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In this episode of One Big Bite, we look at how UPI became such an ordinary part of everyday life in India—and what it takes to keep digital payments simple, secure and affordable as they scale. We examine the hidden architecture behind UPI and map its growth, tracing how interoperability, QR codes, demonetisation and COVID-19 drove its rapid adoption and how it changed consumer and merchant behaviour. We also explore who pays for a system that feels free, why cybersecurity and infrastructure will matter more as usage grows, and what UPI’s international expansion means for India’s digital future.