Nov 26, 11:30 AM IST — On 25 November 2025, BHIM Payments App introduced a major update called UPI Circle Full Delegation. Also, officially announced by NPCI BHIM Services Limited (NBSL) through a press release. With this, a bank account owner can now allow trusted contacts, such as family members or friend or staff, to make UPI payments directly from the same bank account within a monthly limit set by them.
The highlight?
UPI Circle is not limited to BHIM. PhonePe and Google Pay also support the feature, making shared digital payments smooth, even when everyone uses different apps.
What Is UPI Circle?
UPI Circle is designed for shared money usage — something that happens every day in Indian households.
Two ways to allow payments:
- Full Delegation: The secondary person pays directly within a monthly cap
- Approval Mode: The primary user approves every payment request
Right now, the ₹15,000/month limit is ideal for regular expenses like groceries, medicines, school fees, fuel, etc.
- No need for the secondary user to link a bank account.
- They only need a UPI ID or app to make payments.
How to Use UPI Circle on BHIM App
BHIM has made UPI Circle easy to find — it’s right on the home screen after you update the app.
If you want to allow someone to pay on your behalf, here’s how you set it up:
- Open the BHIM App and tap on UPI Circle
- Choose Add Member (they don’t need to link their own bank account.)
- Enter their mobile number or scan their QR
- Select who they are — child, parent, staff, etc.
- Set a monthly spending limit (up to ₹15,000)
- Choose how long you want to allow access — 1 month to 5 years
- Confirm using your UPI PIN
- They accept the invite, and can start paying using your account
It’s quick — hardly a 1-minute setup.
A Small Example to Understand Better
Imagine this:
Your mother needs to buy medicines every week.
She feels uncomfortable using UPI herself, and you can’t approve every small payment each time.
So, you add her to your UPI Circle with a ₹2,000/month limit.
Now, she can walk into the pharmacy, scan the QR and pay — her independence + your peace of mind + full transparency.
That’s exactly the problem this feature solves.
Real-Life Benefits for Indian Users
| Who Benefits | How UPI Circle Helps |
|---|---|
| Kids / Students | Pocket money goes digital — with safe limits |
| Senior Citizens | Pay independently for small needs |
| Domestic Staff | Drivers/helpers can pay for fuel, delivery costs |
| Dependents w/out Bank Account | Join digital payments without paperwork |
| Small Businesses | Transparent spending for daily operations |
UPI Circle finally gives digital access to people who always handled money — just not digitally.
Key Features at a Glance
- Spend safely within ₹15,000/month
- Add or remove users anytime
- Track every rupee spent — instantly
- Works across BHIM, PhonePe, GPay
- Safer than sharing ATM cards or PINs
It’s built to remove the dependency of “only one person can pay.”
Limitations to Keep in Mind
- ₹15,000/month may feel low for bigger family bills or business purchases
- Trust is important — choose your secondary users wisely
- It doesn’t replace a proper UPI account for long-term financial needs
Still, for daily use, it does the job perfectly.
Easemoney Bottom Line
India recorded over 20 billion UPI payments in a single recent month, and most were small everyday spends. UPI Circle fits right into that growing habit — making shared expenses digital, controlled and trackable.
UPI Before vs After UPI Circle
| Situation | Earlier | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Driver needs fuel money | Cash handover | Digital + spending limit |
| Kids paying school food | Cash required | Pay through parent’s account |
| Elders buying medicines | Dependent on others | Pay on their own |
| Non-banked family members | Left out of UPI | Included safely |
UPI Circle moves UPI from “personal convenience” to “family & household convenience.”
A simple fix — but a huge step toward India’s fully digital home economy.
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