Osegi
Startups·2 min read

NPCI Launches NTSL, a Subsidiary Focused on AI and Blockchain

NPCI has set up NPCI Tech Solutions Ltd, a wholly owned unit that will build AI, blockchain and digital infrastructure capabilities beyond payments, led by Vishal Kanvaty.

NPCI headquarters signage with digital payment and AI network graphics representing the new NTSL technology subsidiary.
Image: Inc42 Media
SUMODialoediviewergiftdetect

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has created a wholly owned subsidiary, NPCI Tech Solutions Ltd (NTSL), to build capabilities in AI, blockchain and digital financial infrastructure beyond its core payments mandate. Vishal Kanvaty, who has been associated with NPCI for nearly a decade, has been appointed managing director and CEO.

NPCI described NTSL as the group's technology and innovation arm. Its remit includes global capability centre (GCC) services and technology services for eKYC Setu, the Unified Ticketing Platform and other digital public infrastructure programmes. According to NPCI, Kanvaty has led the development and commercialisation of several platforms that now fall within the subsidiary's focus areas.

NPCI chief Dilip Asbe said advances in AI and other emerging technologies are opening up opportunities across digital infrastructure and financial services, and that the subsidiary was set up to pursue them. The organisation did not disclose the investment outlay, revenue targets, customer pipeline or timelines for new services.

Building on recent AI work

The move follows a series of technology launches. At the Global Fintech Fest in September, NPCI introduced AiNxt, which lets enterprises build, test and deploy custom AI agents, and AtOM, which handles integration, change management and partner onboarding across UPI with digitally signed interactions providing audit trails. It also announced a multi-year research partnership with IISc in March 2024 covering AI and blockchain, and showed an agentic AI framework for UPI at GFF 2025 in which user-authorised assistants discover products, order and pay in one conversation.

NTSL becomes the fourth wholly owned subsidiary, alongside NPCI International Payments Ltd, NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd and NPCI BHIM Services Ltd.

Backdrop: record UPI volumes

The expansion comes as UPI processed a record 25.47 billion transactions in October, up 5.8% month on month, with value rising 7.4% to ₹31.53 lakh crore. Average daily value crossed ₹1 lakh crore for the first time. NPCI has also deferred the planned introduction of merchant discount rate charges on select UPI payments, originally due on October 15, until after Diwali; a new date has not been announced.

Apps worth a look

SUMO: the number puzzle

Tap the right tiles, add them up, hit the target. Easy to learn, hard to master. Free, for all ages.

Tags:npcintslupiaiblockchainindia fintech

More from this day

See all →

More in: Startups

See all →