The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) unveiled the offline Digital Rupee (e₹) at the Global Fintech Fest 2025, introducing a feature that enables users to make digital payments even without internet connectivity. The move is aimed at enhancing financial access in rural and remote regions, offering a cash-like digital experience.
The digital rupee, also known as e₹, CBDC of India-a digitized version of the physical Indian rupee issued and regulated directly by the RBI. Unlike UPI, which simply facilitates sweeps from bank A to bank B, the digital rupee works as real digital cash.
The pilot includes 15 banks, including State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, and Union Bank of India, offering wallets that can be downloaded via Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
The e₹ also features offline payments using minimal network signals or NFC-based tap technology, ensuring transactions can be made in remote or rural areas. Beyond convenience, e₹ introduces programmable features, enabling funds to be restricted for specific purposes, expiry dates, geolocations, or merchant categories.
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