UPI Transaction Volume Surges 32% on Diwali 2026 to Reach 916.9 Million

Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions recorded a 32 per cent year-on-year surge in volume terms on Diwali, driven largely by last-minute festival buying. According to data released by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), UPI transaction volume increased to 916.9 million on November 8, compared to 695.7 million transactions recorded on the same day last year.

In terms of monetary value, transactions rose to Rs 90,029.43 crore on November 8, up from Rs 88,350.79 crore during the corresponding period last year. Data also showed that a day prior to Diwali, transaction volume was even higher at 975.8 million, resulting in a total transfer of Rs 1,36,118 crore.

This festive activity follows a strong performance in October, during which monthly UPI transactions touched 25.47 billion, with a total value of Rs 31.53 lakh crore.

Developed by the NPCI—an umbrella organisation for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India initiated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA)—UPI has seen substantial growth since its launch on August 25, 2016. Over the past decade, transaction values have surged from Rs 0.07 lakh crore in FY17 to around Rs 314 lakh crore in FY26, marking a significant expansion in India’s digital payments ecosystem.

Alongside its domestic growth, UPI has continued to expand its international footprint. The payment system is now accepted in 11 countries, with Uzbekistan being the latest addition. Other nations where UPI is currently accepted include Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, France, Mauritius, Nepal, Bhutan, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and Greece.

"The steady growth in UPI transaction volumes during peak festive periods highlights the deep integration of digital payments into everyday consumer behavior in India. Processing over 900 million transactions in a single day demonstrates the robust technical capacity and scalability of our national payment infrastructure. As UPI continues to expand globally into its eleventh country, it also opens up new avenues for cross-border trade and travel, reinforcing India's position as a leader in digital financial systems." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes