DPI Brief — April 09, 2026
Today’s DPI Updates (7 Layers)
L1: Identity & Authentication
Census 2027 Digital Self-Enumeration Portal Opens April 16
India’s first fully digital Census moves forward with the self-enumeration portal set to open on April 16, 2026. Citizens can securely fill household details online via se.census.gov.in during a 15-day window before house-to-house enumeration begins. Senior officials including Principal Secretary to PM PK Mishra have already completed their self-enumeration, setting an example for national participation. Phase I (houselistng) begins April 2026, with Phase II (demographic details) scheduled for February 2027. The digital-first approach marks a significant milestone in modernizing India’s statistical infrastructure.
L2: Payments & Financial Rails
BHIM App Introduces Biometric Authentication for UPI Payments
NPCI BHIM Services Limited has launched biometric authentication for the BHIM Payments App, allowing users to approve UPI transactions up to ₹5,000 using smartphone fingerprint or facial recognition. The feature is available on both iOS and Android, reducing reliance on PIN entry while keeping payments tied to the user’s device. This enhancement focuses on making everyday payments simpler and more secure for all Indian users.
PhonePe IPO Plans Shelved Amid Global Market Volatility
Walmart-backed PhonePe has postponed its IPO plans, citing geopolitical tensions and volatile market conditions. Despite the delay, PhonePe maintains its leadership position in the UPI ecosystem, processing approximately 9.3 billion transactions worth ₹13.1 trillion in February 2026—significantly ahead of Google Pay’s 6.8 billion transactions. Investment bankers had reportedly suggested lowering valuation expectations to around $9 billion.
UPI Expands to Central Asia via 8B-PayU Partnership
Indian UPI payments are now accessible in Central Asia through a strategic partnership between 8B (a Central Asian fintech infrastructure company) and PayU. Merchants in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan can now accept UPI payments directly from Indian tourists. This expansion demonstrates the growing international adoption of India’s payment infrastructure.
Revolut to Base 40% of Global Workforce in India by 2026
European fintech firm Revolut plans to have 40% of its global workforce based in India by end of 2026, filling 1,600 roles to reach 5,500 total headcount. The company committed £500 million to its India business and GCC over five years in 2025. Innovations developed in India, such as video-based KYC systems, are being deployed across global markets.
L3: Documents & Data Exchange
Digital Document Infrastructure Continues Integration
DigiLocker and eSign continue serving as critical components of India’s document infrastructure. The platform integrates with various government departments for paperless service delivery. Census 2027’s digital self-enumeration builds on this infrastructure, allowing citizens to securely store and share household data.
L4: Commerce & Logistics
ONDC Network Expansion Continues
ONDC remains live across 616+ cities with 26 domains operational, 306 active network participants, and 7.64+ lakh sellers onboarded. The network has processed over 16 million total orders since inception, with recent expansion into travel, tourism, and hospitality sectors through an MoU with FICCI.
L5: Sectoral Infrastructure
Healthcare Digitalization Advances
ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) continues gaining momentum as India’s unified health ID system, integrated with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. The platform enables longitudinal health data management and seamless sharing of medical records across healthcare providers.
L6: Governance & Grievance
Digital Governance Platforms Remain Operational
CPGRAMS and eOffice continue facilitating paperless government operations. The JAM trinity (Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, Mobile) remains foundational for direct benefit transfers and welfare delivery across government services.
L7: Security, Privacy & Trust
Global Cybersecurity Landscape Evolves
CERT-In maintains vigilance over cybersecurity threats affecting DPI components. International cybersecurity developments include a critical Fortinet vulnerability (CVE-2026-35616) being actively exploited, prompting CISA to mandate remediation by April 9, 2026. India’s DPDP Act implementation frameworks continue developing to ensure compliance across digital platforms handling personal data.