The Reserve Bank will continue to promote innovations in payment systems with soft touch regulations within regulatory guardrails. The 5th Digital Payments Awareness Week (DPAW) is being observed from March 10 to 16. In January 2025, more than 20 billion payments worth almost Rs 250 trillion were made in India through digital modes. Digital payments have become the preferred mode of payment for many of us. However, surveys have shown that nearly 40 per cent of our adult population still do not use digital payments. One of the main reasons for this is the lack of awareness or familiarity with using digital payments, Malhotra said. The RBI will also explore the possibility of linking payment systems other than UPI to facilitate efficient cross-border payments, he said. As per a World Bank report, it has been estimated that in 2024, India received remittances totalling approximately USD 130 billion. The DPAW is an initiative to highlight the impact and importance of digital payments and to create awareness about the safe usage of digital payment products. Under the mission ’Har Payment Digital’, the theme for the current year is ’India Pays Digitally’ This theme reflects India’s transformative journey toward a digitally empowered citizenry, with the ubiquity and convenience ofdigital payments, the RBI said.