NRB, RBI move to enable QR code payments for Nepalis in India

January 26, 2026, 05:34:19 PM |

KATHMANDU: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) Governor Bishwanath Paudel and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra have held high-level talks focusing on facilitating cross-border digital payments, with particular emphasis on enabling Nepali citizens to make seamless QR code-based payments while traveling in India.

The meeting took place on Magh 5 (mid-January) at the RBI headquarters in Mumbai, where the two central bank governors discussed cross-border electronic payment transactions between Nepal and India, along with a range of bilateral financial sector interests, NRB said.

According to the central bank, discussions were especially centered on putting in place arrangements that would allow Nepali nationals to conduct payments in India through QR code systems in a convenient and secure manner. The move is expected to ease retail transactions for tourists, students, and business travelers, while also deepening digital financial connectivity between the two neighboring economies.

Beyond payment systems, the two sides also exchanged views on broader monetary and financial sector issues, including monetary policy frameworks, liquidity management, and foreign exchange management. The dialogue extended to the adoption of artificial intelligence-based bank supervision and information technology practices implemented by the RBI, which are viewed as advanced regulatory tools in modern central banking.

Officials said the meeting also covered emerging and contemporary issues in the financial sector, as well as strengthening cooperation and experience-sharing mechanisms between the two central banks. The engagement signals continued institutional coordination between NRB and RBI at a time when digital finance and regulatory technology are becoming central to financial stability and cross-border integration.

Members of the Nepali delegation highlighted potential areas of technical collaboration with the RBI. Executive Director Kiran Pandit from the Foreign Exchange Management Department, Executive Director Dr. Satyendra Timilsina from the Payment Systems Department, and Executive Director Dirgha Bahadur Rawal from the Bank Supervision Department expressed views on cooperation in their respective functional areas.

Meanwhile, during the same India visit, Governor Paudel also met senior officials of the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on Magh 6. Discussions there focused on the concept and current status of Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), policy instruments used to promote investment, and possible areas of cooperation with Nepal Rastra Bank.

The engagements underscore Nepal’s efforts to modernize its financial infrastructure, expand cross-border payment interoperability, and adopt global best practices in supervision and financial technology as digital transactions continue to grow in both domestic and regional contexts.

Fiscal Nepal |

Monday January 26, 2026, 05:34:19 PM |