Paytm Launches AI-Powered Travel App ‘Checkin' for Smarter Bookings

• Introduces an interactive AI-first travel experience that is simple, delightful, cost-effective, and more consumer-friendly
• Enabled with an AI assistant for conversational trip planning that recommends destinations, personalises itineraries, and manages bookings
• Features a modern, intuitive interface designed for easy navigation, faster checkout, and transparent pricing across flights, trains, buses, and metro bookings
• Provides real-time flight tracking, keeping travellers informed throughout their journey. 

Paytm (One 97 Communications Limited), India’s full stack merchant payments leader serving MSMEs and enterprises, and a leading financial services distribution company, and the pioneer of mobile payments, QR codes, and Soundbox, has announced the launch of its new AI travel app, Paytm Checkin. This marks a significant step in Paytm’s journey to bring artificial intelligence into travel through a dedicated app that aims to redefine how people plan, book, and experience their journeys.

With Paytm Checkin, travel planning becomes an interactive experience. The in-app AI assistant understands queries intuitively, allowing travellers to ask, browse, and make bookings through simple conversation. It can recommend destinations, curate personalised itineraries, and organise bookings across flights, trains, buses, and metro, creating a seamless travel journey from planning to checkout. The AI continuously refines results based on preferences, previous selections, and travel patterns, delivering contextually relevant recommendations that improve with every interaction. These AI features are currently in early beta and will continue to evolve through real-world interactions and feedback.

Building on Paytm’s legacy of innovation and customer-focused interface, Paytm Checkin introduces a comprehensive suite of benefits that bring ease, flexibility, and transparency to travel. The platform offers zero convenience fees on bookings, ensuring complete price clarity with no hidden charges. For flight bookings, free cancellation at just ₹99 adds flexibility and peace of mind, while the Travel Pass priced at ₹249 unlocks additional savings and exclusive benefits. Paytm Assured for Buses ensures timely and reliable refunds, while Ticket Assure for Trains provides confirmed seat assistance for a smoother travel experience.

Paytm Checkin features a modern, intuitive interface for easy navigation, faster checkout, and transparent pricing, helping travellers find, compare, and book their trips effortlessly. With real-time flight tracking, it offers complete visibility and a seamless travel experience. Paytm believes artificial intelligence will redefine the way travel bookings are made by shifting from traditional searches to conversational, intuitive planning that makes travel simpler, faster, and more personal.

Vikash Jalan, CEO - Paytm Travel said, “We are taking a big step in AI-led travel with Paytm Checkin, creating a new and smarter way for people to plan and book their journeys. We believe AI will change the way travel bookings are done, and with Paytm Checkin, we are bringing a world-class, AI-first experience through a dedicated app designed to make travel planning simple, personal, and effortless.”

Paytm has pioneered mobile payments innovation in India and continues to integrate AI across multiple verticals to enhance personalization, speed, and efficiency. With Paytm Checkin, the company extends this vision to the travel segment, creating a smarter and more intuitive way to plan and book trips while ensuring reliability and transparency at every stage of the journey.


Link to the video: Here

Paytm Enables UPI Payments for NRIs Across 12 Countries Using International Mobile Numbers

• NRIs from 12 countries can now send money instantly and pay any UPI merchant through the Paytm app using international numbers linked to NRE or NRO accounts, without the need for a local Indian SIM card. 
• Offers exclusive features such as downloading UPI statements, automatic spend classification and spend analysis, ability to hide payments, checking total balance across bank accounts linked to Paytm UPI, generating AI Rap song on recent spends, available only on the Paytm app. 
• Reinforces Paytm’s commitment to financial inclusion and accessibility, enabling Indians around the world to participate in India’s mobile payment revolution. 

Paytm (One 97 Communications Limited), India’s full stack merchant payments leader serving MSMEs and enterprises, a leading financial services distribution company, and the pioneer of mobile payments, QR codes, and Soundbox, today announced that Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) from 12 countries can now login with their international mobile numbers to the Paytm app for seamless UPI payments through NRE or NRO accounts. 

With this launch, NRIs can use Paytm UPI for everyday payments and money transfers to friends and family in India. They can pay at shops, restaurants, and local businesses across the country by simply scanning a UPI QR code or shop online on Indian apps and websites. This seamless experience is now possible without international payment gateways or currency conversions. NRIs can also transfer funds between their own accounts or send money instantly to any UPI ID or UPI linked mobile number, removing remittance delays and high forex charges. The convenience of Paytm UPI is now available wherever NRIs are, whether living abroad or visiting India, without the need for a local Indian SIM card.

The service, powered by NPCI, is available for Indians residing in 12 countries including Singapore, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Oman, Qatar, USA, Saudi Arabia, UAE (United Arab Emirates), UK (United Kingdom), France, and Malaysia. It brings greater convenience to global Indians by allowing them to stay financially connected with India even while living abroad. Currently available in beta, the rollout to all eligible users will happen in the coming days.

NRIs will also benefit from Paytm’s continuous innovations, as it is the only payments app that offers exclusive features such as downloading UPI statements in PDF or Excel, automatic spend classification and spend analysis, ability to hide payments, checking total balance across bank accounts linked with Paytm UPI, generating AI Rap song on recent spends with Paytm Playback among others. Together, these capabilities provide a comprehensive, seamless, and trusted payments experience on Paytm.

Paytm Spokesperson said, “We started Paytm with the dream of building technology made in India, for India, and now for every Indian around the world. Enabling NRIs to use Paytm UPI with their international mobile numbers is another step in that journey. It keeps Indians connected to India’s growing mobile payments ecosystem, no matter where they live.”

Here’s how an NRI can start making UPI payments in India through Paytm

• Download and open the Paytm app. 
• Login with international mobile number. 
• Verify the number via SMS and link the bank account to start making payments instantly

This reinforces Paytm’s commitment to financial inclusion and accessibility, ensuring that Indians around the world continue to be part of India’s mobile payment revolution built on trust and technology.

