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UPI for Feature Phones from RBI

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On Tuesday, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced UPI123Pay, a new digital payment option for feature phones based on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). The UPI system has so far been restricted to smartphones with internet access. India’s mobile phone population is estimated to be at 180 million. 78 crore of these people have smartphones, while the remaining 78 crores have feature phones. Due to the phone they use, tens of thousands of users have been unable to do UPI transactions. The central bank of India introduced this new payment mechanism to incorporate all such users and bring them into the mainstream of digital payments.

“UPI123Pay would enable NPCI to accomplish its goal of a billion or more daily UPI transactions,” said Biswamohan Mahapatra, head of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the country’s umbrella organization for retail digital payments.

Working of UPI on Feature Phones?

Users will be able to conduct UPI transactions on feature phones using UPI 123Pay. Except for the scan and pay UPI option available for smartphones, consumers will be able to use all other functionalities. Transactions with the new digital payment mode don’t require an internet connection. To utilize the UPI 123Pay service, people must link their bank accounts to their feature phones. People with feature phones can now use the UPI 123Pay option for a variety of payments, from person to person to the merchant. UPI 123Pay would employ Hindi and English as their primary languages at first.

“We feel that the novel functions available on feature phones would give UPI a boost in many geographies across the country, transforming the way payments are perceived,” Mahapatra said.

UPI: India’s Most Popular Payment Method

In recent years, UPI has become one of India’s most popular payment methods. UPI is the country’s single largest retail payment system in terms of transaction volume.

“A substantial portion of digitalization is limited to people with smartphones, notwithstanding our tremendous growth in digital payments.” “About 40 crore feature phone users had limited access to digital payments,” said T Rabi Sankar, deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India. He stated that the goal is to attract a significant number of feature phone users into the UPI payment system.

“To further popularise the usage of digital payments, a framework for retail offline payments across the country has been proposed.” This announcement has its roots in a series of successful pilot studies. The results of these experiments strongly suggest that there is more leeway for digital payment-related solutions, particularly in rural areas. According to Nitin Mathur, CEO of Tavaga Advisory Services, “the RBI is enthusiastic about expanding the ease of doing business in India as well as more innovative fintech prospects to capitalize on” as a result of this development.

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Contaminated Tap Water Triggers Health Alarm in Uran Villages

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Monsoon runoff and untreated water supply leave local residents battling stomach infections and demanding clean drinking water.

Contaminated Water

A severe public health worry has gripped parts of Uran after residents received muddy, contaminated tap water, leading to a rise in waterborne illnesses across several local villages.

Following heavy monsoon rainfall, turbid water flowing from the Hetawane Dam made its way directly into household taps. The problem has particularly affected communities located between Jite and Gavan Phata. Because CIDCO’s primary water treatment facility is situated downstream at Gavan Phata, households upstream have been left receiving raw, unfiltered water.

Over the past few days, local clinics have reported a surge in cases of stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea, leaving families anxious for their health especially young children and the elderly.

“We are forced to boil dirty water just to get through the day, but many are still falling sick,” expressed a concerned local resident. “Clean drinking water isn’t a luxury, it’s a basic necessity.”

Frustrated by the situation, community members and local leaders are urging CIDCO and municipal authorities to intervene immediately. They are demanding urgent water filtration solutions for all affected areas, pipeline inspections, and the distribution of safe drinking water tankers until regular, fully treated water supply is restored.

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NMMC Sets Firm Deadline to Wrap Up Civic Repairs Ahead of Ganeshotsav

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Navi Mumbai municipal committee orders fast-tracked pothole repairs, bright streetlights, and seamless immersion routes for devotees.

The Ganeshotsav

With Navi Mumbai gearing up to welcome Lord Ganesha, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) Standing Committee has instructed all civic departments and contractors to finish key infrastructure and repair works well before the festival begins.

At a recent meeting, committee members emphasized that devotees and procession organizers should not face hurdles like broken roads, dark streets, or uncleared debris. Officials directed engineering teams to prioritize pothole filling, tree trimming around power lines, and surface leveling especially along designated Visarjan (immersion) routes across all nodes.

“Ganeshotsav is a time of deep joy and community togetherness,” noted civic representatives during the review. “Our priority is to ensure smooth, safe roads for processions and clean, well-lit spaces around pandals and artificial immersion ponds.”

Beyond road repairs, the NMMC is streamlining the approval process for Sarvajanik (public) Ganesh mandals, ensuring hassle-free access to electricity, clean water, and temporary toilet facilities. Contractors have been cautioned that delays or poor-quality repair work will draw strict penalties.

With local administration actively coordinating with police and mandal representatives, residents can look forward to a smooth, safe, and festive celebration across the city.

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Kopar Khairane Gets a Fragrant Green Boost with Surangi Plantation Drive

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Navi Mumbai municipal leaders join hands with local residents to nurture biodiversity and expand native green cover.

The Drive

In a heartwarming effort to breathe fresh life into urban spaces, local municipal leaders and residents gathered in Kopar Khairane for a special tree plantation drive focused on nurturing the native Surangi tree. Led by the Navi Mumbai Mayor alongside top officials from the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), the initiative highlighted a growing commitment to restoring the region’s ecological balance.

Under the bright morning sky, community members and civic workers worked side by side, planting dozens of young Surangi saplings across designated green zones and parkways. Known for its rich clusters of fragrant white flowers and dense, shady canopy, the Surangi tree is a natural favorite for local soil, requiring minimal artificial care once established while providing a thriving habitat for birds and local pollinators.

Addressing the gathered volunteers, civic leaders stressed that urban greenery is not just about aesthetics, but about building healthier, cooler neighborhoods for future generations. “Planting native trees like Surangi connects us back to our natural roots while directly improving air quality right where we live,” officials shared during the drive.

Beyond increasing total foliage, the event served as an inviting reminder of collective civic responsibility. Local families and young volunteers actively participated, taking turns watering the newly planted saplings and pledging to oversee their care as they grow. The NMMC plans to extend similar native-species plantation drives to other nodes across Navi Mumbai in the coming months.

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