Consider the following countries:
- I.United Arab Emirates
- II.France
- III.Germany
- IV.Singapore
- V.Bangladesh
How many countries amongst the above are there other than India where international merchant payments are accepted under UPI?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (b) Only three
Of the five, UPI payments work in the United Arab Emirates, France and Singapore, so three is the count. Germany and Bangladesh are not among the countries where the Government lists UPI as live.
- ✓ I The UAE is among the countries where UPI is live.
- ✓ II France is among the countries where UPI is live.
- ✗ III Germany is not among the countries the Government names as having UPI live.
- ✓ IV Singapore is among the countries where UPI is live.
- ✗ V Bangladesh is not among the countries the Government names as having UPI live.
- • Since then The list has grown since the exam. The Ministry of Electronics and IT told the Rajya Sabha on 6 February 2026 that UPI is live in over eight countries, including the UAE, Singapore, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, France, Mauritius and Qatar; Germany and Bangladesh are still not named (PIB, 6 Feb 2026).
Remember · UPI abroad, exam-year answer: UAE, France and Singapore yes; Germany and Bangladesh no. Other live countries include Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Mauritius and Qatar.
Sources
- PIB, Ministry of Electronics & IT (6 Feb 2026): India has signed MoU / agreements with 23 countries for cooperation on Digital Public Infrastructure; UPI is now live in over eight countries ↗ “UPI is now live in over eight countries, including the UAE, Singapore, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, France, Mauritius and Qatar, positioning India as a global leader in digital payments.”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2025, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·