Paytm Money partners with JioBlackRock to launch India’s first Systematic Active Equity Fund

• NFO for JioBlackRock Flexi Cap Fund to open on Paytm Money app from September 23 to October 7.
• India’s first equity scheme to adopt BlackRock’s Systematic Active Equity (SAE) model
• Investments start from ₹500 with zero commission on Paytm Money

Paytm Money, a wholly-owned subsidiary of One97 Communications Limited (OCL) and a wealth-tech platform that simplifies wealth management and equity investments through a technology-first approach, has announced the launch of India’s first Systematic Active Equity (SAE) fund to retail investors. In partnership with JioBlackRock, Paytm Money will offer subscriptions to the JioBlackRock Flexi Cap Fund, an equity scheme leveraging BlackRock’s SAE approach for the first time in India.

The New Fund Offer (NFO) will open on September 23, 2025, and close on October 7, 2025, and will be available exclusively on the Paytm Money app. Investors can begin with a minimum investment of just ₹500 through SIP or lump sum.

This launch marks a significant milestone in bringing equity strategies to retail investors in India. Developed by BlackRock, the SAE approach combines artificial intelligence, machine learning, and alternative data sources such as consumer transactions and search activity with the expertise of experienced fund managers. The investment process is further enhanced by BlackRock’s Aladdin®, a risk and investment management platform. These methods are used to analyze large and complex data sets to generate investment insights across nearly 1,000 Indian companies.

The JioBlackRock Flexi Cap Fund provides diversified exposure by investing across large, mid, and small-cap companies within a disciplined framework. The fund has an indicative Total Expense Ratio of 0.50% and carries no exit load, providing a cost-efficient structure for investors.

With Paytm Money’s zero-commission model and fully digital onboarding, investors have direct access to the scheme through their smartphones.

Paytm Money spokesperson said, “We have partnered with JioBlackRock to bring their flagship Flexi Cap SAE fund to retail investors in India. The entry point has been lowered to just ₹500, enabling every Indian investor to access strategies that were earlier available only to global institutions.”

JioBlackRock spokesperson said, “We are pleased to partner with Paytm Money to expand retail access to our Systematic Active Equity capabilities. For a digital first AMC, having a partner like Paytm Money with a wide distribution reach, we aim to offer a scalable, low-cost equity solution suited to India’s expanding market breadth.”

Paytm Money continues to strengthen its role as a leading wealth-tech platform, enabling investments in equities, mutual funds, F&O, SIPs, IPOs, NPS, and debt instruments. Through its technology-driven model, Paytm Money is extending retail participation in India’s capital markets.

Adani’s Manorview Developers to Build Paytm’s IT Complex in Noida

Adani Group's Manorview Developers will develop IT and ITes complex of fintech firm One97 Communications, which owns Paytm brand, in Noida, the company said in a regulatory filing.

Here's a detailed breakdown of the latest development involving Adani Group and Paytm:

Project Overview

• Developer: Manorview Developers Pvt Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Adani Infrastructure and Developers.
• Client: One97 Communications Ltd, the parent company of Paytm.
• Location: Sector 159, Noida.
• Size: 10-acre plot allotted by the Noida Authority in 2018.
• Purpose: Construction of an advanced IT and IT-enabled services (ITES) complex to support Paytm’s long-term tech operations.

Shift in Development Strategy

• Original Plan: Paytm had entered a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with ACE Builders and Promoters in January 2024.
• ACE was expected to raise capital and lead the development.
• Why the Change?: The JDA with ACE Builders was scrapped due to non-compliance with Noida rules and byelaws.
• New Approach: Paytm will now develop the project independently, appointing Manorview Developers as the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor.

Strategic Implications

• Signals Paytm’s commitment to expanding its tech infrastructure.
• Strengthens Adani Group’s footprint in digital infrastructure and fintech collaboration.
• Expected to boost local employment and contribute to Noida’s growing tech ecosystem.

India’s fintech infra is maturing from fragmented innovation to institutional-grade development, with players like Adani entering the fray. Paytm’s move signals a shift from startup-style agility to enterprise-grade infrastructure, aligning with global fintech maturity trends. Adani’s involvement could catalyze more private-sector participation in fintech infra, especially in Tier-1 cities.

Adani’s Fintech Foray: Decoding the Paytm Talks and the Race for India’s Super-App Crown

Conversations in boardrooms from Mumbai to Abu Dhabi are buzzing: Adani’s next frontier could be payments. For veterans who’ve lived through UPI’s explosive rise, the pursuit of Paytm isn’t just another M&A story—it’s a calculated move on a digital chessboard.

After ports, airports and power plants, Gautam Adani is quietly steering his empire toward digital finance—and according to trusted reports Adani is targeting one of the sector’s earliest disruptors: Paytm.

1. The Sub-25% Play: Influence Without the Open-Offer Drag

Navigating SEBI’s takeover regulations is second nature to you. Adani’s bid to cap the stake just below 25% in One97 Communications buys boardroom influence and strategic access—without triggering the costly open-offer requirement that kicks in at 25%+. It’s a familiar trick, yet few execute it at this scale.

Why sub-25%? Any investor crossing the 25% threshold under SEBI rules must launch an open offer for at least 26% of public shares—an expensive, time-consuming process. By structuring the deal just below that line, Adani can secure board influence and strategic access without triggering a mandatory takeover bid.  

2. Why Paytm Still Matters to Payments Insiders

Paytm’s ecosystem isn’t just about QR codes or P2P transfers. It’s a sprawling network of mini-loans, insurance referrals and bill payments.

More than just UPI, Paytm still commands mindshare. From QR-code scans in chai shops to utility-bill payments and movie tickets, its app touches hundreds of millions of Indians every month.

For Adani, plugging into Paytm infrastructure could shave off years of go-to-market effort:

• Instant Reach – Leverage Paytm’s 350 M+ MAUs to accelerate customer acquisition.
• Revenue Cross-Sell – Bundle payments, lending and commerce into the Adani One super-app.

