Business & Finance
Anand Mahindra Switches to BHIM After Meeting NPCI’s Dilip Asbe
Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra said he began using the BHIM app after a conversation with NPCI Managing Director and CEO Dilip Asbe. Mahindra recalled being asked which digital payments app he used; when he named his preferred platform, a friend suggested, “Why not use BHIM, our very own Indian app?” He admitted he knew little about BHIM, which was launched in December 2016 by NPCI and uses the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) to transfer money directly between bank accounts. Unlike consumer‑facing apps such as PhonePe, Google Pay and Paytm, BHIM is NPCI’s own UPI application.
Mahindra explained that the discussion helped him see the difference between the apps consumers use and the underlying infrastructure that powers them. He compared the apps to trains running on a railway network, with NPCI providing the tracks, and praised India’s digital payments infrastructure. He cited more than 2,400 crore UPI transactions processed in September, averaging over 80 crore transactions a day, and noted that India is now the world’s largest real‑time payments market.
The conversation also covered NPCI’s plans to develop additional infrastructure for digital financial services. Mahindra said Asbe was thinking about building more “railroads” to enable new applications across wider financial spheres. He highlighted Asbe’s humility, describing him as a leader focused on his organization’s work rather than personal recognition.
Mahindra concluded that the meeting prompted him to switch to the BHIM app. He thanked Asbe for showing how ambition and humility can coexist.
Anjali Thakur, Senior Assistant Editor with Mint, reported on the story.
Frequently asked questions
When was the BHIM app launched?
BHIM was launched in December 2016 by NPCI.
How many UPI transactions were processed in September?
In September, more than 2,400 crore UPI transactions were processed, averaging over 80 crore transactions a day.
What did Anand Mahindra say about NPCI's infrastructure?
Mahindra compared digital payment apps to trains on a railway network, saying NPCI provides the tracks and praised India's digital payments infrastructure.