India launches UPI payment system in Qatari supermarket
_vb_19.jpeg)
Doha (PTI): India expanded the reach of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) on Monday by launching the facility at Lulu Group's stores in Qatar, following its rollout at duty-free outlets in Hamad International Airport here last month.
Launching the facility at a Lulu store, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said it will help facilitate smoother and more cost-effective movement of capital between the two countries.
Last month, NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL), in partnership with Qatar National Bank (QNB), introduced UPI at point-of-sale terminals across Qatar for merchants acquired by QNB.
The rollout is part of a collaboration between NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL), Qatar National Bank (QNB), and Japanese payments gateway NETSTARS.
He also encouraged other banks and institutions in Qatar to adopt UPI.
"The launch of UPI and UPI transactions is not just a digital payment solution, but has the potential to revolutionise trade between Qatar and India. It's an opportunity to expand our trust between the two nations because as we seamlessly integrate the payment systems of Qatar and India, our people will be able to trade more, trade smarter at lower cost," he said here.
He added that the movement of money and capital will be faster, almost on a real-time basis, with a "very-very low" cost.
"Expanded trade will further be strengthened with the adoption of UPI ... I thank QNB for taking up UPI as part of their payment systems," he said, adding the official launch of UPI today will be a milestone in this journey in the years ahead.
He also said that 830,000 Indians who live here will benefit from this launch as their remittances will become faster and at a lower cost.
This makes Qatar the eighth country to accept UPI, facilitating real-time, cashless payments for Indians and reducing dependency on foreign currency or international cards.
By enabling seamless transactions, UPI supports both Indian travellers and local Qatari businesses, promoting digital payment adoption and strengthening India's international financial footprint while enhancing convenience and security for tourists in high-traffic commercial zones.
The UPI, Goyal said, was launched nine years ago, and it is a big success story in India.
"85 per cent of Indian digital payments go through UPI and nearly 50 per cent of global digital payments are now made by UPI," he said, adding that 640 million transactions happen on average every day.
He added that it was wonderful to see the QNB becoming the bridge between NPCI, who has developed the UPI platform, and Lulu Group, who is offering to all its customers the facility of digital payment through UPI.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
LoP Ashoka targets CM govt over corruption, says being 'shameless' in public life not forgivable
Bengaluru (PTI): Targeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress government in Karnataka on corruption, BJP leader R Ashoka on Friday said, being foolish was forgivable, but being "shameless" in public life was not.
The Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly claimed that in just 30 months of its tenure, the Congress administration has broken every previous record on corruption-related controversies.
He was responding to Siddaramaiah's post on 'X' on Thursday hitting back at the BJP, stating that Upa Lokayukta Justice Veerappa's claims of "63 per cent corruption" were based on his report in November 2019, when BJP's B S Yediyurappa was the CM.
"But Ashoka, without understanding the Upa Lokayukta's statement properly, has ended up tying the BJP's own bells of sins onto our heads and has effectively shot himself in the foot," the CM had said, as he accused Ashoka of foolishness for trying to twist Veerappa's statement to target the current government.
Responding, Ashoka said, "it is one thing to be called foolish in politics, that can be forgiven."
"But in public life, especially in the Chief Minister's chair, one must never become shameless," Ashoka posted on 'X' on Friday addressing Siddaramaiah.
Noting that the CM himself had admitted on the floor of the Assembly that a Rs 87 crore scam took place in the Valmiki Development Corporation, he said that when a CM acknowledges such a massive irregularity inside the floor of the House, the natural expectation is immediate action and accountability.
"But instead of taking responsibility, you continue in office as if nothing has happened. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," he asked.
Pointing out that the CM's Economic Advisor and senior Congress MLA Basavaraja Rayareddy had publicly stated that under Congress rule, Karnataka has become No.1 in corruption, Ashoka said, "Yet, you still cling to the Chief Minister's chair without a moment of introspection. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness."
Senior Congress MLA C R Patil had exposed the "money for House" racket in the Housing Department and even warned that the government would collapse if the details he has were made public, Ashoka said.
"Despite such serious allegations from within your own party (Congress), you neither initiated an inquiry nor acted against the concerned minister. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," Ashoka asked the CM.
Highlighting the "40 percent commission" allegation Congress made against the previous BJP government, the opposition leader said, the commission that the Siddaramaiah government appointed concluded that the accusation was baseless.
"After your own panel demolished your own claim, what moral right do you have to continue repeating that allegation. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," he asked.
For the last two and a half years, Karnataka has been 'drowning' in corruption, scandals, irregularities and allegations across departments. Ashoka said, "If I begin listing every case that emerged under your government, even 24 hours would not be enough."
"And the most tragic aspect of your administration is this: the unbearable pressure, corruption demands and administrative harassment under your government pushed several officers and contractors into extreme distress - including the suicide of Chandrasekharan which exposed the Valmiki Development Corporation scam - a sign of how deeply broken the system has become under your watch," he said.
Instead of fixing this hopeless environment, the government has tried to bury every complaint and silence every voice, he charged.
"Being foolish is forgivable, but being shameless in public life is definitely not."
"When your own ministers admit scams, when your own advisors certify Karnataka as No.1 in corruption, and when your own MLAs expose rackets inside your departments - clinging to power without accountability is not leadership. It is shamelessness in its purest form." PTI KSU
Earlier on Thursday Ashoka had demanded that the corruption case and allegations in the state against the Congress government be handed over to a CBI investigation, citing a reported statement by Upalokaykta Justice Veerappa alleging "63 per cent corruption", following which Siddaramaiah hit back at the BJP leader.