3. Adani One: More Than a Wallet

Veteran payments pros will spot the parallels with other super-app forays. Adani One aims to unify:

• UPI and BBPS bill payments
• Co-branded credit cards (partnering with banks and networks)
• Embedded lending, insurance and wealth products
• ONDC-enabled marketplace services

Launch with Paytm’s rails under the hood and you’ve got an instant contender against Google Pay, PhonePe and Jio Financial.

4. Gulf Partners: Capital and Governance Muscle

Seasoned dealmakers know the value of co-investors. By inviting Gulf sovereigns and PE funds, Adani spreads the equity load and bolsters governance optics—critical when you’re integrating a startup culture into a ₹900 K-crore conglomerate.

• Capital Leverage – Lowers Adani’s equity commitment, unlocking more runway.
• Governance Uplift – Institutional partners bring boardroom rigor and regulatory comfort.

5. Market Signals: Denials vs. Price Action

You’ve seen this play before: public denials followed by share spikes. One97’s 5% jump post-rumor suggests the market’s arbitrageurs trust the whispers over formal statements. In fintech, price action often trumps press releases.

6. Stakes for the Payments Ecosystem

A closed deal shifts the competitive landscape:

• For Adani: A shortcut to B2C finance, diversifying away from CAPEX-heavy assets.
• For Paytm: Strategic capital, enterprise integration and product expansion.
• For Incumbents: Fresh rivalry, faster innovation cycles and pressure on margins.

Regulatory clearances, shareholder nods and the cultural integration of startup agility into corporate scale remain the linchpins.

7. Milestones to Watch

• SEBI Filings – Any acquisition over 5% triggers disclosures and waiting periods.
• 25% Threshold Decision – Will Adani test the open-offer waters or steer clear?
• Adani One Rollouts – Early lending and card partnerships will reveal how deep the play goes.
• Co-Investor Announcements – Gulf fund commitments will signal deal momentum.

For payments professionals, the Adani-Paytm dialogue is more than boardroom chatter—it’s a live case study in strategic positioning, regulatory navigation and the art of super-app execution.

Paytm Introduces Personalized UPI IDs to Enhance Payment Privacy and Prevent Mobile Number Exposure

• Enables creation of personalized UPI handles like name@ptyes and name@ptaxis, helping hide mobile numbers and avoid sharing them during payments
• Strengthens privacy and offers a more personalized UPI payment experience

Paytm (One97 Communications Limited), India’s leading payments and financial services distribution company and the pioneer of mobile payments, QR codes, and Soundbox, has introduced personalized UPI IDs, enhancing privacy and offering a more flexible way to make mobile payments. This advancement reflects the company’s commitment to simplifying and securing everyday digital payments.

The new offering allows the selection of personalized UPI IDs such as name@ptyes or name@ptaxis, enabling individuals to send and receive money without revealing their mobile numbers. It is currently live on handles issued by Yes Bank and Axis Bank and will be extended to other banking partners shortly.

Whether you're paying a shopkeeper, settling up with a delivery executive, or transferring money to a new vendor, Paytm remains India’s most trusted and secure way to pay. With personalized UPI IDs, Paytm now offers even greater privacy. When a user sends or receives money using their personalized UPI ID, their mobile number stays hidden from the transaction details. This protects personal information while still allowing individuals to create a unique and easily recognizable payment identity. It's a seamless experience, built for trust, security, and everyday convenience.

Paytm Spokesperson said, “We have introduced personalized UPI IDs to offer more choice and privacy in payments. We heard the feedback from our customers who wanted to keep their mobile numbers private and built this solution to address that need. We remain committed to developing thoughtful innovations that make payments safer and more convenient for all.”

To create a personalized UPI ID on the Paytm app:

• Open the Paytm app
• Tap on the profile icon and go to ‘UPI Settings’
• Select ‘Manage UPI ID’ and choose a personalized ID
• Confirm and activate the new UPI ID as the primary UPI ID to be used for payments

Paytm has introduced seven other key innovations to make mobile payments safer, smarter, and more trusted. These include: (1) the ability to hide or unhide payments for enhanced privacy, (2) Automatic categorization of spends & monthly spend summary to help track and manage expenses, (3) Receive Money widget for quick access to incoming payments on the mobile home screen (4) Scan and Pay widget on the mobile home screen for faster payments, (5) auto top-up for Paytm UPI Lite to ensure seamless low-value payments of upto Rs. 5000, (6) the option to download UPI statements in PDF and Excel formats for better financial tracking, and (7) a consolidated view of total balances across all UPI-linked bank accounts - without having to add up individual balances mentally. Internationally, Paytm now enables UPI payments in the UAE, Singapore, France, Mauritius, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, offering greater convenience to Indian travelers across the globe.

Paytm Gets Show Cause Notice from ED for Violating FEMA in Acquisition Deals

Paytm, operated by One97 Communications (OCL), has received a show cause notice from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for alleged violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). The notice involves transactions worth over ₹611 crore related to the acquisition of its subsidiaries, Little Internet Private Limited (LIPL) and Nearbuy India Private Limited (NIPL), between 2015 and 2019.

The alleged violations pertain to investment transactions involving ₹245 crore in OCL, ₹345 crore in LIPL, and ₹20.9 crore in NIPL. Paytm has stated that these compliance issues occurred before the subsidiaries were acquired by the company.

The notice has been issued to One97 Communications Limited, two of its acquired subsidiaries, LIPL and NIPL, and certain current and past Directors and officers of the company and its two subsidiaries, the Paytm's regulatory filing stated.

In the exchange filing, Paytm said,"Pursuant to Regulation 30 read with Schedule III of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015 , we hereby inform that a show cause notice dated February 27, 2025 has been received by the Company on February 28, 2025 at 19.27 Hrs. from the Directorate of Enforcement, Government of India. This is in relation to alleged contraventions for the years 2015 to 2019 of certain provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (“FEMA”) by the Company, in relation to its acquisition of two subsidiaries namely Little Internet Private Limited (“LIPL”) and Nearbuy India Private Limited (“NIPL”) erstwhile Groupon, along with certain Directors & Officers."

