Paying electricity and water bills just got easier: WhatsApp has launched a bill payments feature in India—here’s how it works..

WhatsApp already offers services in India such as payments, mobile recharges, metro ticket booking, and citizen services via government chatbots. Now, the company has added bill payment capabilities to the platform as well. This feature is based on the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS), also known as Bharat Connect. According to WhatsApp, users will have access to 22,722 billers across 30 different categories. Let’s explore the available features and the step-by-step process for paying bills.

**Access to over 22,000 billers and 30 categories**
The new bill payment feature for WhatsApp users is powered by NPCI’s Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS), or Bharat Connect. This feature grants users access to 22,722 billers across 30 distinct categories. This means you can now make everyday payments—such as electricity, water, LPG gas, FASTag recharges, insurance premiums, credit card bills, and loan repayments—directly through WhatsApp.

**How ​​to use WhatsApp Bill Payment?**
**Open WhatsApp:** Start by opening WhatsApp and tapping the ₹ (Payments) icon visible at the top of the home screen.

**Select Biller:** Choose the relevant bill category based on your needs and then select your specific biller (company or board).

**Link Account:** Enter your consumer or account number and confirm. WhatsApp will automatically fetch and display the bill amount and due date.

**Check Details:** Carefully review the information displayed on the screen and proceed to the payment option.

**Make Payment:** Once these steps are complete, you can finalize the payment using UPI, a debit card, or a credit card.

**Easy access to past bills**
Furthermore, previous bill payments made via WhatsApp will appear in the 'Payments Home' section. This makes it easier for users to locate the same biller again. Notably, the feature also allows you to manage multiple accounts for a single biller. For instance, if a user has separate electricity connections for their home and office, both accounts can be managed through this feature.

**Payment Home Section and Multiple Accounts Feature**
**Multiple Accounts:** Additionally, if you hold more than one connection—such as electricity bills for both your home and office—you will be able to easily manage multiple accounts from the same biller.

**Popular Categories:** The app will highlight the most frequently used bill categories on the screen, while users can click "See All" to view other options.

**Who will benefit?**
Currently, this bill payment feature is being rolled out gradually in India. In the coming weeks, it will become available to all Indian users across both Android and iOS platforms.

**Paying bills will be as easy as sending a message: Meta India**
Commenting on the launch of this feature, Arun Srinivas, Managing Director and Country Head of Meta India, stated that with bill payments, they are making one of the most common household tasks incredibly simple. People will no longer need to open multiple apps or keep track of various due dates. The goal is to make paying bills on WhatsApp as easy as sending a message, thereby strengthening the reach of digital payments to even the most remote areas of the country.