Groceries and supermarkets stood out as the highest transacting categories in UPI (Unified Payments Interface) payments, recording over three billion transactions worth Rs 64,881.98 crore in the month of July, according to a merchant category-wise data released by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

Fast food restaurants alone recorded 1.2 billion transactions worth Rs 13,794 crore; whereas eating places and restaurants saw 1.1 billion UPI transactions worth Rs 18,212 crore.

In terms of value, debt collection agencies collected Rs 93,857 crore in UPI payments through 161.36 million transactions during the month.

On the other hand, some of the categories with highest value were service stations that recorded Rs 35,188 crore through 612.49 million transactions; utilities at Rs 23,497 crore via 174.72 million transactions; and telecommunications recorded 871.88 million transactions worth Rs 21,628 crore.

Online marketplaces witnessed 122 million transactions worth Rs 8,053 crore in UPI payments; and electronic shops saw 92.13 million transactions worth Rs 10,067 crore.

Mens and womens clothing shops recorded 92.54 million in UPI volume worth Rs 10,874 crore; whereas mens, womens and childrens uniforms and commercial clothing saw 65.64 million transactions worth Rs 5,968 crore; and family clothing shops category witnessed 48.12 million transactions worth Rs 4,225 crore.

Government services category recorded 109.96 million UPI transactions worth Rs 11,298 crore. 

Drug stores and pharmacies was among the high transaction merchant category recording 297.41 million transactions worth Rs 11,824 crore in July.

As per NPCI data, top 10 MCCs (merchant category codes) are identified as high transacting merchants, next 10 MCCs are medium transacting merchants.

While 'Others' -- which include next 9 MCCs along with all other MCCs clubbed -- recorded 2.2 billion UPI transactions worth Rs 3.49 lakh crore.

In July, merchant (P2M) transactions on UPI touched 12.38 billion, amounting to Rs 7.34 lakh crore in value. 

Overall UPI volumes for the month stood at 19 billion transactions worth Rs 25 lakh crore, with person-to-person (P2P) payments accounting for 7 billion transactions valued at Rs 17.74 lakh crore.