How BHIM 3.0 Supports Financial Inclusion in India

In a world increasingly reliant on digital transactions, the Bharat Interface for
Money(BHIM) app has become one of India’s leading mobile payment solutions.
Launched by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in December 2016, BHIM
revolutionized financial transactions through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). With
digital payments now integral to daily life, BHIM 3.0 promises to introduce exciting new
features, further enhancing the user experience.

What is BHIM ?

BHIM is a mobile application designed to facilitate simple, fast, and secure payments
through UPI. It enables users to send and receive money, check their account balance,
and more, all using a mobile number linked to their bank account. By utilizing UPI, which
connects multiple banks on a single platform, BHIM allows real-time transactions and has
become a game-changer for financial inclusion in India.

Key Features of BHIM 3.0

Now, you can use BHIM (Bharat Interface for Money) for tracking, managing, and even
splitting expenses with your friends, relatives, and colleagues. NPCI BHIM Services Limited
(NBSL), which is fully owned by NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India), launched
BHIM 3.0. While BHIM 3.0 will be rolled out across multiple platforms like Apple’s app store
and the Play Store for Android phones in a phased manner, it is expected to be fully
available as early as next month, i.e., April 2025.
BHIM 3.0 be available in over 15 Indian languages, but it is also expected to ensure that
more and more transactions go through smoothly, even in areas with slow or unstable
internet connections.
BHIM 3.0 also has a built-in task assistant that will remind you to pay any pending bills
that have been linked to your BHIM App. You can also enable UPI Lite for low-value
transactions through BHIM, and every time your LITE wallet balance is running low, you will
be alerted of the same. Going ahead, you can carry out any UPI-LITE-related activities via
the BHIM app.
“BHIM 3.0 will offer personalized recommendations for payments, offers, and banking
services. Users will receive suggestions based on their transaction history, such as quicker
payment options or relevant offers, streamlining their payment process. The feature also
improves ease of use, making it simpler for those unfamiliar with digital payments to
navigate the platform.”

How BHIM 3.0 Benefits the Indian Economy

Promoting Financial Inclusion

By making digital payments more accessible, BHIM 3.0 empowers people who were
previously excluded from the formal financial system. With a mobile phone and internet
access, even people in rural areas can now send and receive money, pay bills, and
perform a host of other financial transactions.

Supporting the Digital India Initiative

BHIM 3.0 aligns with India’s vision of becoming a cashless economy. With its widespread
adoption, the app not only simplifies digital payments but also supports the government’s
Digital India initiative, which aims to enhance digital infrastructure and literacy.

Convenience and Accessibility

With features like multi-language support, bill payments, and UPI AutoPay, BHIM 3.0 makes
it easier for people of all backgrounds to carry out financial transactions quickly and
conveniently. Whether it’s sending money to a relative or paying for daily essentials, BHIM
3.0 is designed to meet the diverse needs of its users.

What’s in it for merchants?

Additionally, BHIM 3.0 announced the release of BHIM Vega, a smooth in-app payment
system for merchants. Customers may quickly complete payments within the app
without utilizing third-party apps because to this capability, which interfaces with online
merchant platforms.
According to Rongola, Vega permits merchant apps to be integrated into the app. As a
result, it eliminates the requirement for customers to use a third-party app to complete
payments before returning to the seller app.

The Future of BHIM 3.0

Looking ahead, BHIM 3.0 is likely to continue evolving to meet the needs of India’s growing
digital economy. We can expect to see future versions of the app integrating even more
innovative technologies, such as AI-driven financial advice, enhanced fraud detection
systems, and broader integrations with e-commerce platforms.
Moreover, with the rise of mobile wallets, cryptocurrency, and other digital payment
solutions, the continued improvement of BHIM ensures that it remains a relevant and
competitive platform in the ever-changing digital payments ecosystem.
In February 2025, the top 3 UPI apps accounted for 91.82% of all UPI transactions in terms
of volume, and 92.08% in terms of value, while BHIM accounted for 0.23% and 0.39%,
respectively. The release of BHIM 3.0 could potentially move this needle upwards.