Amazon Pay has launched a significant new feature for its users in India, introducing biometric authentication for Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions. This move allows customers to make payments of up to ₹5,000 without the need to enter a traditional four or six-digit PIN.
How the New Biometric UPI Feature Works
The feature, which became available on December 16, 2025, leverages the existing security hardware on Android smartphones. Users can now authorize transactions using either their fingerprint or facial recognition data. This method is designed to tie the security of the payment directly to the user's own device, making the authentication process non-transferable and more secure than a memorized PIN which could be shared or stolen.
Amazon Pay's biometric system supports several common UPI use cases, including sending money to contacts, using the 'Scan & Pay' function at merchant outlets, and making direct payments to businesses. A key privacy aspect emphasized by the company is that the biometric data never leaves the user's smartphone, addressing a major concern about data breaches.
Speed, Security, and User Experience
Early data from the rollout indicates a strong positive response. Users are reporting that transactions are completing in mere seconds, with payment speeds effectively doubling in many scenarios. Over 90% of early adopters have shown a preference for using the biometric feature for peer-to-peer (P2P) money transfers.
The convenience of one-handed operation is proving particularly useful in quick, everyday situations such as paying a street vendor or during a hurried transit ride. By eliminating the step of manually entering a PIN, Amazon Pay aims to reduce what is known in the industry as 'transaction friction'.
Girish Krishnan, Director of Payments at Amazon India, stated that the innovation focuses on creating intuitive payment experiences that align with modern consumer habits. The launch is seen as an industry-first step toward mainstream adoption of biometrics for UPI, with Amazon Pay confirming full compliance with guidelines set by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
Market Impact and Future Roadmap
This development arrives amid India's massive UPI boom, which processes billions of transactions every month. The introduction of a seamless, PIN-free authentication method by a major player like Amazon Pay could accelerate the trend toward fully contactless payments and intensify competition with rivals such as Google Pay and PhonePe.
Financial technology experts predict that wider adoption of biometric authentication could also play a role in boosting financial inclusion, offering a simpler and more accessible verification method for users who may struggle with remembering PINs.
For now, the feature is available to Android users, with support for iOS devices planned for a future update. Looking ahead, Amazon Pay is reportedly eyeing an expansion of the transaction limit and exploring integration with wearable devices through initiatives like UPI Circle. The positive initial feedback underscores a growing market demand for frictionless payment experiences, signaling a potential shift in how India shops and transacts daily.
