In the vast landscape of India's digital creator economy, a concerning new trend has taken root: the rise of 'digital beggars.' Leveraging the country's ubiquitous Unified Payments Interface (UPI), individuals are now broadcasting live on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook for hours, doing little more than displaying a QR code and pleading for micro-donations from viewers.
The Anatomy of a Digital Beggar
This phenomenon represents a stark departure from traditional content creation. There are no dances, skits, or elaborate productions. Instead, creators sit in plain rooms with a QR code prominently on screen, waiting for the ping of a UPI notification confirming a donation, sometimes as small as one rupee. The frictionless nature of UPI, which processed a staggering 21.6 billion transactions worth ₹30 trillion in December 2025 alone, has turned these live streams into passive digital tip jars.
The trend is exemplified by Govind Lodha, known online as Govind Surya. A YouTuber from Madhya Pradesh, Lodha struggled for years with low-paying odd jobs. His fortune changed six months ago when, during a live stream, he ran out of fuel on his two-wheeler. Viewers suggested he share his UPI QR code for support. "For my audience from tier-2, -3 regions and low-income groups who can't afford YouTube's minimum ₹20 super chat, I started giving a shoutout for even ₹1," Lodha explained. This shift now earns him ₹800-1,000 per day from the comfort of his home, a significant leap from his previous earnings.
Risks and Ramifications for the Digital Ecosystem
While profitable for some, this model has drawn sharp criticism from the professional content industry. Shudeep Majumdar, co-founder of influencer marketing firm Zefmo, warns it devalues creative effort. "When someone can make money by just showing a QR code, it discourages creators who invest in cameras, editing, and quality content," he said. He estimates the income of these 'digital beggars' can rival that of nano and micro-creators, potentially pushing the ecosystem toward low-effort, low-quality content.
More alarmingly, cybersecurity experts highlight severe risks for donors. Unlike regulated platform features like YouTube's Super Chat, these direct UPI QR codes have no safeguards. "Scanning random QR codes from livestreams is extremely risky," Majumdar emphasized. Dhiraj Gupta, founder of Mfilterit, outlines the dangers: scammers can use fake QR codes to steal UPI PINs, drain bank accounts, install spyware, or harvest personal data for targeted fraud and even money laundering. Lodha himself confirmed his bank alerted him to fraudulent UPI donations linked to laundering schemes.
A Regulatory Grey Zone and Platform Response
The practice has spilled beyond live streams to Instagram posts and pages, where emotional narratives are paired with QR codes to fund personal luxuries like iPhones or cars. An attempt by creator Mahi Singh to crowdsource an iPhone 17 Pro Max via UPI in September 2025 went viral but failed due to transaction limits.
Platforms are taking action against policy violations. YouTube stated it removes accounts that breach community guidelines, having taken down over 12.1 million videos between July and September 2025, mostly via automated systems. However, the direct, peer-to-peer nature of UPI payments creates a loophole that platforms cannot easily monitor or control, leaving users in a vulnerable position.
This new wave of 'digital begging' underscores a critical paradox of India's digital payment revolution. While UPI has democratized transactions, its very ease and speed have also paved the way for unregulated, risky economic models that exploit human sympathy and bypass all security protocols, placing the onus of safety entirely on the individual user.