"Certain alleged contraventions attributable to two acquired companies - Little Internet Private Limited and NearBuy India Private Limited - pertain to a period when these were not subsidiaries of the Company," the filing said.

Paytm said in a comment,

We are working towards resolving the notice in accordance with applicable laws and regulatory processes. The alleged FEMA contraventions are related to two acquired subsidiaries - Little and Nearbuy - with certain transactions from before they became part of Paytm.

There is no impact on Paytm's services, which continue to be fully operational and secure.

We remain committed to transparency and governance in all our business practices.

This development follows recent regulatory actions against Paytm, including a case settled with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and regulatory action from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) against Paytm Payments Bank.

Paytm to Acquire 25% Stake in Brazilian Finance Startup Dinie

Paytm's wholly owned subsidiary, Paytm Cloud Technologies Limited (PCTL), has approved an investment of $1 million (Rs 8.7 crore) to acquire a 25% stake in Seven Technology LLC, the parent company of Brazilian embedded finance startup Dinie.

This move is part of Paytm's strategy to expand its merchant payments and financial services model internationally, especially in emerging markets with strong fintech potential.

Dinie provides digital financial services to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) through e-commerce platforms in Brazil. The acquisition is expected to be completed within 45 days.

"This investment would help in understanding the merchants’ business landscape and opportunity in the Brazilian market," the Paytm said in a regulatory filing.

Once the acquisition is complete, Seven Technology and Dinie will become associate entities of Paytm, which means they will be closely linked but not fully integrated operations. This step is a significant part of Paytm's broader strategy to expand its merchant payments and financial services model internationally.

To recall, last year in February Paytm acquired Bitsila, a cloud-based marketing suite solutions provider for businesses, based in Bengaluru.

Paytm Sells Its Stake in Japanese Payment Firm Paypay to Softbank for $279.2 Mn

Paytm has agreed to sell its stake in the Japanese payments firm PayPay to SoftBank for $279.2 million, reported Techcrunch. This move is part of Paytm's strategy to divest non-core assets following a regulatory clampdown earlier this year.

The sale will boost Paytm's cash reserves and help it recover market share in India's competitive digital payments market.

Paytm held stock acquisition rights (SARs) that were convertible into 159,012 shares, which represented a 7.2% stake in PayPay on a fully diluted basis.

Paytm invested in PayPay in September 2020 by acquiring stock acquisition rights (SARs) through its Singapore arm. These rights were part of an agreement with SoftBank, SoftBank Group, and Yahoo Japan to provide technology services to PayPay.

Besides PayPay, Paytm has also sold its entertainment ticketing business, Paytm Insider, to Zomato for $246 million (approximately Rs 2,048 crore) earlier this year.

Paytm has been selling off non-core assets to streamline its operations and boost its cash reserves. The company has been cutting costs, including reducing employee-related expenses.

Paytm has also been incorporating AI-led automation to improve operational efficiency.

Paytm is concentrating on its core payments business, enhancing its UPI offerings, and improving the user experience.

Paytm has resolved regulatory issues with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and is now able to onboard new UPI users. The company aims to expand its lending services, stockbroking, insurance distribution, and other financial products.

Softbank Exits Paytm at Loss of ~ $150 Million

Japan's Softbank investment arm, the Softbank Vision Fund, exited from fintech major Paytm during the June quarter. The exit resulted in a loss of around $150 million. Softbank had initially invested about $1.5 billion in One97 Communications, which owns the Paytm brand, in tranches back in 2017.

The exit was in line with Softbank's plan, although the company did anticipate the loss at that time. Before Paytm's initial public offering (IPO) in 2021, Softbank held around 18.5% stake in Paytm.

As of the quarter ending in March 2024, SoftBank held a 1.4% stake in Paytm. However, by June of the same year, its shareholding dropped below the 1% mark.

During the IPO, it held a 17.3% stake through SVF India Holdings (Cayman) Ltd and 1.2% through SVF Panther (Cayman) Ltd. SVF Panther sold its entire stake during the IPO for about $225 million. Paytm's share price has not matched its issue price of Rs 2,150 apiece to date.

Besides Softbank, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway haa also made an exit from its investment in Paytm-parent firm One97 Communications. The exit resulted in a loss of about 40% on the high-profile investment made more than five years ago.

Back in 2018, Berkshire Hathaway invested approximately $260 million in Paytm, acquiring a 3% stake in the financial services startup at a valuation of around $10 billion. However, the investment giant sold its remaining position in Paytm for $121.6 million, securing a return of less than $160 million on its initial investment.

Despite Paytm's IPO debut at a valuation north of $20 billion, its share price fell significantly afterward. The Indian firm has since rebounded, ending at $10.73 per share following fast revenue growth and improved finances in recent quarters. 

Softbank May Completely Exit Paytm This Month

It is being reported that Japanese conglomerate SoftBank is in the process of exiting its investment in Paytm. Reports indicate that SoftBank's stake in the Indian payments platform has been reduced to 1.4% at the end of March 2024, and it is likely to exit completely this month. This would mark the end of a 7-year association between SoftBank and Paytm. Previously, SoftBank had sold a 4.5% stake in Paytm for about $200 million, and it has been divesting its stake over the last couple of years through a mix of block deals and open market transactions.

SoftBank Group Corp. sold a majority of its stake in Paytm before regulatory scrutiny caused the once-celebrated Indian fintech firm’s shares to dive. The decision was influenced by several factors. Uncertainty grew in India's regulatory environment, prompting SoftBank to reconsider its investment. The regulatory landscape can significantly impact a company's operations and growth prospects.

Concerns over Paytm Payments Bank Ltd.'s license also played a role. The license issues led to the suspension of much of the banking operation's business by the Reserve Bank of India, affecting Paytm's stock price.

SoftBank's executive managing partner, Navneet Govil, stated that it was prudent to start monetizing their stake in Paytm. They sold a good portion of Paytm shares before the recent stock correction.

