Are you juggling multiple payment apps, struggling to split bills, or wishing for a simpler way to manage family finances? The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has just unveiled the latest iteration of its popular BHIM (Bharat Interface for Money) app, version 3.0, with a clear mission: to put customer satisfaction and collaboration at the forefront of your digital payment experience.
NPCI Bhim Services Ltd, the wholly-owned subsidiary of NPCI, officially launched BHIM 3.0 on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, marking a significant upgrade to the app that first debuted in 2016. This isn’t just another routine update; BHIM 3.0 comes packed with a host of new features designed to streamline how you handle your money and interact with others financially.
One of the standout additions is the much-requested bill-splitting feature. Now, whether you’re dining out with friends, sharing rent with roommates, or settling up after a weekend getaway, BHIM 3.0 lets you effortlessly divide the cost among participants with instant settlement. This eliminates the awkwardness of manual calculations and the hassle of chasing down individual payments.
But the enhancements don’t stop there. Recognizing the increasing need for better family financial management, BHIM 3.0 introduces a “Family Mode.” This innovative feature allows users to onboard family members onto the app, track shared expenses, and even assign specific payments to individuals. Imagine having a consolidated view of your household’s spending, making budgeting and financial planning a breeze.
Keeping track of where your money is going is now easier than ever with the integrated spend analytics dashboard. BHIM 3.0 automatically categorizes and classifies your expenses made through the app, providing you with a clear and detailed breakdown of your monthly spending habits. No more complicated spreadsheets or manual tracking – BHIM 3.0 does the heavy lifting for you, empowering you to make informed financial decisions.
We’ve all been there – forgetting to pay a bill on time. BHIM 3.0 aims to solve this with its built-in task assistant. This helpful feature sends you timely reminders for pending bills linked to the app, prompts you to enable UPI Lite for low-value transactions, and even alerts you when your UPI Lite wallet balance is running low. Say goodbye to late payment fees and missed deadlines.
Beyond individual users, BHIM 3.0 is also focusing on empowering merchants with the introduction of “BHIM Vega.” This in-app payment solution seamlessly integrates with online merchant platforms, allowing customers to complete payments instantly within the BHIM app without the need to switch to third-party applications. This promises a smoother and more convenient payment experience for both customers and businesses.
The app’s commitment to inclusivity is further demonstrated by its support for over 15 Indian languages. This ensures that a wider range of users across the country can access and utilize the app comfortably in their preferred language. Furthermore, BHIM 3.0 is engineered to function effectively even in areas with slow or unstable internet connections, addressing a crucial need for users in various parts of India.
Speaking at the launch event, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) executive director Vivek Deep emphasized the app’s focus on monitoring customer satisfaction and ensuring robust mechanisms are in place to retain users. He highlighted the importance of continuously improving the user experience to prevent users from migrating to other platforms.
Lalitha Nataraj, CEO of NPCI Bhim Services, expressed her optimism about the app’s potential for organic growth. She stated that the previous versions of BHIM were more of a reference app, but with BHIM 3.0, the focus has shifted towards providing a clean user interface and an enhanced customer experience. This, she believes, will naturally lead to increased adoption and retention.
NPCI Non-Executive Chairman Ajay Kumar Choudhary echoed this sentiment, stating that BHIM 3.0 represents a significant step towards a more inclusive digital economy. He emphasized BHIM’s consistent role in making digital payments secure and simple for all Indians and believes the latest upgrade will further empower millions of users, merchants, and banks, driving India towards a digitally empowered future.
The rollout of BHIM 3.0 will be conducted in a phased manner, with full availability expected by April 2025. This upgrade marks a significant evolution for the BHIM app, which was among the first wave of UPI-based payment applications launched in India in December 2016. As of the end of February 2025, BHIM had already processed a substantial 42 million transactions, amounting to ₹ 8,731.10 crore, demonstrating its significant role in India’s digital payments ecosystem.
With its user-centric features and a strong emphasis on collaboration with banks to offer B2B payment solutions, BHIM 3.0 is poised to become an even more integral part of the digital lives of millions of Indians. By simplifying expense tracking, enhancing family financial management, and streamlining merchant payments, BHIM 3.0 is not just an app update; it’s a step towards a more convenient and collaborative financial future for everyone.
