Google Play Store now provides the unified payments interface (UPI) as one of the payment options under payment method settings. The UPI is a relatively new payment method protocol by the Government of India to promote cashless (digital) payment operations in the country. Now that Google Play Store is rolling out the UPI as an additional payment method, users can quickly make in-app purchases without having to enter their net banking credentials or debit or credit card details. Additionally, Google Play Store also supports additional payment methods such as credit cards, debit cards, net banking as well as carrier billing, courtesy of Vodafone, Airtel, etc. Google Play Store also allows users to make purchases using Google Play Gift cards and Google Rewards.

Google Play Store supports UPI

According to XDA, users started spotting the UPI as a payment method with Google Play Store version 16.3.37. By adding the UPI payment option, the search giant is probably expanding the ways Android users can purchase apps or make in-app purchases on Google Play Store. According to National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) - the owner of UPI - at the moment, a total of 141 banks in India provide UPI services. Thanks to UPI, users need not share their credit/debit card or net banking details with Google. All users need to do is use their UPI ID to make the purchases on the Google Play Store. To complete the transaction, users need to enter a 4-digit UPI PIN to safeguard against fraudulent transactions.

Google Pay UPI payments app now lets users buy and sell gold in India

How to set up UPI as a payment method in the Google Play Store

First up, make sure the Google Play Store is up-to-date. Open the Google Play Store. Tap the hamburger menu at the top left corner and tap the option 'Payment methods'. Find an option to 'Add bank account with BHIM UPI ID' under 'Add payment method' menu. Enter your UPI ID and tap 'Add'. Follow all the on-screen instructions and the UPI payment method will be added to the Google Play Store.

WhatsApp plans to launch WhatsApp Pay UPI payments service in India later this year

In related news, WhatsApp has plans to introduce WhatsApp Pay UPI payments service to all users in India later this year. Currently, WhatsApp is being allowed to test Payment feature in India with about a million users. Despite launching its test run last year, WhatsApp UPI payments system has not been able to get approval from the Reserve Bank of India on the grounds of digital payments framework guidelines. Recently, WhatsApp Global Head Will Cathcart said that they couldn't wait to provide the service to more users across India later this year.