Paytm's stock price declined by over 40% from its peak in January due to regulatory challenges and banking-related issues.

Overall, SoftBank's decision to exit Paytm reflects a combination of regulatory concerns, license uncertainties, and strategic financial considerations. The Japanese investor has been gradually reducing its stake in Paytm, and it now stands at approximately 5% as of January 2024.

The Implications of the Exit

SoftBank's decision to exit signals a lack of confidence in Paytm's future prospects. Investors often view SoftBank as a strategic and influential player, so its exit may raise concerns among other investors. The exit has already affected Paytm's stock price.

The company's shares have dipped significantly due to regulatory challenges and banking-related issues. The decline has been over 40% from its peak in January. On addition, SoftBank's exit could impact how the market perceives Paytm. Investors may question the company's stability and growth potential, especially given the regulatory hurdles it faces.

With SoftBank divesting its stake, Paytm may face liquidity pressure. The company needs to manage its finances effectively to sustain operations and growth.

Paytm will need to reassess its strategic direction without SoftBank's backing. It may seek alternative investors or partnerships to fill the void left by SoftBank.

SoftBank's exit ends a 7-year association, and its departure may have long-term consequences for Paytm's business model, expansion plans, and investor confidence.

In summary, SoftBank's exit introduces uncertainty and challenges for Paytm, but the company will need to adapt and find new avenues for growth and stability.

Vijay Shekhar Sharma-backed Pai Platforms Launches New Shopping App as Part of ONDC Initiative

Vijay Shekhar Sharma, the founder of Paytm, has backed Pai Platforms in launching a new shopping app. This app is part of the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) initiative and aims to sign up at least 10 million merchants before the end of 2025.

While Paytm itself does not own shares in Pai Platforms, the 'PaiPai' app has been developed by Paytm's parent entity, One97 Communications. The launch represents a significant move in the e-commerce space, especially considering the previous experience with Paytm Mall and the renewed interest in ONDC among tech companies.

Pai Platforms' launch of a new shopping app is part of the broader Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) initiative, which aims to democratize digital commerce and reduce the dominance of a few large e-commerce entities.

The app seeks to onboard a significant number of merchants to expand its reach and influence in the e-commerce sector. It's an interesting development in the digital commerce landscape, especially with the backing of a prominent figure like Vijay Shekhar Sharma.

Paytm E-commerce Private Limited (PEPL) owns Paytm Mall, and in May 2022, the company announced that it will focus on the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) as its main focus. The partnership with ONDC aims to create a sustainable business and democratize the purchase and sale of goods in India.

This year in February, Paytm E-commerce renamed as Pai Platforms, acquires ONDC seller firm Bitsila. Bitsila was launched in 2020, and is among top three seller platforms on ONDC. It supports marquee brands like McDonald's, BigBasket on ONDC.

The rebranding of Paytm E-commerce Private Limited to Pai Platforms and the strategic acquisition of Bitsila, a Bangalore-based seller-side platform on ONDC, suggest that Pai Platforms is positioning itself to be a strong player in this competitive landscape. However, it's worth noting that Pai Platforms predecessor, Paytm Mall, faced setbacks despite substantial investment, highlighting the challenges in the e-commerce sector.

Besides, Pai Platforms also faces competition in the e-commerce space, particularly within the ONDC framework. One notable competitor is PhonePe, which launched a shopping app called Pincode. The ONDC initiative itself has seen significant growth, with a sixfold increase in monthly retail purchases, indicating a competitive and rapidly evolving market.

Pai Platforms and PhonePe's Pincode app are both part of the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) initiative, but they have some key differences. While Pai Platforms is integrated into the Paytm ecosystem, PhonePe launched Pincode as a separate app. This strategic choice means that Pincode starts from scratch in terms of user base, whereas Pai Platforms can leverage Paytm's existing users.

PhonePe's decision to launch a separate app for ONDC could be seen as a move to not dilute its main app's user experience, which is centered around quick and efficient payments. In contrast, Pai Platforms seems to be more directly integrated with Paytm's broader digital commerce strategy.

NPCI Grants Approval to Paytm's Parent to Participate in UPI as a Third-party Application Provider (TPAP)

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), on Thursday, said in a press release that it has granted approval to One97 Communications Limited (OCL), the parent company of Paytm, to participate in UPI as a Third-Party Application Provider (TPAP) under multi-bank model.

Four banks (Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, State Bank of India, YES Bank) shall act as PSP (Payment System Provider) banks to OCL. YES Bank shall also be acting as merchant acquiring bank for existing and new UPI merchants for OCL.

@Paytm handle shall be redirected to YES Bank. This will enable existing users and merchants to continue to do UPI transactions and AutoPay mandates in a seamless and uninterrupted manner.

OCL has been advised to complete migration for all existing handles and mandates, wherever required, to new PSP banks at the earliest.

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Exits Paytm Selling Entire Stake for $164.7 Million

Warren Buffet-owned Berkshire Hathaway has sold its entire stake in One97 Communications Ltd, the parent company of Payment Tech giant Paytm. Berkshire Hathaway sold its entire stake in the company for about 13.71 billion rupees ($164.70 million) through a bulk deal on Friday.

Berkshire sold its entire 2.46% stake in Paytm, which accounted of more than 15.6 million in numbers and were bought by Ghisallo Master Fund and Copthall Mauritius Investment. Both these entities bought 42,75,000 and 75,75,529 shares, respectively.

Copthall Mauritius Investment is an investment firm in the finance sector and stocks whereas Ghisallo Master Fund operates as an investment firm and registered at Cayman Islands. Earlier in this month, Copthal Mauritius also sold 3.47 lakh shares of Reliance Industries through open market transactions, for about Rs 81 crore.

Back to Berkshire's divestment in Paytm, the transaction concluded at an average price of ₹ 877.2 per share. Berkshire earned nearly Rs 1,371 crore from the deal.

