DPI Brief — ${MONTH} ${DAY}, ${YEAR}
Today’s DPI Updates (7 Layers)
L1: Identity & Authentication
UIDAI Streamlines Aadhaar Onboarding Process
UIDAI released Circular 3 of 2026 on March 23, establishing a two-stage onboarding framework for Authentication User Agencies (AUAs) and KYC User Agencies (KUAs). The circular mandates a structured transition from pre-onboarding to pre-production, followed by pre-production to production—standardizing how requesting entities integrate with Aadhaar authentication services. 1
This comes as the authority continues expanding its digital ecosystem, with updates to Aadhaar Seva Kendra operations and mandatory biometric update protocols for residents aged 15 and above. 2
L2: Payments & Financial Rails
PhonePe IPO on Hold; UPI Dominance Continues
PhonePe, India’s largest UPI platform by transaction volume, has shelved its IPO plans citing geopolitical uncertainty and market volatility. The Walmart-backed firm processed approximately 9.3 billion transactions worth ₹13.1 trillion in February 2026, maintaining leadership over Google Pay’s 6.8 billion transactions. 3
In related payment infrastructure news, Apple is reportedly exploring bringing Apple Pay to India—a development that could reshape the contactless payments landscape. Meanwhile, European fintech Revolut announced plans to locate 40% of its global workforce in India by 2026, with innovations like video-based KYC developed in its India GCC now being exported to other markets. 4
L4: Commerce & Logistics
WTO E-Commerce Talks: India Offers 2-Year Extension
At the WTO’s 14th Ministerial Meeting in Yaoundé, Cameroon, India indicated willingness to accept a two-year extension of the moratorium on customs duties for electronic transmissions. The talks remain deadlocked with the US, with diplomats warning that failure to extend could undermine the multilateral trading system. 5
L5: Sectoral Infrastructure
Census 2027: Self-Enumeration Portal Goes Live
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has instructed all central government officials to self-enumerate for the Census 2027 exercise beginning April. A dedicated web portal has been created for the first time, enabling households to submit details 15 days before house-to-house enumeration commences. The initiative aims to “encourage wider public adoption” of digital census methods. 6
L7: Security, Privacy & Trust
MeitY Invites Proposals for Cyber Laws Centre of Excellence
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology issued a Call for Proposals for establishing Centres of Excellence for Cyber Laws, with submissions due April 22, 2026. The initiative targets legal and technical capacity building for digital governance compliance. 7