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How UPI will function overseas: Step by step guide to activate the service for international travel

Unified Payment Interface, commonly known as UPI, services are now available in multiple countries other than India. These include Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Bhutan, Oman, Nepal, France and UAE. NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), the International arm of National Payment Corporation of India has also signed an agreement with other countries to enable QR-based UPI payments in 10 Southeast Asia countries. These include Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, Cambodia, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong. India is working to bring UPI service support in the United Kingdom, Australia, European nations and the US as well. What it means for users This means that if you are travelling to any of these countries, you can choose to not get the Indian Rupee converted to the local currency and use your phone’s app to make payments via UPI. Here’s a guide on how you can activate services before you travel. Steps to activate UPI payments before international travel: Open the UPI app and click on your profile picture. Under the Payment Settings section, select UPI International. Click the Activate button next to the bank account you wish to use for international UPI payments. Enter your UPI PIN to confirm the activation. How to activate UPI International on PhonePe: Open the UPI app. Click on your profile picture. Under the Payment Settings section, select UPI International. Click the Activate button next to the bank account you wish to use for international UPI payments. Enter your UPI PIN to confirm the activation. How to make international payments using Google Pay: - Open the Google Pay app and tap Scan QR code. - Scan the international merchant’s QR code. - Enter the amount in payable foreign currency. - Select the bank account you want to use to pay the international merchant. - A screen appears to activate "UPI International." It is to be noted that users can activate international transactions for bank accounts that support UPI International. Furthermore, the debit from the bank account is in Indian currency, which means the foreign exchange conversion rate and bank fee will be applicable on making the transactions.

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Nearly 5 lakh passengers affected due to flight delays in Jan 2024: DGCA

: A whopping 4.82 lakh passengers were affected due to delayed flights (beyond two hours) in January this year, forcing the airlines to shell out Rs 3.69 crore towards facilitation, according to the DGCA monthly traffic data released on Thursday. At the same time, domestic passenger traffic grew 4.69 percent in January to 1.31 crore over the same month of last year, according to the DGCA. The domestic passenger traffic for January 2023 was recorded at 1.25 crore. In addition to delays, some 1,374 passengers were denied boarding in the previous month by the various airlines, resulting in a spend of Rs 1.28 crore in compensation other than providing alternate flights and accommodation, refreshments, and meals, according to data. In addition to this, the airlines also coughed up Rs 1.43 crore, along with offering refunds and re-bookings to the 68,362 passengers whose flights were canceled during the month, as per the DGCA data. On the domestic passenger traffic front, no-frills carrier IndiGo accounted for 60.2 percent or 79.09 lakh passengers, followed by Air India with a 12.2 percent market share at 15.97 lakh passengers during the month During January 2024, a total of 732 passenger-related complaints had been received by the scheduled domestic airlines.

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Five Upcoming Events In Delhi That You Can't Miss

Delhi, the vibrant capital of India, hums with a contagious energy. Whether you're a resident or a visitor, there's always something new to discover. So, dust off your calendar and get ready to mark these five exciting events happening in Delhi this weekend Stitches in Time - A Photo Walk in Old Delhi Join hands with renowned photographer and filmmaker Chandan Savio Gomes on a journey to capture the soul of the every day in KNMA's "City as Museum" series. Walk through the nooks and corners of Old Delhi on February 17th and attempt to make photographs that reflect the every day and the ordinary away from the stereotypes that have come to define this section of the city. Wear comfortable shoes suitable for walking on uneven terrain. Invasions By Fetus Get ready for a cultural explosion as Fetus, a narrative-driven streetwear brand, teams up with experimental electronic artist Dolorblind and Free Society, Delhi's premier streetwear and vintage hub, for Fetus Invasions Volume 01! This isn't your average event; it's a multi-sensory experience designed to blow your mind. On Friday, February 17th, 2024, head to the Free Society in Adchini, Qutab Enclave, Delhi, and immerse yourself in a night of live performances, an electric lineup of DJs and fashion come together. The Bazaar, Sunder Nursery There is nothing like soaking the winter sun under the shade of trees at Sunder Nursery in Delhi, with a picnic spread and board games to keep your company. And now, with the aim of supporting self-help groups and NGOs, the nursery, the Aga Khan Trust For Culture is starting a bazaar for these collectives to sell their wares every Sunday, from 8am-1pm. Think organic local produce, spices and nuts and the products brought by NGOs for sale, along with delectable food and beverages on offer. Song Of Water: Indo-Dutch musical masterpiece The Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands in India and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) have collaborated for the second Tulip Festival, a vibrant event ongoing from February 10–20, 2024. The festival not only showcases the vivid colors of tulips but also serves to enhance the cultural connections between India and the Netherlands. As part of the Tulip Festival on February 17, 2024, the Embassy is presenting the enchanting open-air Indo-Dutch musical masterpiece, "Song of Water." Composed and performed by Pandit Shubhendra Rao and Maestro Saskia Rao-de Haas, accompanied by Shri Pranshu Chaturlal and Shri Heiko, this musical extravaganza will grace the serene ambiance of Nehru Park, starting at 4:00 pm onwards.

