RBI Unveils Offline Digital Rupee: A Game-Changing Move Toward Cashless Transactions Without Internet

In a major step toward enhancing India’s digital payment ecosystem, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has launched the offline version of the Digital Rupee (e₹) during the Global Fintech Fest 2025 held in Mumbai. This new initiative enables users to make payments even without internet connectivity, marking a breakthrough in the country’s journey toward a fully inclusive digital economy.

What Is the Digital Rupee (e₹)?

The Digital Rupee, also known as Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), is the RBI’s official digital form of the Indian currency. It functions much like physical cash but exists entirely in electronic form. With this new offline capability, users can make transactions without the need for mobile data or Wi-Fi.

To put it simply, the Digital Rupee is a virtual version of cash in your wallet. You can store it in a digital wallet provided by participating banks and use it to make payments offline — just by scanning a QR code or tapping your device. Each transaction is processed securely, ensuring that payments can be made seamlessly even in areas with poor or no network coverage.

How Does It Work?

Using the offline e₹ is simple and user-friendly. You only need to:

Download a supported app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

Register yourself on the app through your bank’s authentication process.

Load your e₹ wallet with digital currency from your linked bank account.

Make payments offline to individuals or merchants by scanning a QR code or tapping your phone using NFC (Near Field Communication) technology.

Once the payment is made, the amount is instantly deducted from your wallet balance, and the recipient receives confirmation — all without requiring an active internet connection.

Who Will Benefit the Most?

The offline Digital Rupee aims to empower people living in rural and remote areas, where internet and mobile network connectivity remain unreliable. This innovation ensures that digital financial inclusion reaches every corner of India.

Farmers, small business owners, and residents in low-connectivity zones can now make and receive payments effortlessly. It will also help in reducing dependency on physical cash and promote a more transparent and traceable payment system, even without the internet.

By introducing offline payment options, the RBI is addressing one of the biggest barriers to digital adoption — network accessibility. Through NFC-based transactions and telecom-assisted systems, users can now transact anytime, anywhere, without worrying about connectivity issues.

Which Banks Are Offering the Digital Rupee Wallet?

RBI has partnered with several major banks across the country to roll out this feature. The offline e₹ wallet is currently being introduced through the following institutions:

• State Bank of India (SBI)

• ICICI Bank

• IDFC First Bank

• Yes Bank

• HDFC Bank

• Union Bank of India

• Bank of Baroda

• Kotak Mahindra Bank

• Canara Bank

• Axis Bank

• IndusInd Bank

• Punjab National Bank (PNB)

• Federal Bank

• Indian Bank

These banks will allow users to store, send, and receive Digital Rupee through secure wallet applications.

A Step Toward a Smarter Future

The launch of the offline Digital Rupee marks a pivotal moment in India’s financial innovation. It not only strengthens the RBI’s digital vision but also complements government efforts toward a cashless and connected economy.

By enabling offline transactions, the central bank has effectively bridged the gap between digital and physical money — ensuring that even those without internet access are not left behind. This initiative reflects a forward-thinking approach to financial inclusion and positions India among the leading nations experimenting with cutting-edge digital currency infrastructure.

As the Digital Rupee gradually becomes part of everyday transactions, experts believe it could redefine the way Indians handle money, offering convenience, security, and accessibility to all — whether online or offline.