With this, Berkshire Hathaway has exited Paytm incurring an overall loss of about ₹600 crore. Berkshire invested in Paytm in September of 2018, valuing Paytm at $10 billion post that investment. 

Paytm, which was Warren Buffett's only investment in India, had also been recently named as one of the inclusions in the MSCI Global Standards Index.

Besides Paytm, Berkshire also sold its stake in Japanese conglomerate SoftBank Group and China's Alibaba Group.

SoftBank To Sell Its Stakes in Paytm and Zomato – Report

Japan's SoftBank is reportedly set to sell its, stakes in Indian digital payments giant Paytm and food aggregator Zomato, as it looks to compensate the losses it incurred in last 2 years or so. SoftBank is reportedly looking for partial exits from high-performing companies like these two.

SoftBank Group is facing losses from the SoftBank Vision Fund, which had widened 70% to a record $32 billion from a year ago. Now the Japanese investment firm is aiming to turn a profit on its bets following a recent rally in their share prices. Softbank reported a record annual loss of $7.2 billion (₹58,962.60 crore) for the fiscal year ending March 2023.

According to media reports, SoftBank may sell its shares, in Paytm and Zomato, in small tranches on the open market rather than in block deals. Softbank holds 11.17% stake in Paytm and 3.4% in Zomato.

Notably, Paytm and Zomato's shares have been rising substantially since the beginning of this month, owing to better market sentiment about them as a result of both startups exceeding their EBITDA profitability targets ahead of expectations.

In November last year, SoftBank sold a 4.5% stake in Paytm through block deals for $200 million, which led to a sharp fall in the shares of the Indian payment company.

Paytm went public in 2021, in India's biggest-ever IPO, but the shares skidded as low as 70% below listing price in the months after the listing. SoftBank has invested $1.6 billion in Paytm over the years, among its biggest investments in India

SoftBank had also recently sold a part of its stake in eyewear company Lenskart to private equity firm ChrysCapital, and made cash of over $70 million (₹573.16 crore) from the stake sale.

SoftBank’s active investments in Indian startups have slowed this year after a series of losses incurred by its Vision Fund. Even though, in last month it was reported that Softbank is in talks with four to five Indian Startups, to invest about $4-$5 million in each, with valuations of around $400 to $500 million.

Paytm Partners With SBI Card and NPCI to Launch Next-Gen Co-branded Rupay Credit Cards, 3 Homegrown Brands Join Forces to Drive Credit Inclusion

Brings welcome benefits, spend-based cashback points and milestone benefits for the most rewarding experience

Drives convenience by enabling customers to use the Paytm SBI Card on RuPay network, where UPI payments through credit cards will be live shortly.

Aims to expand access to credit and foster financial inclusion by bringing ‘new to credit’ users into the formal economy

One97 Communications Limited (OCL) that owns the brand Paytm, India’s leading payments and financial services company and the pioneer of QR and mobile payments today announced that it has partnered with India’s largest pure-play credit card issuer SBI Card, to launch Paytm SBI Card on the RuPay network.

The Paytm and SBI Card partnership, which began in 2020, is now expanding with the addition of National Payments Corporation of India's RuPay, as all three homegrown brands join forces to further drive the growth of inclusive, digital-first financial services in India. The next-generation co-branded card redefines the credit card experience by offering exceptional rewards and benefits for its users.

As a Welcome Benefit, customers can enjoy exclusive privileges worth up to ₹75,000 with a complimentary Paytm First Membership that also includes OTT platform membership, flight tickets discounts through Paytm app. Designed for the digitally savvy, the cards offer rewards and savings when used on the Paytm App and millions of online and offline stores. Cardholders receive cashback of 3% on Paytm SBI Card on booking movie and travel tickets on the Paytm app, 2% cashback on all other purchases on Paytm App, and 1% cashback on spends elsewhere.

Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Founder and CEO, Paytm said, "India is at the cusp of the next payments revolution where credit will become the mainstream payment choice. Together with SBI Card, Paytm RuPay Credit Card will be a great choice for consumers. Our users are already savvy on QR code-based payments and with RuPay credit cards working on UPI QR codes, transactions through mobile phones will get a further boost, marking a new era in digital payments."

Bhavesh Gupta, President and Chief Operating Officer, Paytm said, “We are delighted to take our valuable partnership with SBI Card to the next level with the launch of our innovative co-branded credit cards powered by the indigenous RuPay network, catering to the ever-evolving needs of India’s youth and professionals. With this partnership, we aim to revolutionize the way credit is consumed in India, by bringing 'new to credit' users into the formal economy by offering a seamless and rewarding experience.”

According to Rama Mohan Rao Amara, MD & CEO, SBI Card, “We partnered with Paytm to launch this card with the intent to make credit cards more accessible to young and digitally-evolved customers. Paytm SBI Card has become one of the popular cards in our portfolio and with its launch on RuPay network we are further strengthening product value proposition. With RuPay’s extensive reach across India and acceptance of RuPay credit cards on UPI, customers can leverage this card to derive maximum value from their spends.”

Speaking on the development, Praveena Rai, COO, NPCI, said, “We are delighted to partner with Paytm and SBI Card for the launch of this credit card on RuPay’s expansive network. We believe this card will emerge as a keystone credit solution for customers. Since NPCI’s launch of credit card services on UPI, we are constantly working towards providing unique, value-based RuPay credit cards. It is exciting to see RuPay progressively establishing itself as a modern, contemporary, and youthful brand by offering customized value propositions backed by cutting-edge technology.”

The co-branded credit cards are set to delight consumers with exclusive Paytm First membership worth ₹750, which comes along with numerous exciting offerings. The Paytm SBI Card comes with 3% cashback on travel, and movie purchases through the Paytm ecosystem.

Cardholders of either variant will be entitled to 2% cashback on all Paytm ecosystem spends and 1% cashback on all other purchases except wallet reloads and fuel expenditures. They will also receive the added benefit of a 1% fuel surcharge waiver and ₹1,00,000 cyber fraud insurance coverage in the case of ‘Platinum’ cardholders.