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Akasa Air launches international operations; first flight from Mumbai to Doha

Akasa Air on Friday said it will start international operations with flight services to Doha starting from March 28."Starting March 28, 2024, Akasa Air will operate four non-stop flights a week, connecting Mumbai with Doha, enhancing air connectivity between Qatar and India," the airline said in a release. Akasa Air Founder and CEO Vinay Dube said its foray into Qatar marks the next phase of growth as it continues the journey towards becoming one of the world's top 30 airlines by the turn of this decade. Currently, the airline, which started flying in August 2022, operates 23 Boeing 737 Max aircraft. On Feb 15, the airline also launched daily flights from Ayodhya to Pune via Delhi. Since it started flying in 2022, Akasa has garnered a market share of 4%, while bigger rival IndiGo has the largest share at 60% and Tata Group airlines have a combined 26%. Last month, Akasa's chief commercial officer said that the airline has plans to fly to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar in the first phase of its international expansion.

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Bihar kicks off 3-day Nagi Bird Festival from today

The Bihar Forest and Environment department is hosting the Nagi Bird Festival in Jamui, Bihar, for three days, starting from today. This initiative follows the success of an international bird workshop conducted by the Bihar Government, whereas the festival's primary goal is to advance bird conservation while educating the public on migratory birds and their habitats. Referring to this, Secretary of Forest Department Bandana Preyasi informed that the primary mission of this festival is to raise awareness about migratory birds, highlighting their rarity and their presence in the region for approximately two and a half months. The official added that such an initiative will likely help to transform this region into a robust eco-tourism site. She adds, "The Nagi Bird Festival not only enlightens people about these migratory birds and their conservation but also serves as a platform to promote tourism, leveraging the rarity of these birds as a unique attraction. Their brief stay of two and a half months turns the region into a strong eco-tourism hub." Preyasi further added that the immediate advantage of this kind of an initiative is that it will lead to increased awareness about migratory birds and their conservation efforts among the people here. Additionally, the festival is expected to stimulate eco-tourism, thereby creating employment opportunities for the local population, who could serve as guides for wildlife photographers and tourists. To heighten awareness about the Nagi Bird Festival, the state department of forest, environment, and climate change earlier launched publicity vans from Aranya Bhawan. These vans travelled from Patna to Jamui, educating people about bird conservation, with a particular focus on migratory species and their habitats. The 2024 Nagi Bird Festival's mascot, the Picu pochard, was unveiled during this campaign.

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Pangong frozen lake marathon to be held on Feb 20, with a focus on climate change

A unique and distinctive marathon, shedding light on the impact of climate change on Himalayan glaciers in Ladakh, will be organized on February 20 on the frozen Pangong Lake near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. The event will mark its second edition and will take place at an elevation of nearly 4,350 m above sea level, showcasing the unique challenges of running on a frozen lake. Organised by the Adventure Sports Foundation of Ladakh (ASFL) in collaboration with the Tourism Department and Ladakh administration, this marathon stands out for its commitment to sustainability. Revealing more about this, the organisers added that the event will take place with a sustainable approach, ensuring no use of plastic water bottles and waste-generating products are used during the event. In a message, the organisers elaborated on the unifying power of sports to bring together people of diverse races and religions, especially in addressing larger issues such as the climate crisis. The Pangong Frozen Lake Marathon, a unique initiative, is deliberately limited to 50 runners of all abilities for this year. Globally, frozen lake marathons, like the Iceberg Frozen Lake Marathon in Norway, have gained recognition as thrilling adventure activities. Running in winter poses inherent challenges, but doing so on a frozen lake adds an extra layer of excitement for adventurers from across the country and the world. A delegation led by Chamba Tsetan, the founder of the Adventure Sports Federation of Ladakh, met with Ladakh's Lieutenant Governor, Brig BD Mishra (retd), to discuss the upcoming marathon. The event, officially recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the World’s Highest Frozen Lake Half Marathon, aims to boost winter tourism in Changthang and promote sustainability on a global scale.

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