within seconds. It's honestly one of the most convenient payment systems I've ever seen while travelling.”
However, she also pointed out that foreign travellers may not always be able to use UPI directly. According to her, access depends on the traveller’s bank, card provider and the services available to them.
“As a foreign traveller, though, UPI doesn't always work for everyone. It depends on your bank, card provider, and what services are available to you,” she wrote.
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Julija also mentioned that apps such as PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm and BHIM could sometimes help visitors make digital payments in India. At the same time, she advised travellers to keep a debit or credit card and some cash as a backup, especially while visiting smaller towns, remote areas or places with poor internet connectivity.
Watch the clip here:
Internet reacts
The clip has amassed several reactions from social media users. One user wrote, “UPI is genuinely one of India’s biggest digital achievements,” while another said, “I hardly carry cash anymore because QR payments work almost everywhere.” A third user commented, “This is one thing India has done better than many developed countries.” Another added, “The speed and convenience of UPI still surprises people who visit India for the first time.”
(Disclaimer: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.)