About Paytm:

Paytm is India's payment Super App offering consumers and merchants most comprehensive payment services. Pioneer of mobile QR payments revolution in India, Paytm’s mission is to bring half a billion Indians into the mainstream economy through technology-led financial services. Paytm enables commerce for small merchants and distributes various financial services offerings to its consumers and merchants in partnership with financial institutions.

Paytm media contact:
corpcomm@paytm.com

About NPCI:

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) was incorporated in 2008 as an umbrella organization for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India. NPCI has created a robust payment and settlement infrastructure in the country. It has changed the way payments are made in India through a bouquet of retail payment products such as RuPay card, Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), Unified Payments Interface (UPI), Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM), BHIM Aadhaar, National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC FasTag) and Bharat BillPay. NPCI is focused on bringing innovations in the retail payment systems through the use of technology and is relentlessly working to transform India into a digital economy. It is facilitating secure payments solutions with nationwide accessibility at minimal cost in furtherance of India’s aspiration to be a fully digital society.

For more information, visit: https://www.npci.org.in/

About SBI Card:

SBI Cards and Payment Services Limited (“SBI Card”) is a non-banking financial company that offers extensive credit card portfolio to individual cardholders and corporate clients which includes lifestyle, rewards, travel & fuel and banking partnerships cards along with corporate cards covering all major cardholders’ segments in terms of income profile and lifestyle. The brand has a wide base of over 16 MM+ cards in force as of Mar’23. It has diversified customer acquisition network that enables to engage prospective customers across multiple channels. SBI Card is a technology driven company. The Company is listed on National Stock Exchange (“NSE”) and The Bombay Stock Exchange (“BSE”).

P.S. The brand name of the company is ‘SBI Card’ and it is registered in the name of ‘SBI Cards and Payment Services Limited’. The company is trading under the entity name ‘SBICARD’ on stock exchanges.

Paytm Enables Lightning Fast Payments that Never Fail for Its Users; Offers Up To ₹100 Cashback on UPI LITE Activation

Paytm is offering assured welcome cashback of up to ₹100 on activation of Paytm UPI LITE balance for the first time. On the Paytm App, UPI LITE enables lightning fast real-time transactions with a single click without using the UPI PIN.

With UPI LITE, users can carry out a large number of small value UPI payments without worrying about a cap on the number of bank transactions. This makes way for a hassle-free payments experience. The secure on-device balance, UPI LITE makes daily small value transactions superfast, eliminating the need of entering the UPI PIN for every payment.

Once loaded, a UPI LITE allows a user to do instant transactions of up to ₹200, making the entire experience quick and seamless. A maximum of ₹2,000 can be added twice in a day to UPI LITE, making the cumulative daily usage up to ₹4,000.

Further, payments made using UPI LITE de-clutters the bank passbook. These small value transactions would now show in the Paytm balance and history section. According to NPCI, users will receive a daily transaction history of all the payments made through UPI LITE as an SMS from their banks.

Paytm Payments Bank remains a leader in UPI as the largest acquiring and beneficiary bank along with being one of the leading remitter banks. When it comes to UPI payments, Paytm is the fastest in the industry with the highest success rate. As a part of its efforts to drive innovation, the Bank is the first payments bank to launch UPI LITE.

Paytm Payments Bank remained the largest UPI beneficiary bank for 20 months in a row with over 1,765.87 million transactions in January 2023, ahead of all major banks in the country. With 389.61 million registered transactions, the Bank is one of the top 10 remitter banks for UPI transactions, according to NPCI’s latest report. PPBL is one of the leading issuers and acquirer banks for National Electronics Toll Collection (NETC) FASTag. In January 2023, PPBL processed 58.34 million transactions as an Issuer Bank and 47.71 million transactions as an Acquirer Bank.

Paytm Inks MoU With Govt of Andhra Pradesh at Global Investors Summit 2023, to Drive Initiatives in Financial Inclusion, Public Health, Cyber Security

• Demonstrates commitment towards financial inclusion and supporting the growth of Andhra Pradesh
• To empower lakhs of merchants with access to digital payments and financial services
• Agreement in line with Paytm’s mission to bring half a billion Indians into the mainstream economy
• MoU signed in presence of Shri Saurabh Gaur, Secretary, ITE&C, GoAP and Shri Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Founder and CEO of Paytm

One97 Communications Limited (OCL) that owns the brand Paytm, India’s leading payments and financial services company and the pioneer of QR and mobile payments, today announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Andhra Pradesh (GoAP) on the sidelines of the Andhra Pradesh Global Investors Summit 2023. The agreement aims to promote mutual cooperation in the areas of Industrial Development, Financial Inclusion, Public Health, Cyber Security and Prevention of Financial Frauds in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Shri Saurabh Gaur, Secretary, Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, Government of Andhra Pradesh and Shri Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Founder, Managing Director and CEO of Paytm.

Under the MoU and in alignment with its mission of bringing half a billion Indians into the mainstream economy, Paytm plans to empower merchants, street vendors, and ChiruVyaparulu (street hawkers) in Andhra Pradesh to accept digital payments and provide them access to loans through its lending partners. Paytm plans to extend its platform to the Government of Andhra Pradesh for providing eGovernment services, which will be conveniently accessible to all Paytm Super App users. Additionally, Paytm plans to empower various GoAP departments to accept digital payments from citizens and businesses, thereby enhancing service delivery for the people of Andhra Pradesh. The company proposed to also enable the digitization of toll plazas across the state to accept payments digitally.

In the area of Public Health, Paytm proposed to collaborate with the State Health Authority in facilitating seamless OPD appointment booking at government and private hospitals under the forthcoming Unified Health Interface (UHI) programme. As part of its commitment to promote safe and secure digital payments, Paytm plans to be conducting cybersecurity training for Andhra Pradesh police personnel and launch a joint campaign to raise awareness of cybersecurity best practices among citizens, particularly those residing in non-urban areas

Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Founder and CEO, Paytm said, “We are happy to partner with the Government of Andhra Pradesh in their journey of sustainable development through inclusive growth. We are fully committed to driving Financial Inclusion at the last mile and this partnership is a step in that direction. We will continue to empower the people of Andhra Pradesh by enabling lakhs of small businesses with mobile payments and access to various financial services.”

