New Delhi, April 20 -- If you've ever hesitated before approving a UPI request or double-checked a QR code before scanning, you're not alone. As UPI becomes central to everyday payments, concerns around fraud are rising alongside its growth.

As per government data shared in Parliament, 10.64 lakh UPI fraud cases worth Rs.805 crore were reported in FY26 (till November).

The Reserve Bank of India's proposal to introduce a one-hour cooling-off period for new or high-value UPI payments above Rs.10,000 is the latest step aimed at curbing such frauds.

At the same time, another digital payment option has quietly evolved in the background: the e-rupee, or India's central bank digital currency (CBDC). After nearly three years of pilot runs, the...