UPI to revolutionize school payments: Govt pushes for cashless classrooms across India

In a decisive push toward India’s digital future, the Ministry of Education has called on all States and Union Territories to adopt the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for school fee submissions, ushering in a new era of convenience, transparency, and tech-driven governance in the education sector.

The Department of School Education and Literacy, in a recent circular, urged schools and educational bodies to integrate UPI, mobile wallets, and net banking into their financial systems. Officials said the move aims to strengthen “Ease of Schooling” by allowing parents to make payments securely and instantly from home — eliminating long queues, manual record-keeping, and cash-handling errors.

The directive also extends to autonomous institutions such as the NCERT, CBSE, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS), encouraging them to digitize their processes for admission, examination, and other school-related fees.

According to the Ministry, the transition to digital payment platforms will not only streamline administrative workflows but also nurture financial literacy among students, parents, and staff — fostering a culture of digital confidence from a young age.

Framing the reform within the government’s broader vision, the Ministry underscored that integrating digital payments into education is a key milestone in India’s journey toward a Viksit Bharat 2047 — a fully digital, inclusive, and empowered nation.