The debate over the origins of India’s celebrated Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has ignited a political feud. A day after French President Emmanuel Macron praised the system, the Congress party asserted the framework was conceived under the UPA administration between 2012 and 2013.
Congress leader Pawan Khera criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, likening him to a student in a group project who fails to contribute but claims credit. He emphasized that the foundational ideas of UPI were initiated by a committee led by Nandan Nilekani and backed by the UPA.
We all remember that one classmate in a group project – does no work, but shows up to take all the credit. That’s Narendra Modi.
Look at the UPI architecture in India that was appreciated by @EmmanuelMacron –
1. The initial conception of UPI happened in 2012–2013, under a… pic.twitter.com/lZE05oAZRO
— Pawan Khera 🇮🇳 (@Pawankhera) February 20, 2026
Meanwhile, Macron underscored the extraordinary impact of UPI on India’s digital landscape, highlighting its role in enabling seamless payments. Modi, on the other hand, praised UPI for bridging digital gaps, though Congress argues the original vision wasn’t his. The dispute underscores the critical transformative role of UPI in India’s digital economy.
(With inputs from agencies.)
