India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has officially launched the BHIM app aka 'Bharat Interface for Money' in a bid to push for cashless economy, following the recent demonetisation of older currency notes including Rs.500 and Rs. 1000. Addressing the media, Modi showcased the app on a Google Pixel phone at the recent DigiDhan Mela in Delhi.
The app enables the user to send money to anyone in just a few seconds using the recipient's phone number or payment address. The money transfer process can be validated by entering a simple pin code or using fingerprint authentication.
"In two weeks, payment through use of biometric fingerprint will begin in India. With the BHIM app, you'll only require your thumb to pay. In the past, illiterate people were called 'angutha-chaap' but now your thumb is your bank. It has become your identity now," PM Modi said at the DigiDhan Mela in Delhi.
The BHIM app is said to be the rebranded version of UPI (Unified Payment Interface) and USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) modes of e-payment.
The app does not require any internet connection or data plan to work and hence it is a viable solution for making digital payments in rural areas with weak cellular coverage or no mobile-network signal.
In a bid to encourage people to adopt cashless transactions, Modi has also announced a daily lottery of Rs. 1,000 for the initial 100 days. Those who make a currency transfer of Rs. 50 to Rs. 3,000 will automatically qualify for a chance to win in the mega draw to be held on 14 April, the day when the country celebrates the birth anniversary of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar.
Supported Banks
- Allahabad Bank
- Andhra Bank
- Axis Bank
- Bank of Baroda
- Bank of Maharashtra
- Canara Bank
- Catholic Syrian Bank
- Central Bank of India
- DCB Bank
- Dena Bank
- Federal Bank
- HDFC Bank
- ICICI Bank
- IDBI Bank
- IDFC Bank
- Indian Bank
- Indian Overseas Bank
- IndusInd Bank
- Karnataka Bank
- Karur Vysya Bank
- Kotak Mahindra Bank
- Oriental Bank of Commerce
- Punjab National Bank
- RBL Bank
- South Indian Bank
- Standard Chartered Bank
- State Bank of India
- Syndicate Bank
- Union Bank of India
- United Bank of India
- Vijaya Bank
The BHIM app is currently available only for Android devices and supported across 30 different banks in India as listed above. Interested Android users may go ahead and download the BHIM app via Google Play Store.
