UPI transactions during Diwali recorded strong growth as festive shopping drove higher digital payment activity across India. Transactions on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) increased 28% year-on-year to 3.75 billion over the four-day period from November 5 to 8, 2026, according to data released by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

Key Highlights

• UPI transactions increased 28% year-on-year to 3.75 billion during November 5–8, 2026, while transaction value rose 38% to Rs 4.99 lakh crore.
• Dhanteras recorded Rs 1.37 lakh crore in UPI payments, while November 7 saw a record 975.8 million transactions.

The total transaction value rose 38% year-on-year to Rs 4.99 lakh crore during the period. The increase reflects higher payment activity during the festive shopping season, when consumers typically make purchases across categories ranging from jewellery and electronics to other goods and services.

Dhanteras Records Second-Highest Daily UPI Transaction Value

November 6, which coincided with Dhanteras, recorded UPI transactions worth Rs 1.37 lakh crore. This was the second-highest daily transaction value recorded on the platform.

Dhanteras is traditionally regarded as an auspicious occasion for purchasing high-value items, including gold, jewellery and other assets. The elevated transaction value on the day reflects the role of digital payments in facilitating festive purchases.

Transaction volumes reached a record on November 7, when UPI processed 975.8 million transactions in a single day. This marked the highest daily transaction count on record, highlighting the scale of digital payment activity during the Diwali period.

UPI Payment Volume and Value Grow During Festive Weekend

The four-day period from November 5 to 8 saw both transaction volume and value increase at a faster pace year-on-year. While the number of transactions rose 28%, the overall value increased 38% to Rs 4.99 lakh crore.

The difference between the growth rates indicates that the increase in transaction value outpaced volume growth during the period. The figures also underline UPI's role in supporting both everyday payments and higher-value festive purchases.

For comparison, the corresponding four-day period in 2025 ran from October 17 to 20. The latest figures point to an expansion in digital payments during this year's Diwali weekend.

Also Read: UPI Transaction Volume Hits Record 25.47 Billion in October: NPCI Data

Festive Spending Supports India's Digital Payments Growth

The rise in UPI transactions during Diwali highlights the growing use of digital payment infrastructure during major shopping occasions. With UPI transaction volume reaching a daily record and the four-day transaction value nearing Rs 5 lakh crore, UPI remained a key channel for payments during the festive period.

The November 6 and 7 milestones also demonstrate the scale of payment activity around Dhanteras and Diwali, as consumers used digital payment channels for purchases and other transactions.