By Aadyasha News 
Digital payments have become a common part of everyday life in India, but people using basic feature phones have traditionally faced difficulties accessing UPI services. A new initiative is now aimed at bridging that gap by enabling UPI transactions through select feature phones, even without an active internet connection.
The service, known as **UPI 123Pay**, is designed to allow users of compatible keypad phones to make digital payments through an SMS-based system. According to the report, the initiative is expected to bring more than **200 million feature-phone users** into the digital payments ecosystem.
Under the system, users can set up UPI on supported feature phones and transfer money using a mobile number or UPI ID. Feature phones equipped with cameras can also support QR-code-based payments. Users can additionally check their bank balance and transaction history through the service.
In the initial phase, the facility is available on selected feature-phone models from brands including **Nokia, HMD, Lava and itel**. The development could make digital payments more accessible to people who do not own smartphones or who have limited access to mobile internet.
The expansion of UPI to basic phones marks another step towards making digital payments more inclusive, particularly for users in rural and semi-urban areas where smartphone ownership and reliable internet connectivity may still be limited.