The RuPay credit card is a special card that uses India’s domestic electronic payment settlement system. It was conceived by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in 2012.
The card was launched as a domestic alternative to international payment networks such as Visa and Mastercard. RuPay offers a range of credit cards widely accepted at point-of-sale (PoS) machines and e-commerce websites within India and at several overseas locations.
To make RuPay cards available to all and enable PIN-based transactions, NPCI has partnered with several major banking institutions in the country.
RuPay credit card is coined from the two words ‘Rupee’ and ‘Payment’. It is not a card by itself but a payment system through which banks can issue either a debit or a credit card.
Banks and issuers of credit and debit cards can choose RuPay as an option for payment systems. It is a secure electronic payment and settlement network for credit cards, debit cards and more.
Card |
Best Suited For |
Fees |
Benefits |
|
Travel |
Joining and Renewal: ₹500 + GST |
|
Bank of Baroda Easy RuPay Credit Card |
Rewards |
Joining and Annual Fee: Nil |
|
IDBI Winnings RuPay Select Card |
Rewards |
Joining Fee: Nil Annual Fee: ₹899 + GST |
|
Shaurya SBI RuPay Card |
Shopping |
Joining Fee: ₹250 + GST Renewal Fee: ₹250 + GST |
|
PNB Select Credit Card |
Rewards |
Joining fees: ₹500 + GST Annual fee: NIL (if the card is used, once in a quarter) |
|
Indian Oil Axis Bank Credit card |
Rewards |
Nil |
|
Union Select RuPay Credit Card |
Rewards |
Nil |
|
IRCTC RuPay SBI Credit Card |
Travel |
Joining fees: ₹500 + GST |
|
PNB RuPay Select Patanjali Credit Card |
Shopping |
Joining fees: ₹500 + GST |
|
You can choose the RuPay credit card in three variants. These include RuPay Classic, RuPay Select and RuPay Platinum. Read on to learn more about each variant.
1. RuPay Classic Credit Card: This card by RuPay comes with some exclusive offers at a number of merchant terminals as well as online websites, such as:
Personal accident insurance and permanent disability cover up to ₹1 Lakh
Secured payments to avoid phishing attempts
Exclusive merchant advantages
2. RuPay Select Credit Card: This category of credit cards is designed for frequent travellers. RuPay Select Credit Card comes with a number of exciting lifestyle benefits, including:
Exclusive offers from partner brands
Complimentary airport lounge access
Concierge services for dining out, travel, and entertainment
Access to accident insurance coverage of ₹10 Lakhs
Free workout and meditation sessions at home and 15/30 days of a gym membership
3. RuPay Platinum Credit Card: The RuPay Platinum Credit Card has a range of welcome gifts from many brands. It also offers the following:
Cashback on utility bill payments and dining
Round-the-clock concierge assistance for travellers
Exclusive merchant offers from partner brands and stores
Personal accident cover of ₹2 Lakhs
There has been a considerable rise in the number of card-issuing banks that have tied up with NPCI to launch new credit cards. The banks offering a RuPay Credit Card are as follows:
Punjab National Bank
Canara Bank
HDFC Bank
IDBI Bank
Co-op Bank
Central Bank of India
Union Bank of India
Corporation Bank
Vijaya Bank
Andhra Bank
Punjab & Maharashtra Bank
Saraswat Bank
The key benefits of using a RuPay credit card are mentioned below:
RuPay credit card is more economical than others because of its lower settlement costs. This is because all transactions completed through this payment system are cleared domestically.
The products and services offered by RuPay are designed to suit the needs of Indian customers.
With a RuPay credit card, you can access a wide range of services, such as:
Banking transactions
ATM services
E-banking facilities and more
RuPay is more secure and safe to use for Indian customers as the transaction details and consumer data are not transferred overseas.
In addition to this, you can safely make online transactions as a RuPay credit card carries RBI-mandated, two-tier authentication procedures. With RuPay, you can also get protection against credit card fraud.
RuPay offers various credit card offers. They are as follows:
1. Offer: Up to 20% cashback at Indigo Airlines
Validity: 28th February 2023
2. Offer: Up to 20% off using RuPay cards at Tata 1mg
Validity: 28th February 2023
3. Offer: Up to 20% Instant Discount on MakeMyTrip
Validity: 31st March 2023
4. Offer: Flat 10% Instant discount up to ₹500/- on contactless transactions at Croma
Validity: 31st March 2023
5. Offer: 45% off annual subscription at WYNK Music
Validity: 30th June 2023
6. Offer: 35% off on total bill at FirstCry
Validity: 30th September 2023
RuPay credit card comes with an in-built microprocessor circuit that holds your information.
These cards, developed by the NCPI, have an embedded EMV chip. This chip allows you to make all transactions of high or low value with absolute protection.
This makes RuPay debit and credit cards exceptionally secure. RuPay, India’s homegrown card payment network, can be used at more than 1.5 Lakhs ATMs that operate on the National Financial Switch network.
Moreover, you can swipe your RuPay card at more than 8.75 Lakhs sale terminals all over the country to directly make a purchase.
The RuPay credit card can also pay for products and services at over 10,000 web portals and websites. The NPCI has partnered with 29 of the biggest banks in India to allow PIN-based point-of-sale transactions at merchant outlets all over the country.
The RBI has proposed to link credit cards to UPI. RuPay, being a brainchild of the government-run NPCI, will be among the first card networks to integrate this functionality.
This will allow you to link your account with UPI with a RuPay credit card and make transactions seamless and convenient. This will expand your payment options considerably.
However, it should be noted that this is not operational yet. It will be possible only after all systems have been developed efficiently.
A RuPay credit card can be accepted for transactions at following payment destinations:
ATMs
Point-of-sale terminals
Online shopping portals
IVR
Note that an international RuPay credit card can be used at domestic points of acceptance (within India) along with ICS partner acceptance points. These include:
Several international ATMs
Online shopping portals
Retail terminals
You can get a RuPay credit card by applying for it online or offline with your bank. To apply for it offline, follow the given process:
Visit the nearest branch of your bank
Fill in the application form
Submit all the required documents like your Aadhar card, income proof, etc.
You can also apply for the RuPay credit card online by following the steps below:
Visit your bank’s official website
Fill in the online application along with the required documents to get this card
Note that you must fulfil certain criteria related to age, income, etc. in order to be applicable to get a RuPay credit card.
Yes, a specific RuPay credit card - the Indian Bank RuPay Kisan Credit Card - is available for farmers. They can use this card to utilise ATM services and make PoS transactions.
No, GooglePay does not accept RuPay cards. GooglePay supports only Mastercard and Visa cards by select banks.
Yes, Paytm supports a RuPay credit card.
RuPay does not charge any joining or annual fees on its cards. The issuing bank generally levies such charges, which can vary from one bank to another.
Yes. You can use Global RuPay credit cards with the Discover, Pulse, and Diners’ logos for international transactions at merchant locations and ATMs.
Yes, the RuPay credit card can be used for purchases online.
The issuing bank establishes the charges for RuPay credit cards. It is not the card network RuPay, but the issuing bank that decides the various charges typically applicable to credit cards.