About Paytm:

Paytm is India's payment Super App offering consumers and merchants most comprehensive payment services. Pioneer of mobile QR payments revolution in India, Paytm’s mission is to bring half a billion Indians into the mainstream economy through technology-led financial services. Paytm enables commerce for small merchants and distributes various financial services offerings to its consumers and merchants in partnership with financial institutions.

Paytm Collaborates with MeitY on ‘G20-Stay Safe Online’ Campaign, to Drive Greater Awareness among citizens on Cyber Safety

Indian mobile payments and financial services company Paytm has collaborated with the MeitY on ‘Stay Safe Online’ Campaign during India’s presidency of the Group of 20 (G20) intergovernmental forum.

G20-Stay Safe Online Campaign (www.mygov.in/staysafeonline) is aimed at creating awareness among citizens about online safety as more and more people are rapidly adopting digital payments. The focus of the Stay Safe Online campaign is to promote cyber hygiene by educating them about online risk & safety measures. This campaign is in line with many such initiatives taken by Paytm and MeitY to sensitise users on online safety amid a greater usage of social media and digital payments.

The Stay Safe Online campaign comes at a time when the country is taking strides towards becoming a trillion-dollar digital economy. India is in the midst of a digital transformation with a proliferation of smartphones, increasing internet penetration and a young population. Technological development in India is advancing exponentially with innovations like artificial intelligence, Internet of things, augmented reality and metaverse evolving and becoming a part of our daily activities, this collaboration will not only support and equip the existing Internet users but will also be beneficial for the rapidly increasing new Internet users in India.

This campaign will be carried out in multiple languages to reach a wider audience. As a champion of digital payments, Paytm’s collaboration with this campaign will help in its better outreach.

The resources under the G20-Stay Safe Online Campaign will cover themes such as tackling Online frauds, reporting harmful content, tips to Stay Safe Online and organizing National level competitions to inculcate cyber hygiene practices among the internet users as part of Campaign & participate at https://www.staysafeonline.in/competitions.

As the pioneer of mobile payments, Paytm has empowered citizens with a wide range of digital payments and financial services, thus driving financial inclusion in the country. Paytm has one of the lowest fraud-to-sales ratios in the industry. With innovative technology-led products and services, the fintech giant has also been actively educating its users about online safety to ensure their cyber safety. In fact, its revolutionary IoT device, Paytm Soundbox has been a boon for visually challenged merchants. Its real-time audio alerts help these merchants keep a track of all payments.

As part of the collaboration, Paytm will share creatives, posters, banners and videos with MeitY’s MyGov Citizen Engagement Platform to amplify dissemination of safe digital payments and conduct awareness programmes on Cyber Safety.

Paytm also offers safe and secure money transfers. With UPI emerging as the most popular mode of mobile payments, Paytm has created blogs on secure UPI transactions while its support section on the website lists out safe ways through which money transfer can be done. The company also launched Paytm Payment Protect, an insurance cover to safeguard UPI payments.

One97 Communication Limited’s associate Paytm Payments Bank (PPBL) has created a separate web page on fraud prevention to ensure safe banking for users apart from blogs and social media campaigns.

Paytm Payments Bank Awarded by Govt of India for Lowest Technical Decline Rates in UPI

Paytm Payments Bank awarded by Government of India for lowest technical decline rates in UPI; continues to lead in P2M payments as a beneficiary & acquiring bank

Wins the award in recognition of the superfast and secure transactions powered by Paytm UPI

India’s homegrown Paytm Payments Bank Ltd. (PPBL) has won the Shrestha Puraskar (श्रेष्ठ पुरस्कार) at Digital Payments Ustav by the Digidhan Mission, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) for maintaining one of the lowest average technical decline in UPI transactions. The award is a recognition of the superfast and secure transactions powered by Paytm UPI. This award was given by Sh. Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronics & Information Technology.

PPBL has once again outperformed all major banks in India in terms of the success rate of UPI transactions. It has one of the lowest technical decline rates because of its robust in-house technology infrastructure.

In UPI, the Bank is leader in P2M (Person to Merchant) transactions, with the highest merchant partners in its ecosystem. Paytm Payments Bank continues to be a leader in UPI as the largest beneficiary bank, acquiring bank and a leading remitter bank.

Paytm Payments Banks drives UPI transactions on its own without any third party app provider. It leads digital payments in the country driven by merchant payments and increased adoption across small cities and towns. Both customers and merchants are increasingly preferring to use Paytm Payments Bank for sending and receiving money via UPI, given its superior in-house technology that ensures the fastest payments and highest success rates.

Paytm Payments Bank Spokesperson said, “As leaders in UPI P2M payments as the largest beneficiary bank, acquiring bank and a leading remitter bank, we strive to offer superfast and secure UPI money transfers. Our focus on innovation has ensured that we have the lowest technical decline rates in UPI to offer a superior payment experience to users. The recognition from the Government of India is proof of our commitment to innovation and contributing to financial inclusion.”

Paytm Payments Bank continues to be the leader in UPI. According to the latest report by NPCI, as a beneficiary bank PPBL has registered over 1,765.87 million transactions and as a remitter bank, it has registered more than 389.61 million transactions in January 2023.

About Paytm Payments Bank:

Paytm Payments Bank has the largest scale in India, in terms of mobile transactions. The bank offers the best-in-class digital payment and banking experience with its mobile-only savings accounts, current accounts, fixed deposits with partner banks, and payment instruments like wallets, UPI, FASTag among other services to Indians. The bank is the largest UPI beneficiary bank, with the lowest technical decline rate amongst beneficiary and remitter banks. It is also the largest acquirer and issuer of FASTags in India.

To know more please visit: https://www.paytmbank.com/