RBI eRupee: Money will reach someone else's account without internet, know how different e-Rupee is from normal currency..

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched the offline e-Rupee (e₹) during the Global Fintech Fest 2025 held in Mumbai. The unique feature of this digital rupee is that it allows you to make payments even when there is no internet or mobile network. The RBI states that this currency can be used in digital format, just like physical cash. Let us provide you with complete information about this new digital currency.

What is Digital Rupee (e₹)?

The Digital Rupee, or e₹, is a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) issued by the Reserve Bank of India. It was launched as a pilot project on December 1, 2022. It is essentially a digital form of the Indian rupee. It has the same trust and value as cash, except it is secured in a digital wallet. You can use it for payments just like you currently use currency (notes). The Reserve Bank of India issues the digital rupee as currency.

How is the digital rupee different from UPI?

While UPI allows money to be transferred from one bank account to another, the digital rupee (e₹) works exactly like cash. This means you can instantly send, receive, or pay a merchant without having to use your bank account each time. It's similar to withdrawing cash from your wallet to pay a shopkeeper. Transactions take place between apps and wallets, not banks. You don't need internet access to use the digital rupee, but you do need a telecom company's network. It's currently being tested for NFC transactions.

Which banks are offering wallets?

Currently, 15 banks are participating in the retail CBDC pilot and are providing e-Rupee wallets to the public. These include SBI, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, PNB, Yes Bank, Union Bank, Bank of Baroda, Kotak Mahindra, Canara Bank, IDFC First, IndusInd Bank, Indian Bank, Karnataka Bank, and Federal Bank. You will need to download the eRupee app for the bank you hold an account with from the Google Play Store or App Store.

Payments will also be made using UPI QR codes.

The eRupee wallet features a QR code scanner. This allows users to make digital rupee payments by directly scanning any merchant's UPI QR code. This allows for easy integration between UPI and eRupee. There are no fees or minimum balance requirements.

The wallet will remain safe even if the phone is lost. Even if the mobile phone is lost, the e-rupee wallet can be recovered. It does not earn any interest, but it is a completely safe and trusted digital currency.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from Amar Ujala. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.