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The e-wallet app launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bharat Interface for Mobile or BHIM, has surpassed 10 million downloads on Google's PlayStore within 10 days of its launch. The app was launched on December 30 for Android users.
"Delighted to know that in a span of 10 days there have been over 10 million downloads of the BHIM App," said PM Modi in a statement. "The BHIM App is a fine example of Make in India and how technology is being effectively used to end the menace of corruption & black money," he added.
Three days within its launch, the BHIM app became the most popular Android application in India. It topped the charts on Google's Play Store in the country with a rating of 4.1.
The app is based on the Unified Payment Interface (UPI), common across all banks and financial institutions.
Speaking at the launch, PM Modi had stated that the BHIM app will empower the poorest of the poor. "It is for the small merchant, farmers in far-flung areas, tribals. That's why its name has been borrowed from the man who sacrificed his life for the downtrodden", said the Prime Minister.
The app doesn't require an internet connection and can work on simple feature phones. Aadhaar-based payments are expected to be added to the app in the coming weeks.
The all-new BHIM app aims to enable people to send and receive money through their mobile phones by linking their bank accounts. It will also work on feature phones through the upgraded USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) platform.
The app comes with features such as the ability to send and receive money, linking accounts, saving user profiles, changing languages, recording beneficiary details and providing balance enquiry. Banks, which currently have individual UPI apps, can reportedly either endorse the common app or allow customers to use in-house apps that may be loaded with more features.
Once users links UPI-based payment service with their respective bank accounts using smartphones or feature phones, they can use BHIM app for transactions.
However, unlike e-wallets like Paytm, Freecharge and others, the app allows users to send money to even non-UPI accounts or IDs; users can do so by sending money via IFSC and MMID codes. Users will also be able to utilise QR codes for payments.
The list of banks supporting BHIM app includes Allahabad Bank, Andhra Bank, Axis Bank, Bank of Baroda, Bank of Maharashtra, Canara Bank, Catholic Syrian Bank, Central Bank of India, DCB Bank, Dena Bank, Federal Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, IDBI Bank, IDFC Bank, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, IndusInd Bank, Karnataka Bank, Karur Vysya Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Punjab National Bank, RBL Bank, South Indian Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, State Bank of India, Syndicate Bank, Union Bank of India, United Bank of India, and Vijaya Bank.