Google Pay Launches Pocket Money Tool to Enable UPI Access for Users Without Bank Accounts

Google Pay introduces Pocket Money in India, allowing bank account holders to share UPI payment access with family and friends through the UPI Circle framework.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 17, 2026, 10:58 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Fintech News Singapore

Expanding Digital Financial Inclusion Through Delegated Payments

The launch of Pocket Money on the Google Pay platform marks a significant expansion of the Unified Payments Interface ecosystem in India by addressing the needs of those without personal bank accounts. Built upon the National Payments Corporation of India’s UPI Circle framework, the feature allows a primary user to act as a financial anchor for up to five secondary users. This delegation ensures that individuals, such as family members or domestic employees, can participate in the digital economy without navigating the complexities of traditional banking. By routing payments through the primary user’s linked account, the tool effectively bridges the gap between digital payment infrastructure and the unbanked or underbanked segments of the population.

Customizable Oversight and Spending Management Strategies

To ensure financial security and transparency, the platform offers primary users two distinct methods of managing secondary account activity. Under a full delegation model, a monthly spending cap of up to 15,000 rupees can be established, allowing secondary users to conduct transactions independently within that limit. Alternatively, a partial delegation setting requires the primary user to manually approve every transaction initiated by the secondary party. This flexibility allows account holders to tailor the level of autonomy granted to each user based on the relationship and the intended purpose of the funds, ranging from casual allowances to specific operational expenses for small businesses.

Rigorous Security Protocols and Initial Transaction Controls

The system incorporates several safeguards designed to prevent misuse and ensure a deliberate onboarding process for new participants. For instance, newly added secondary users are subject to specific time and value restrictions, such as a 30, minute waiting period before the first payment under full delegation can occur. Furthermore, during the first 24 hours of use, partial delegation requests are capped at 5,000 rupees to mitigate potential risk. These initial barriers are intended to provide a cooling, off period and ensure that the primary account holder remains fully aware of the financial permissions being granted through the application.