New Way to Pay: NPCI’s EMI Feature on QR Codes Set to Launch in 2025

The NPCI’s shocking plan to let you convert QR payments into EMIs in 2025—a move set to revolutionize how you shop amid rising costs. What if the next time you scan a QR code, you could unlock instant credit without a card? This hidden feature promises financial flexibility and easy installments, but there’s one key detail NPCI hasn’t revealed yet. Curious how this will disrupt India’s digital payments and impact your wallet? The future of buying on credit is closer than you think.

The Indian digital payments landscape is on the brink of a shocking transformation with NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India) gearing up to introduce a game-changing EMI option for QR payments in 2025. Imagine being able to make high-value purchases through a simple QR scan and converting that payment into manageable monthly instalments — a smart innovation set to redefine consumer credit. This upcoming feature combines the convenience of QR code payments with the flexibility of EMIs, addressing a long-standing gap in India’s rapidly growing digital economy. Here’s everything you need to know about this hidden future trend, how it works, and what it means for everyday users and merchants alike.

The Power of UPI and QR Codes: A Journey Toward Innovating Payments

India’s UPI (Unified Payments Interface) ecosystem has been instrumental in revolutionizing payments since its launch. With over 17 billion transactions in April 2025 alone, UPI QR codes have become commonplace, especially for small and medium businesses—it’s the fastest growing payment infrastructure of recent years.

Why QR Codes Became Popular

• Cost-effective for merchants
• Convenient for consumers
• Seamless interoperability
• Support across multiple apps like Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm

But despite its exponential growth, UPI has predominantly remained a cashless, peer-to-peer, and merchant payment system—until now.

NPCI’s Big Leap: Introducing EMI on QR Payments

In 2025, NPCI is actively working on unlocking a new dimension: turning QR payments into EMI options. This move is part of NPCI’s larger vision to extend the scope of credit on the platform and accelerate India’s digital credit economy.

How Will It Work?

• Conversion at the QR scan: When a consumer scans a merchant’s QR code, they will have the option to convert the payment into EMIs—just like splitting a card payment at a PoS terminal.
• Instant decision: The EMI plan selection and approval process is designed to be quick, with seamless integration within the payment flow.
• Flexible plans: Customers will be able to choose instalment durations based on their preference, possibly ranging from 3 to 12 months.
• Increased credit access: This feature could enable many consumers to afford high-value products, from electronics to luxury goods, boosting retail commerce.

What’s Next in the Pipeline?

Several fintech companies like Navi, Paytm, and others are already collaborating with NPCI to pilot this feature. While it’s not yet available to the general public, industry insiders suggest the official rollout could happen within the next few months.

Why Is This a Future-Defining Innovation?

Boosting High-Value Transactions

Consumers often hesitate to make big purchases due to upfront costs. The EMI feature will empower them to buy now and pay later, spreading payments into small, manageable parts, boosting consumer confidence and merchant sales.

Strengthening Digital Credit Ecosystem

Already, NPCI has enabled RuPay credit cards and credit lines on UPI, which have seen strong adoption. EMI on QR payments builds on this momentum, encouraging more credit-based transactions.

Financial Inclusion and Flexibility

Turning everyday QR payments into credit options can potentially reach underserved segments, especially in semi-urban and rural areas, where traditional credit access remains limited.

How Will It Affect Merchants and Consumers?

Real-World Examples and Current Use Cases

• Navi and Paytm: As leaders in digital credit, these platforms are actively designing solutions to incorporate EMI options into QR payments, allowing users to split transactions without the need for credit cards.
• Retailers and Online Shoppers: Small electronics stores using QR codes may soon enable customers to pay via EMI effortlessly, making high-ticket items more accessible.
• Urban and Rural Markets: From metropolitan malls to rural kirana stores, the EMI-on-QR feature aims to democratize access to credit and encourage higher-value transactions everywhere.

Trending Insights: Why Now?

1. Shift in consumer behavior: October 2025 sees a marked increase in high-value purchases, reflecting rising consumer confidence and digital payment adoption.
2. Regulatory push: NPCI’s collaboration with RBI and fintech allows for stricter security measures and fraud prevention, making EMI on QR more trustworthy.
3. Technology readiness: Smartphones and UPI infrastructure are robust enough to support instant EMI calculations and approvals within seconds.
4. Market potential: With India’s digital transactions expected to hit nearly ₹13 trillion in 2025, this feature could catalyze a future boom in credit-based digital commerce.

What’s the Hidden Future?

The NPCI EMI option on QR payments is poised to transform India’s digital economy in 2025. Imagine a world where a mere scan not only pays but also empowers consumers to buy big-ticket items with confidence, and brands to unlock new levels of sales growth—all through familiar, simple QR codes. This innovative leap blurs the lines between payments and credit, creating a seamless, smart ecosystem where every transaction is more than just a payment; it’s a new opportunity.

Key Takeaways

• NPCI is developing an EMI feature integrated with QR payments for 2025.
• The feature will enable instant instalment conversion while scanning QR codes.
• It aims to boost high-value transacting, financial inclusion, and merchant engagement.
• Fintech collaborations like Navi and Paytm are already pilot testing this innovation.
• The move aligns with India’s rapid digital credit expansion in 2025.

Final thought

As India’s digital payments evolve, the secret to maximizing your financial flexibility might soon be just a QR scan away. Are you ready to unlock a future where every scan could turn your purchases into smart investments? Stay tuned—this could be the game-changer that reshapes how India transacts, one QR code at a time.