WhatsApp rolls out a new bill-payment feature in India. It allows users to manage and pay a range of household and other recurring bills directly through the messaging app. The feature is gradually introduced across the country for Android and iOS users.
The new service is integrated with the Bharat BillPay System (BBPS), India’s infrastructure for recurring bill payments. It covers multiple categories, including electricity, gas, water, insurance, credit cards and FASTag, a system used for electronic toll collection on Indian highways. Users can select a biller, enter the relevant account details and make a payment without leaving WhatsApp. The rollout adds another payment-related service to WhatsApp‘s growing presence in India’s digital payments market.
At the same time, India’s approach to international payment connectivity remains cautious. According to Reuters, India has stalled a proposal from Alipay+ to connect with the country’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI), its national instant-payment system. The proposal was submitted in January 2026 and was intended to support cross-border payments, including for Indian travellers in Asia and eventually international visitors to India.
The decision reflects concerns among Indian authorities over national security, customer data and the potential risks associated with linking a China-linked payment network to India’s financial infrastructure. Reuters reported that officials also raised questions related to money laundering, cyber fraud and the handling of transaction data. The discussions have therefore remained on hold, despite broader efforts to expand cross-border payment connectivity.
The situation is notable because Alipay+ is operated by Ant International, a Singapore-based fintech company that was separated from China’s Ant Group as an independent company. While its proposed connection to India’s UPI has encountered regulatory obstacles, Ant International is continuing to expand its payments business in other markets.
In Brazil, for example, Ant International has received a Payment Institution (PI) licence from the Central Bank. The licence is expected to strengthen the company’s ability to provide local and cross-border payment services in the Brazilian market.
Ant International already operates in Brazil through Antom, its merchant payment and digitalisation platform. The platform enables merchants to accept Pix, credit cards and other payment methods. The new licence, additionally, gives the company a stronger regulatory foundation for expanding its local payments capabilities and supporting businesses operating across borders.
