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RBI mandates shift to interoperable QR codes by March 2022

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2020-21/59 · issued 22 Oct 2020 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI has directed all payment system operators using proprietary QR codes to migrate to interoperable UPI QR or Bharat QR by March 31, 2022. No new proprietary QR codes are allowed. This move aims to standardise acceptance infrastructure and improve user convenience.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

Rahul, a digital payment officer in Mumbai, is helping a merchant switch from their old QR code to UPI QR. He explains the benefits of interoperability and how it will make transactions easier for customers. By March 31, 2022, all proprietary QR codes must be replaced with interoperable ones to improve user convenience and reduce fragmentation.

What changed

RBI accepted the Phatak Committee recommendations and decided that existing interoperable QR codes (UPI QR and Bharat QR) will continue. All proprietary QR codes must be migrated to one or more interoperable QR codes by March 31, 2022, and no new proprietary QR codes can be launched. RBI will continue consultations to further standardise and improve interoperable QR codes.

What it means for you

Banks and non-bank payment operators must phase out their own QR codes and adopt UPI QR or Bharat QR. This will reduce fragmentation, lower costs for merchants, and improve customer experience with a single scan-and-pay interface. Operators should plan technology upgrades and awareness campaigns to meet the deadline.

What you must do

Who it affects

Banks operating as payment system operators, Non-bank payment system operators (e.g., fintechs, payment aggregators), Merchants using proprietary QR codes, Customers using digital payment apps

❓ Common questions

What are the two interoperable QR codes that will continue?

UPI QR and Bharat QR are the two interoperable QR codes that will remain in use. All proprietary QR codes must be migrated to one or both of these standards.

What is the deadline for migrating proprietary QR codes?

The migration must be completed by March 31, 2022. No new proprietary QR codes can be launched after the circular date.

Why is RBI pushing for interoperable QR codes?

To reinforce acceptance infrastructure, improve user convenience by allowing any app to scan any QR code, and enhance overall system efficiency.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2020-21/59 DPSS.CO.PD.No.497/02.14.003/2020-21 October 22, 2020 The Chairman / Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer Authorised Payment System Operators (Banks and Non-banks) Madam / Dear Sir, Digital Payment Transactions – Streamlining QR Code infrastructure As you are aware, Reserve Bank had constituted a Committee (Chairperson : Prof Deepak Phatak) to review the current system of Quick Response (QR) Codes in India and suggest measures for moving towards interoperable QR Codes. The report of the Committee containing various recommendations was placed on the Reserve Bank website for public comments and feedback. 2. After examining the recommendations and the feedback received, the following has been decided: The two interoperable QR codes in existence – UPI QR and Bharat QR – shall continue as at present. Payment System Operators (PSOs) that use proprietary QR codes shall shift to one or more interoperable QR codes; the process of migration shall be completed by March 31, 2022. No new proprietary QR codes shall henceforth be launched by any PSO for any payment transaction. RBI shall continue a consultative process to standardise and improve interoperable QR codes, to enable beneficial features identified by the Phatak Committee. PSOs may take initiative to increase awareness about interoperable QR codes. 3. The above measures are expected to reinforce the acceptance infrastructure, provide better user convenience due to interoperability and enhance system efficiency. 4. This directive is issued under Section 10 (2) read with Section 18 of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 (Act 51 of 2007). Yours faithfully, (P. Vasudevan) Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2020-21/59 · issued 22 Oct 2020. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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Worked example & action-note template

Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (Banks operating as payment system operators, Non-bank payment system operators (e.g., fintechs, payment aggregators), Merchants using proprietary QR codes, Customers using digital payment apps), your first concrete step on “RBI mandates shift to interoperable QR codes by March 2022” is: “Audit all existing proprietary QR code deployments and identify migration paths to UPI QR or Bharat QR.” (RBI issued this 22 Oct 2020).

  1. Circular: RBI/2020-21/59 -- RBI mandates shift to interoperable QR codes by March 2022
  2. Issued: 22 Oct 2020
  3. Action required: Audit all existing proprietary QR code deployments and identify migration paths to UPI QR or Bharat QR.
  4. Action required: Complete migration of all proprietary QR codes to interoperable standards by March 31, 2022.
  5. Action required: Halt any development or launch of new proprietary QR codes immediately.
  6. Action required: Launch awareness initiatives for merchants and customers on using interoperable QR codes.
  7. Action required: Engage with RBI's consultative process for future standardisation of QR codes.
  8. Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
  9. Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
  10. Evidence filed in compliance register on: ____________
Built only from this circular’s own published fields — not legal advice; always confirm against the official RBI source.

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BankPulse Compliance Evidence Pack — generated 03 Aug 2026 · status cross-checked against RBI’s official withdrawal register (refreshed weekly).
Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=11987&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by our expert reviewer, CA Amit Jain. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; is our own plain-English paraphrase, not RBI’s original wording.
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