India’s main digital payments group is taking a big step into the future. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has launched a brand new tech branch. It is called NPCI Tech Solutions Limited (NTSL). The parent group owns this new unit fully.
To lead this new unit, NPCI chose Vishal Kanvaty. He is the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO). Before taking this role, he served as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for NPCI. This move marks a major shift in how India builds its banking tech.
This launch pulls future tech projects away from daily payment tasks. NTSL will focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and secure digital ledgers, known as blockchain. It will also run Global Capability Centre (GCC) services. This means the new unit will build complex tech tools, while the main NPCI group keeps the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) running safely.
Key Highlights at a Glance
- Leadership Change: Former CTO Vishal Kanvaty now leads the NTSL branch as CEO.
- Core Focus: The unit will build AI tools, smart ledgers, and shared public tech networks.
- Safe Testing: A separate unit keeps risky tech tests away from the live UPI network.
The Numbers Behind the Move: A ₹31.5 Lakh Crore Engine
To understand why NPCI needs a separate tech branch, we must look at its current size. The UPI network is growing very fast. It handles a massive amount of cash every single day. Managing this scale takes total focus and care.
In October 2026, the UPI network cleared 25.47 billion transactions. This data comes from NPCI’s official monthly reports. The total value of these payments hit ₹31.53 lakh crore in just one month. Today, 758 banks connect live to this fast payment grid.
| UPI Growth Metric | September 2026 Baseline | October 2026 Figure |
|---|---|---|
| Total Payment Volume | 24.06 Billion | 25.47 Billion (+5.8%) |
| Total Payment Value | ₹29.37 Lakh Crore | ₹31.53 Lakh Crore (+7.34%) |
| Live Banks on Grid | 756 Banks | 758 Banks |
With this much cash moving every second, NPCI cannot test new tech on the live grid. A single software bug could stop millions of payments. People would not be able to buy gas or groceries. By creating NTSL, NPCI solves this major risk. The new branch acts as a safe lab. It can build and test fresh tools away from the main system.
Regulatory Approvals and the Group Structure
This new branch did not happen overnight. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the NPCI board gave full approval for this setup. NTSL is now the fourth fully owned unit in the NPCI family. It sits next to three other clear branches.
First is NPCI International Payments (NIPL). This team takes UPI and RuPay to other countries. They help tourists pay safely abroad. Second is Bharat BillPay (NBBL). This branch handles daily bills. It lets you pay for water, power, and loan EMIs in one place. Third is BHIM Services (NBSL). This team runs the BHIM app for consumers.
Now, NTSL joins as the fourth unit. Its pure focus is advanced tech. By putting tech in its own box, NPCI keeps its corporate structure clean and safe.
"Advancements in AI and other emerging tech are creating new paths across digital networks. NTSL has been built to focus on these exact chances." — Dilip Asbe, MD & CEO, NPCI
How Vishal Kanvaty Will Guide the Tech Plan
Vishal Kanvaty knows the NPCI system inside and out. He joined the group in 2017. He spent years leading new product designs. In April 2023, he became the CTO. By promoting an insider, NPCI keeps its long-term tech plans steady. There is no learning curve for the new CEO.
What will NTSL actually build under his watch? The first major goal is AI. Banks urgently need smart tools to stop fraud. Today, hackers use fast computer scripts to steal money. They attack at all hours. Human guards cannot watch every single digital payment.
This is where AI steps in. A smart AI tool can watch millions of transfers in one second. It learns how you normally spend your cash. If a hacker tries to send a large sum at 3 AM, the AI spots the odd pattern. It blocks the transfer instantly. NTSL will likely build these smart guards for the whole banking network.
Building Shared Digital Public Goods
NTSL will also work heavily on blockchain. People often link this tech only to crypto coins. But for banks, it is much more useful. It acts like a highly secure, shared digital notebook. When a bank records a deal on a blockchain, it is locked. No one can erase or change it anonymously. This builds deep trust among banks.
NPCI has already built test projects using this secure tech. They launched open-source plans called *Falcon* and *Drunix* in the summer of 2026. These plans help banks test secure digital ledgers. Now, NTSL will turn these tests into real tools. Banks will use them to safely share data without exposing private client details.
Beyond banks, NTSL will power broader Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). These are shared tech systems that help all citizens. One major project is eKYC Setu. KYC stands for "Know Your Customer." Banks must verify who you are before opening an account.
In the past, this meant paper forms and long waits at a branch. Now, eKYC Setu makes it digital, safe, and instant. NTSL will manage the complex code that makes this system run without crashing.
Another major project is the Unified Ticketing Platform (UTP). This system aims to link transit tickets across the whole country. You could soon use one digital pass for a local bus, a metro ride, and a train. Building this requires massive data power. NTSL will handle the heavy lifting to keep the platform fast.
The News4Bharat View: A Shift Beyond Basic Payments
This launch changes how we must view NPCI. For years, people saw NPCI strictly as a payment clearinghouse. It was simply the engine behind UPI and RuPay cards. Now, NPCI wants to be a top software vendor. It wants to sell ready-made tech to the whole financial sector.
When a rural cooperative bank needs a smart fraud tracker, NTSL can sell them one. When a state needs a digital bus ticket system, NTSL can build it. This is a very smart business move. It opens up new ways for the group to earn money and grow.
NTSL can freely pitch its AI tools to private banks and fintech startups. Because it is a separate company, it can do this without causing rule conflicts with the main UPI payment system. It acts as a clear, commercial tech vendor.
What the Market Will Watch Next
The leadership is clearly in place, but many fine details remain hidden. NPCI has not shared NTSL's starting budget. We do not know how much money it plans to invest next year. The group has also not shared a timeline for new product releases.
The banking industry will watch closely for the first official product launch. When will NTSL release its first AI tool for banks to buy? Will it be a fraud tracker or a customer service bot?
Experts will also track the new GCC services. A Global Capability Centre is a tech hub that provides deep engineering skills. Where will NTSL build these hubs? Will they only serve India?
If NTSL starts winning contracts to build payment networks for other countries, it will be a huge win. It will prove that India's digital models work perfectly on a global stage. Until then, giving Vishal Kanvaty the CEO role shows that NPCI is deeply serious. The group is ready to write the next chapter of digital finance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Quick facts on the new tech branch and leadership changes.
What is NPCI Tech Solutions Limited (NTSL)?
NTSL is a fully owned branch of NPCI. It handles advanced tech development. It focuses on AI, smart ledgers, and shared public tech networks, away from daily retail payments.
Who is the new CEO of NTSL?
Vishal Kanvaty is the new MD and CEO of NTSL. Before this role, he worked as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for NPCI since April 2023.
What projects will NTSL manage?
NTSL will manage shared public tech like eKYC Setu and the Unified Ticketing Platform. It will also build new AI tools and blockchain systems for banks.
Is NTSL separate from the UPI network?
Yes. NPCI runs the live UPI network directly. NTSL is a distinct company. This keeps risky, experimental software testing safely away from daily money transfers.
What are Global Capability Centre (GCC) services?
GCCs are special tech hubs. They provide deep software engineering and data skills. NTSL plans to build these hubs to support broader banking and enterprise tech needs.
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