India in Talks to Link UPI with Alipay+ Across 100+ Markets
India negotiates UPI-Alipay+ integration across 100+ markets, enabling Indian travelers to pay globally. Deal reflects warming India-China ties and digital payment expansion strategy.
India is negotiating with Singapore-based Ant International to connect its Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with the Alipay+ network, according to government sources. The integration would allow Indian tourists to use UPI with merchants across more than 100 markets where Alipay+ operates.
Cross-Border Payment Network Expansion
The talks involve India's government, Reserve Bank of India officials, and Ant International, which spun off from China's Ant Group in 2024 and now operates independently from Singapore. Alipay+ currently connects 1.8 billion user accounts with over 150 million merchants across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America.
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UPI processed 21.7 billion domestic transactions in January 2026 alone, making it India's dominant payment system. The government seeks to expand UPI internationally to help Indian travelers and diaspora pay in local currency, reducing payment friction and costs abroad.
If approved, Indian tourists could scan UPI QR codes at Alipay+ merchants in countries ranging from Singapore to France. The integration follows India's 2023 linkage with Singapore's PayNow system, which enables real-time payments between the two countries with daily limits of ₹60,000 (~US$720).
Security Concerns and Geopolitical Considerations
Despite Ant International's Singapore headquarters and independent operations, security concerns remain a significant hurdle. India banned Alipay and other Chinese apps in 2020 under data security provisions, and officials continue evaluating digital infrastructure protection needs.
"There are sensitivities involved, in terms of geopolitical positioning or securing the country's digital infrastructure and data because of Alipay's roots to China," one government official told Reuters.
The discussions reflect warming India-China relations after years of tension following a 2020 border standoff. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China in 2025 for the first time in seven years, meeting President Xi Jinping. India also resumed direct commercial flights to China in October 2025 after a five-year suspension and eased visa rules for Chinese professionals.
Growing Payment Network Partnerships
India's UPI expansion strategy includes multiple partnerships beyond Alipay+. The country has already integrated with Bhutan, UAE, and France, while the 2026-27 budget allocated ₹2,000 crore (~US$240 million) to incentivize RuPay and BHIM-UPI adoption.
Ant International processed two billion cross-border transactions in 2025, demonstrating the network's scale. The company has expanded through partnerships with payment providers like Mastercard for its AlipayHK service and connections with local payment systems across multiple regions.
The UPI-PayNow integration between India and Singapore serves as a blueprint for the Alipay+ discussions. That system enables automatic currency conversion and has been adopted by merchants at Singapore's Changi Airport and tourist destinations like Sentosa.
A final decision on the Alipay+ integration awaits completion of security assessments by Indian authorities. The talks represent a pragmatic approach to digital infrastructure development, balancing commercial opportunities with national security considerations as Asian payment networks continue expanding across borders.
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