11:30 AM IST – After staying away from the fintech spotlight for years, Rediff.com has quietly made a strong move back into India’s digital payments space. Let me give a quick intro -Rediff is one of the oldest internet players since 1996. Now, they are entering with the New.
On December 28–29, 2025, Rediff.com India received final approval from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) for a Third-Party Application Provider (TPAP) licence. This approval officially allows Rediff to launch its own UPI app. They give the name as RediffPay. It will operate directly on the UPI network.
As per Whalebook’s recent post, the approval came after NPCI completed all regulatory requirements. Also, the technical and compliance checks. a process that usually takes months and filters out many applicants.
What happened, step by step
The moment NPCI approval came through in the last week of December, Rediff moved fast — but not loud.
First Step: TPAP licence approved (February 7, 2025)
This licence is really critical. Without it, no company can independently run a UPI app in India. Meaning launching a UPI independent platform is not so easy in india due to security factors. With it, Rediff can now offer UPI services under its own brand, without depending on another fintech app.
Two Step: Testing begins
Immediately after approval, RediffPay entered Closed User Group testing, as simple as CUG. According to Prysm Finance, this phase involves real users making real payments, but in a limited environment to test stability, security, and performance before any public rollout or even a trial.
Step three: Public launch preparation
Once CUG testing is completed, RediffPay is expected to open to the public — most likely in early 2026, though the company has not announced an official launch date yet. Research says It will soon launch in Late Q4 of FY2025
Who is powering RediffPay behind the scenes?
RediffPay’s banking partner is Axis Bank. It will act as the Payment Service Provider. Yes, it is required to use a UPI service. It acts as the bridge between the UPI network (NPCI) and the actual bank accounts to process transactions securely and compliantly. In simple terms, Axis Bank will handle the banking and settlement layer, while Rediff manages the app, users, and ecosystem.
This partnership matters because without a strong PSP bank. The scaling of a UPI app is nearly impossible.
What RediffPay plans to offer (and why it’s different)
Yes, RediffPay will handle basics like:
- Send and receive money
- QR code payments
- Bill payments and recharges
But Rediff is not entering UPI just for transactions.
RediffPay is being designed around financial wellness, not cashback addiction. Over time, the app is expected to offer:
- Mutual funds, equities, FDs and RDs
- Credit Line on UPI
- Simple money and saving tools
Under NPCI’s Credit on UPI framework, users can make payments of up to ₹1 lakh per day using pre-approved credit, and withdraw up to ₹10,000 in cash through credit lines, depending on bank approvals.
When Number talks
| Key Detail | Data |
|---|---|
| NPCI approval date | December 28–29, 2025 |
| Licence type | TPAP (Third-Party Application Provider) |
| PSP bank | Axis Bank + Infibeam firm Rediff got first approval in February 7, 2025 |
| Expected launch | Early 2026 (post CUG testing) |
| Potential reach | 60+ million existing Rediff users |
As per media reports and Wikipedia, Rediff plans to tap into its 60 million+ user base, built over decades through email, content, and digital services. it especially in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
Easemoney take: ecosystem beats app
From an Easemoney lens, this move makes sense.
Payments are becoming the starting point, not the business itself. The next fintech winners will be those who help users:
- understand money
- save better
- invest smarter
- borrow responsibly
If RediffPay executes this well, it won’t need noise or hype.
Sometimes, the quiet entries last the longest.
