Overview
- WhatsApp announced the new Bill Payments feature on September 3 and has begun a phased rollout that will reach Android and iOS users across India over the coming weeks.
- The service is built on Bharat Connect (BBPS) and connects to about 22,722 registered billers across 30 categories, including electricity, water, gas, FASTag, insurance, credit cards and loan repayments.
- Users access the feature by tapping the ₹ icon on WhatsApp’s home screen; bills are pre‑fetched, past and upcoming charges are shown, multiple accounts per biller can be managed, and payments complete inside the app.
- Payments support UPI as well as debit and credit cards, and the launch leverages WhatsApp’s growing Pay volume to position the messaging app as a direct rival to PhonePe, Google Pay and other UPI‑centric services.
- Regulatory limits and oversight by Indian authorities remain a watch point as WhatsApp expands fintech services, and the move could change how millions of Indians handle routine bill chores by reducing the need to switch between separate payments apps.