1. Shri Mahapatra, Chairman, National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), Shri Nandan Nilekani, Shri Dilip Asbe, Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), NPCI, bankers and distinguished guests, it gives me immense pleasure to be in your midst as we launch a new, enhanced version of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). I was especially moved by Nandan’s kind words for the RBI’s contribution in recent years in the area of digital payments. It would be remiss of us if we don’t acknowledge the strong foundations laid down by those who preceded us; it is, in part, because of their work that we have been able to make rapid progress.

2. Payment and Settlement Systems are at the heart of a modern economy. Recognising this, the Reserve Bank has been, over the years, initiating measures that have resulted in the payment systems in India gaining international recognition. In introducing: (i) second factor authentication; (ii) a unified payments structure; and (iii) the Bharat Quick Response

Shri B. Mahapatra, Chairman, NPCI, Shri Dilip Asbe, MD, NPCI, distinguished guests, fellow bankers, captains of the industry and the Honourable members of the Jury – it gives me great pleasure to be amidst you all as NPCI today recognises the significant work done by the innovators in payment systems of the country. Let me begin with a quote by Robin Sharma, the motivational speaker, who says ‘Small daily improvements over time lead to stunning results’. No one can di