New Delhi, 2 February 2026, 22:57 IST
- Government sources reveal that India is negotiating with Ant International to connect Alipay+ with UPI for cross-border payments
- Indian tourists might soon be able to pay with UPI at overseas merchants connected through the Alipay+ network
- Whether the deal goes forward may hinge on security reviews and geopolitical concerns
India is negotiating with Ant International to connect the digital payments platform Alipay+ with its Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for cross-border transactions, according to two government sources. UPI handles nearly 18 billion transactions monthly, while Alipay+ is active in over 100 markets, the sources added. (Reuters)
Indian travellers could soon use UPI at overseas merchants connected to Alipay+. Both the government and the central bank are keen to expand UPI beyond India, enabling tourists and the diaspora to pay in rupees and reduce hassle and fees. (The Business Times)
The talks come as India and China cautiously work to mend ties following a 2020 border clash that froze investment and travel. Payments complicate matters further, involving sensitive data and critical infrastructure.
Sources spoke on condition of anonymity since the talks remain confidential. India’s finance ministry, the Reserve Bank of India, and the National Payments Corporation of India, which operates UPI, didn’t reply to requests for comment. Ant International also stayed silent. (MarketScreener)
Alipay+ promotes itself as a unified integration solution, enabling wallets and apps to link up with merchants internationally. Ascend Money co-president Monsinee Nakapanant, in a testimonial on their site, stated that Alipay+ allows TrueMoney to reach merchants globally using “one contract, one integration and one currency standard.” (Alipay+)
UPI, introduced in 2016, connects several bank accounts to a single mobile app, enabling real-time transfers and merchant payments, a government release states. It’s become a go-to for daily transactions, commonly via QR codes or virtual payment addresses. (Press Information Bureau)
Sources say any approval for Alipay+ hinges on thorough security checks. One source flagged “sensitivities … securing the country’s digital infrastructure and data,” given Alipay’s Chinese origins. (The Economic Times)
After 2020, India stepped up oversight on China-linked businesses, now mandating government approval for investments from countries sharing a land border with India or when the beneficial owner is located there, according to an official statement. This “government route” slows down the process, replacing automatic approvals for numerous transactions. (Press Information Bureau)
There have been sporadic signs of thawing. After a gap of more than five years, India and China decided to restart direct flights last year, a move that came shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first trip to China in seven years. (Reuters)
Officials haven’t established a timeline for any payments link, nor announced a final decision. For the moment, these discussions are exactly that — discussions — with security concerns and political factors expected to shape their outcome.
