View source for Software:BHIM

{{short description|Indian mobile payments app}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox software
| name = BHIM (Bharat Interface for Money)
| logo = BHIM SVG Logo.svg
| logo size = 250px
| logo alt = BHIM Logo
| logo caption = 
| screenshot = <!-- Image name is enough. -->
| screenshot alt = 
| caption = 
| collapsible = <!-- Any text here will collapse the screenshot. -->
| developer = [[Company:National Payments Corporation of India|NPCI]]
| released = {{Start date and age|2016|12|30|df=yes}}
| discontinued = <!-- Set to yes if software is discontinued, otherwise omit. -->
| ver layout = <!-- simple (default) or stacked -->
| latest release version = 
| latest release date = <!-- {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes/no}} -->
| latest preview version = 
| latest preview date = <!-- {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes/no}} -->
| repo = <!-- {{URL|example.org}} -->
| programming language = 
| operating system = {{Plainlist|
*[[Software:Android (operating system)|Android]] 5 & above
*[[Software:IOS|iOS]] 9.0 and above}}
| platform = {{Plainlist|
*[[Software:Google Play|Google Play]]
*[[Software:App Store (iOS)|App Store]]}}
| size = 26 MB
| language count = 20
| language footnote = 
| genre = [[Mobile app]]
| license = [[Open source]]
| alexa = 
| website = {{official URL}}
| standard = 
| AsOf = 
}}

'''BHIM''' ('''Bharat Interface for Money''') is an Indian [[Finance:Mobile payment|mobile payment]] [[Mobile app|app]] developed by the [[Company:National Payments Corporation of India|National Payments Corporation of India]] (NPCI), based on the [[Unified Payments Interface]] (UPI). Launched on 30 December 2016,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Modi-launches-mobile-payment-app/article16964375.ece1|title=Modi launches mobile payment app|first=Arun|last=S|date=30 December 2016|work=The Hindu}}</ref> it is intended to facilitate e-payments directly through banks and encourage cashless transactions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/bhim-app-narendra-modi-digi-dhan-mela-demonetisation-4452004/ |title=People can now bank with thumb using BHIM app: PM Modi at Digi Dhan Mela |work=The Indian Express |date=30 December 2016 |access-date=31 December 2016}}</ref> It was named after Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-12-30 |title=Modi launches app named after Ambedkar, says your thumb will act as your bank |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/your-thumb-is-your-bank-now-modi-launches-bhim-app-for-mobile-transactions/story-0OIQKfnMo72xo7aOMAL5dN.html |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref>

The application supports all Indian banks which use UPI, which is built over the [[Finance:Immediate Payment Service|Immediate Payment Service]] (IMPS) infrastructure and allows the user to instantly transfer money between 170 member banks<ref>{{Cite web|title=BHIM (Bharat Interface for Money) {{!}} Digital India Programme {{!}} Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology(MeitY) Government of India|url=https://digitalindia.gov.in/content/bhim-bharat-interface-money|access-date=2021-12-10|website=digitalindia.gov.in}}</ref> of any two parties.<ref>{{Cite web|title=IMPS Live Members {{!}} NPCI - National Payments Corporation of India|url=https://www.npci.org.in/what-we-do/imps/live-members|access-date=2022-02-04|website=www.npci.org.in}}</ref> It can be used on all mobile devices.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/your-thumb-is-your-bank-now-modi-launches-bhim-app-for-mobile-transactions/story-0OIQKfnMo72xo7aOMAL5dN.html |title=Modi launches app named after Ambedkar, says your thumb will act as your bank &#124; india-news |work=Hindustan Times |access-date=3 December 2016}}</ref>

==Operation==
BHIM allows users to send or receive money to or from UPI payment addresses, or to non-UPI based accounts (by scanning a [[QR code]] with account number and [[Finance:Indian Financial System Code|IFS code]] or MMID code).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.npci.org.in/|title=BHIM UPI Official website|date=12 January 2017|publisher=National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)|access-date=12 January 2017|archive-date=29 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129122718/https://www.npci.org.in/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Unlike mobile wallets ([[Company:Paytm|Paytm]], [[Company:MobiKwik|MobiKwik]], [[Finance:M-Pesa|M-Pesa]], Airtel Money, etc.) which hold money,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.businesstoday.in/technology/reviews/bhim-app-different-from-mobile-wallets/story/246895.html|title=How is BHIM app different from mobile wallets- Business News|website=businesstoday.in|date=23 February 2017 |access-date=7 June 2017}}</ref> the BHIM app is only a mechanism which transfers money between different bank accounts. Transactions on BHIM are nearly instantaneous and can be done at any time, including weekends and bank holidays.

