UPI in April: Digital gold purchases value drop over 20%
26 May 2026, 01:29 PMUPI transactions across merchant categories witnessed a marginal decline in April 2026, with the total transaction volume slipping 0.59% month-on-month to 14,096.97 million from 14,180.46 million in March.
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Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions across merchant categories witnessed a marginal decline in April 2026, with the total transaction volume slipping 0.59% month-on-month to 14,096.97 million from 14,180.46 million in March.
The overall transaction value also fell 2.59% to Rs 8.39 lakh crore, according to data released by the National Payments Corporation of India.
Groceries and supermarkets, which account for the largest share, recorded 3,722.20 million transactions worth Rs 80,449.20 crore in April, compared to 3,751.09 million transactions valued at Rs 81,879.85 crore in March.
Digital gold purchases through UPI slowed in April after previous strong activity. Transaction value in the category dropped by 21.22% to Rs 2,499.02 crore during the month, while transaction volumes declined 3.62% to 245.22 million in April.
Fast food restaurants saw transaction volumes remain nearly flat at 1,474.47 million in April, while transaction value increased 2.09% to Rs 17,597.17 crore. Eating places and restaurants also registered slight growth, with transaction volumes rising to 1,252.31 million and value increasing to Rs 21,202.58 crore.
Telecommunication services reported a decline in activity during the month, with transaction volumes falling 4.87% to 869.99 million and transaction value slipping 2.63% to Rs 23,098.97 crore. Service stations also recorded weaker numbers, with volumes down 2.35% and value declining 3.64% to Rs 42,571.65 crore.
Among retail categories, bakeries posted growth as transaction volumes jumped 9.40% to 322.40 million, while transaction value rose 8.42% to Rs 4,617.38 crore. Dairies also witnessed an increase with volume rising 9.96% and value rising 6.84%.
Debt collection agencies recorded transaction volume at 181.52 million, although transaction value declined 2.20% to Rs 61,746.39 crore during the month.
Online marketplaces continued to witness softer activity, with transaction volume declining 2.84% to 137.69 million and transaction value falling 2.06% to Rs 7,740.27 crore in April.
Clothing-related categories reported mixed trends. Men’s and women’s clothing shops registered a 6.19% fall in transaction volume and a 3.40% decline in value, while family clothing shops saw transaction value rise 1.58% despite lower volumes.
Electronics shops saw transaction value rise 11.49% to Rs 13,595.44 crore in April although transaction volume dipped marginally by 1.27% to 86.54 million.
Government services transaction volume inched up to 135.39 million, though transaction value declined 3.89% to Rs 10,666.53 crore.
Drug stores and pharmacies witnessed transaction volume drop 5.09% to 287.10 million and transaction value fall 4.10% to Rs 11,811.37 crore.
Securities brokers and dealers also recorded a slowdown, with transaction volume declining 7.63% to 71.30 million and transaction value falling 1.73% to Rs 70,266.74 crore in April from March levels.
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