India’s Digital Public Infrastructure Goes Global: 24 Countries Adopt India Stack, UPI and DigiLocker

India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) has emerged as a global model for digital governance, financial inclusion, and public service delivery. In a significant milestone, 24 countries have partnered with India to adopt components of India Stack, including the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), DigiLocker, and other digital governance platforms.

The initiative reflects India’s growing leadership in digital innovation and strengthens its position as a global provider of scalable, secure, and inclusive digital public infrastructure.

India’s Global Digital Expansion: Key Highlights

What is India Stack?

India Stack is a collection of interoperable Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) solutions developed by India to deliver secure, paperless, and cashless services.

It enables governments, businesses, and citizens to access digital services efficiently while ensuring security and transparency.

Major Components of India Stack

• Aadhaar – Digital identity platform.
• Unified Payments Interface (UPI) – Instant real-time digital payment system.
• DigiLocker – Secure cloud-based document storage.
• e-KYC – Digital identity verification.
• eSign – Electronic document signing.
• Account Aggregator Framework – Secure sharing of financial data with user consent.

These platforms have transformed public service delivery and digital financial inclusion in India.

24 Countries Partner with India

India has signed agreements with 24 countries to share its Digital Public Infrastructure and support digital transformation initiatives.

According to reports:

• Kenya and Cuba have begun implementing DigiLocker.
• Several countries are integrating UPI-based payment systems.
• India is providing technical expertise and digital governance solutions to partner nations.

This collaboration strengthens India’s role as a trusted digital technology partner.

Countries Where UPI Merchant Payments Are Available

India’s UPI ecosystem has expanded rapidly beyond its borders.

Currently, UPI merchant payments are available in:

• Bhutan
• France
• Mauritius
• Nepal
• Qatar
• Singapore
• Sri Lanka
• United Arab Emirates (UAE)
• Cambodia

The expansion makes digital payments more convenient for Indian travelers and businesses while promoting international acceptance of India’s payment infrastructure.

Countries in Discussion for India Stack Adoption

India is currently in discussions with several countries to expand its Digital Public Infrastructure initiatives.

These countries include:

• Laos
• Seychelles
• Venezuela
• Armenia
• Fiji
• Guyana
• Colombia

The discussions include adopting digital governance platforms such as:

• e-Sanjeevani
• e-Office
• e-Hospital

These platforms aim to improve healthcare, governance, and public administration through digital technology.

What is UPI?

The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is India’s real-time digital payment system developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

Launched in 2016, UPI enables users to:

• Transfer money instantly.
• Make merchant payments.
• Send and receive funds using mobile phones.
• Complete transactions without entering bank account details.

Today, UPI is regarded as one of the world’s largest and most successful digital payment systems.

What is DigiLocker?

DigiLocker is a secure cloud-based digital document storage platform launched under the Digital India programme.

It allows citizens to securely store and access important documents such as:

• Aadhaar Card
• PAN Card
• Driving Licence
• Vehicle Registration Certificate (RC)
• Academic Certificates
• Government-issued Documents

The platform reduces paperwork while improving the efficiency of public service delivery.

Why Is India’s Digital Expansion Important?

The growing international adoption of India Stack is expected to deliver multiple benefits.

Key Benefits

• Enhances India’s global digital leadership.
• Strengthens international digital cooperation.
• Promotes financial inclusion through digital payment systems.
• Reduces reliance on paper-based governance.
• Encourages innovation in digital public services.
• Creates opportunities for Indian technology companies and startups.
• Expands India’s digital diplomacy and technology exports.

The initiative also supports developing countries in building affordable, secure, and scalable digital ecosystems.

Key Takeaways

• 24 countries have partnered with India to adopt India Stack.
• India Stack includes UPI, DigiLocker, Aadhaar, e-KYC, eSign, and the Account Aggregator framework.
• Kenya and Cuba have started implementing DigiLocker.
• UPI merchant payments are currently available in Bhutan, France, Mauritius, Nepal, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, UAE, and Cambodia.
• Discussions are underway with Laos, Seychelles, Venezuela, Armenia, Fiji, Guyana, and Colombia for adopting India’s digital governance platforms.
• The initiative is expected to strengthen India’s global digital leadership and promote cross-border digital collaboration.