UPI Expands to Uzbekistan Through UZQR Link-Up
Why in the news
NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL) signed a commercial agreement with Uzbekistan’s National Interbank Processing Centre (NIPC) on 30 August 2026. The deal opens the way for UPI payments at Uzbek merchants.
Key facts
- Indian visitors will pay by scanning UZQR, the national interoperable QR code of Uzbekistan, using their existing UPI apps.
- The arrangement covers person-to-merchant (P2M) payments only, drawn directly from Indian bank accounts.
- HUMO is the national payment system operated by NIPC and is NIPL’s authorised partner for cross-border merchant acceptance.
- Reports say the arrangement has the backing of the Reserve Bank of India and the Central Bank of Uzbekistan.
- MediaNama reported that no rollout date, limits or fee details had been announced yet.
UPI’s international network
| Region | Countries |
|---|---|
| South Asia | Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka |
| Southeast Asia | Singapore, Cambodia |
| Middle East | UAE, Qatar |
| Africa / Indian Ocean | Mauritius |
| Europe | France, Greece |
| Central Asia | Uzbekistan (new) |
About NIPL
NIPL is the international arm of NPCI. It builds tie-ups with foreign payment networks so that UPI can be accepted abroad.
Exam angle
- Remember UZQR and HUMO as the Uzbek QR code and payment network.
- Uzbekistan is the 11th UPI country and the first in Central Asia.
- Static-GK link: NIPL is NPCI’s international subsidiary; the deal is P2M only.