PayU Launches Indias First RBI-Compliant Accessible Payments Checkout for Blind and Visually Impaired Users

In August 2026, PayU announced the launch of an accessibility-focused payments checkout designed for people who are blind or visually impaired, with features that are aimed at improving navigation and independent use of digital payments.

The checkout includes screen-reader optimization, adaptive user profiles, visual accessibility modes and text resizing. PayU also stated that the solution is designed to comply with the Reserve Bank of India’s October 2024 accessibility mandate, which requires digital payment providers to align their products and services with the Bureau of Indian Standards’ BIS IS 17802 accessibility standards. The screen-reader functionality enables users to navigate the payment journey through voice commands, from selecting a payment method such as UPI, net banking or QR payments through to confirming the payment amount and completing the transaction.

Users can also customize the checkout by adjusting cursor size, button dimensions and navigation aids, with the option to save, switch or reset their preferences. Visual modes include high contrast, greyscale, color inversion and saturation adjustments for users with low vision, color blindness or light sensitivity. Text can also be enlarged to up to 200% of its standard size without overlapping or hiding content.

PayU also said merchants using its payment gateway would not need to modify their existing integrations to offer the accessibility-focused checkout. The company said accessibility features are embedded into the checkout experience, thus allowing merchants to provide the enhanced payment interface to customers with disabilities.

Impact on the ICT Market

PayU’s Accessibility Checkout is engineered to work seamlessly with screen readers, ensuring easy navigation of the entire payment journey for the visually impaired and blind without any sighted assistance. From choosing the payment method like Net banking, UPI, QR, NEFT, etc. to payment amount confirmation and transaction completion, every element on the checkout page is clearly and transparently announced via voice commands to the user, ensuring they know where exactly they are in their payment journey.

To aid users with conditions such as low vision, color blindness, or light sensitivity, a wide variety of visual modes are offered by PayU’s Accessibility Checkout. From high contrast to greyscale mode to color inversion to saturation adjustment options, the checkout offers support to visually impaired users who rely on color and contrast adaptations to use digital platforms. The Accessibility Checkout supports text scaling of up to 200% of the standard size, without overlapping or hiding any content. This feature ensures all elements on the checkout are transparently seen and read by users with visual impairments.

Impact on the Digital Payment Market

The global digital payment market size is accounted for USD 170.24 billion in 2025, and is predicted to increase from USD 200.03 billion in 2026 to approximately USD 790.59 billion by 2035, expanding at a CAGR of 16.60% from 2026 to 2035.

According to Precedence Research, the market is continuously evolving, thanks to advances in blockchain, AI, and contactless transactions. Financial services are improving mobile across verticals with a focus on security. Both businesses and consumers are adopting cashless transactions at an unprecedented rate. The emergence of technologies such as biometric authentication and real-time payments has led to new opportunities for growth and convenience in transactions. Factors including increasing movement away from cash and rising usage of smartphones have driven growth of the global digital payment market. In addition, the wide adoption of the Internet has boosted the global e-commerce sector.

AI has also brought remarkable changes in digital payments by checking fraud in real time, making use of biometrics instead of PIN codes or passwords, streamlining processes, creating tailor-made offers, and providing customer service through chatbots, forecasting consumers' spending habits, facilitating better credit evaluations, backing up buy-now-pay-later models, securing blockchain processes, and enabling quick, safe, and smooth transaction experiences over different platforms.

Impact on the Mobile Payments Market

The global mobile payments market size is calculated at USD 6.84 trillion in 2025 and is predicted to increase from USD 9.07 trillion in 2026 to approximately USD 115.03 trillion by 2035, expanding at a CAGR of 32.61% from 2026 to 2035.

According to Precedence Research, the market encompasses digital payment solutions executed via mobile devices, enabling consumers and businesses to conduct financial transactions seamlessly without cash or physical cards. Key technologies driving this market include near-field communication (NFC), QR codes, mobile wallets, peer-to-peer transfers, and remote payment platforms, facilitating both online and in-store transactions. Rapid smartphone adoption and greater access to affordable mobile internet have made digital financial services more widely available. The continued growth of e-commerce and mobile applications has further increased the demand for streamlined mobile checkout solutions. Additionally, initiatives promoting a cashless economy, digital identities, and government-backed financial inclusion programs are strengthening the mobile payment ecosystem.

Artificial intelligence is also helping to significantly transform the market by enhancing the efficiency, safety, and personalization of payments. One of the most important of them is real-time fraud detection because transaction data, user behavior, device information, and location data are analyzed easily by AI. AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants are increasingly integrated into mobile payment apps, providing customers with 24/7 support, resolving transaction issues, and guiding users through the platform. Additionally, recommendation engines leverage users' spending data to deliver personalized offers, including rewards, discounts, and financial insights, enhancing the overall user experience and engagement.

Expert Opinion

"True financial inclusion is only possible when every individual can access and use digital payments independently. At PayU, accessibility is not an afterthought - it's a core design principle. With the launch of our Accessibility Checkout, we're helping merchants deliver payment experiences that are inclusive by design while enabling millions of users with diverse accessibility needs to participate more confidently in India's digital economy. This is an important step towards supporting the RBI's accessibility vision and building digital infrastructure that works for everyone," said Manas Mishra, Chief Product Officer, PayU and Wibmo.