<h1>India achieves 80% financial inclusion in six years with UPI processing over 18,587 crore transactions worth 261 lakh crore</h1> The Department of Financial Services hosted a Digital Payments Awards ceremony recognizing banks and fintech companies for advancing India's digital payments ecosystem. The Finance Minister highlighted that India achieved 80% financial inclusion in six years, compared to the typical 50-year timeframe, and noted that nearly half of global real-time digital transactions occur in India with 350 million active UPI users. The ceremony presented 21 awards to top-performing institutions across various categories including digital transactions, merchant acquisition, and innovation. Officials emphasized India's 87% fintech adoption rate versus 67% globally, with UPI now active in seven countries and processing over 18,587 crore transactions worth 261 lakh crore in fiscal year 2024-25.