The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) recently announced the launch of BHIM 2.0, an upgraded version of the Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) application. Originally developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the payment interface is based on the Unified Payment Interface (UPI), allowing real-time transfer of funds between bank accounts. The new release offers language support for three more languages, increases its transaction limit and adds more helpful features.
History of BHIM App
The original BHIM app was launched in December 2016 as an initiative of NPCI. Its primary function is to facilitate electronic payments across India. The app operates through UPI, a system that powers multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application, merging several banking features and seamless fund routing.
Improved Language Support in BHIM 2.0
In an effort to reach a larger demographic, BHIM 2.0 has added support for three additional languages — Konkani, Bhojpuri and Haryanvi. This is over and above the existing 13 languages that were already supported in the application. With these additions, the app now caters to a significantly larger section of the Indian population, many of whom are native speakers of these languages.
Increase in Transaction Limit
One significant update in BHIM 2.0 is the increase in the transaction limit. Earlier the maximum amount that could be transferred in one day was Rs. 20,000 for verified merchants. However, BHIM 2.0 has increased this cap, now allowing transactions up to Rs. 1,00,000.
New Features in BHIM 2.0
Apart from the language support and increased transaction limit, BHIM 2.0 introduces a host of other useful features. These include a ‘donation’ gateway and the option of linking multiple bank accounts. The new version also allows its users to apply in Initial Public Offering (IPO) directly from the app. Additionally, the app now also includes a feature to gift money.
| Original BHIM | BHIM 2.0 |
|---|---|
| Support for 13 languages | Support for 16 languages |
| Transaction limit of Rs. 20,000 | Transaction limit of Rs. 1,00,000 |
| Link one bank account only | Link multiple bank accounts |
| No donation gateway | Donation gateway added |
| No IPO feature | IPO application feature added |
| No gifting money feature | Gifting money feature added |
Wrapping Up
The launch of BHIM 2.0 is an exciting development in the digital payments landscape of India. With the addition of three regional languages and enhancements to the features and functionality, the app is better equipped than ever to serve the needs of its users across the country.