BHIM now also allows users to send or receive digital payments through [[Biology:Aadhaar|Aadhaar]] authentication.<ref>{{Cite web|title=How to transfer money using Aadhaar number via BHIM App: Follow steps|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/information/story/how-to-transfer-money-using-aadhaar-number-via-bhim-app-follow-steps-1696762-2020-07-03|access-date=19 July 2020|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref>

=== On-device wallet ===
On September 20, RBI governor Shaktikanta Das officially launched on-device wallet called UPI Lite at Global Fintech Fest 2022. As per NPCI, some of the early use cases involve [[Company:FASTag|FASTag]] recharges, insurance payments, and EMI collections offline. Canara Bank, [[Company:HDFC Bank|HDFC Bank]], Indian Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Punjab National Bank, State Bank of India, Union Bank of India and Utkarsh Small Finance Bank enabled UPI Lite feature on BHIM.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chanchal |date=2022-09-20 |title=UPI Lite among key digital payment initiatives launched: Here's how it works |url=https://www.livemint.com/industry/banking/upi-lite-among-key-digital-payment-initiatives-launched-here-s-how-it-works-11663681116422.html |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=mint |language=en}}</ref>

==Transaction fees and limits==
Currently, there is no charge for transactions from ₹1 to ₹100,000.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.npci.org.in/UPI_FAQs.aspx|title=National Payments Corporation of India|website=npci.org.in|access-date=16 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517103604/http://www.npci.org.in/UPI_FAQs.aspx|archive-date=17 May 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/technology/story/irctc-to-launch-new-app-for-faster-booking-of-tickets/1/851714.html|title=IRCTC to launch new app for faster booking of tickets|access-date=7 June 2017|language=en}}</ref> Some banks might, however, levy a fee for UPI or IMPS transfers.

In 2017 Indian banks have proposed transaction charges on UPI transactions,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/banks-to-start-charging-for-p2p-payments-on-upi-2298531.html|title=Banks to start charging for P2P payments on UPI|website=Moneycontrol|date=6 June 2017 |language=en-US|access-date=8 June 2017}}</ref> but there is no information on whether transactions through BHIM will also be charged.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-08-31 |title=BHIM UPI charges: Digital payments to get cheaper; No fee for transactions below Rs 100 |url=https://www.zeebiz.com/personal-finance/news-bhim-upi-charges-digital-payments-to-get-cheaper-no-fee-for-transactions-below-rs-100-109569 |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=Zee Business}}</ref>

==Language support==
{{As of|2023|01}} the app supports 20 languages (including English), and is expected to support all 22 recognised languages of India.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BHIM Anniversary Edition |url=https://www.bhimupi.org.in/bhim-anniversary-edition |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=BHIM UPI}}</ref>

== License ==
NPCI on 9 November 2022 announced that BHIM app will use an open source license model. All regulated financial entities can now use the source code and in future release the same functionalities that BHIM app uses.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2022-11-09 |title=NPCI announces BHIM app open-source license model |url=https://www.livemint.com/industry/banking/npci-announces-bhim-app-open-source-license-model-11668001560218.html |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=mint |language=en}}</ref> 

==Reception==
During the 2017 Union budget of India, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that the app is currently being used by over 12.5&nbsp;million Indian citizens,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/tech/budget-2017-jaitley-says-bhim-app-now-has-125-lakh-downloads/story-J785IjvlDQREWGztyOLPrL.html|title=Budget 2017: Jaitley says BHIM app now has 125 lakh downloads|access-date=3 February 2017|work=Hindustan Times}}</ref> and that the government will launch two new schemes to promote its use. One will be referral payments for individuals, and the other will be cashback for merchants who accept payments.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/union-budget-2017-bhim-app-being-used-by-125-lakh-people/|title=Union Budget 2017: Govt announces two new incentives to promote BHIM app|access-date=3 February 2017|work=The Indian Express}}</ref> In October 2021, the BHIM UPI platform surpassed a record of $100 billion in value (₹7.71 lakh crore) with over 4.2 billion digital transactions.<ref>{{Cite web|title=UPI Transactions Value Crosses Record $100 Billion In October, On Track To End FY22 At Over $1 Trillion|url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/startup/upi-transactions-value-crosses-record-100-billion-in-october-on-track-to-end-fy22-at-over-1-trillion-7661711.html|access-date=2021-12-10|website=Moneycontrol|date=November 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Earlier in 2021, Bhutan became the first country to adopt the BHIM UPI for their digital transactions after the approval of the Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ohri|first=Nikunj|date=2021-07-13|title=Bhutan first country to adopt UPI; FM hails platform's role during lockdown|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/bhutan-first-country-to-adopt-upi-fm-hails-platform-s-role-during-lockdown-121071300864_1.html|access-date=2021-12-10}}</ref>   

== Security ==
In May 2020, VPNMentor, a cyber security firm, disclosed that the BHIM app suffered a huge data breach leaking approximately 7.26&nbsp;million Indian users' personal and financial data, such as name, contact details, [[Biology:Aadhaar|Aadhaar card]], PAN card, caste certificate, fingerprint scans, educational certificates and more. The 4.09 GB files were leaked from a CSC operated website because of a misconfigured [[Amazon S3|AWS S3 bucket]], and not the official BHIM website. CSC explicitly mentioned, however, that it is working with BHIM and NPCI in partnership. VPNMentor and other cybersecurity experts confirm the data to be authentic, but BHIM and NPCI claim that the breach never took place. The issue has now been fixed.<ref>{{Cite web|date=3 June 2020|title=BHIM Data Leak Exposes 7M Indian Users Data: Risk of Fraud & Theft|url=https://www.hackreports.com/bhim-app-data-leak-exposes-7m-indian-users-sensitive-data-risk-of-financial-fraud-identity-theft/|access-date=17 June 2020|website=Hack Reports|language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
* National Unified USSD Platform
* [[Unified Payments Interface]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==

{{Payment service providers}}
{{FinTech in India}}
{{Mobile payments}}

[[Category:Android (operating system) software]]
[[Category:IOS software]]
[[Category:Cross-platform software]]

{{Sourceattribution|BHIM}}