Bharat Connect, formerly Bharat BillPay, is the platform powering the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS). Conceptualized by the Reserve Bank of India and operated by NPCI Bharat BillPay Limited (NBBL), it provides a unified, interoperable, and accessible bill payment ecosystem. Whether in India or abroad, customers can rely on Bharat Connect for secure, reliable, and convenient transactions—anytime, anywhere.
Bharat Connect enables seamless payments for both recurring and one-time bill payments and collections. Previously, both customers and service providers in India faced challenges in making and collecting payments. Bharat Connect bridges this gap by offering advanced technological solutions that bring businesses and consumers together under the Bharat Bill Payment System.
Customers can make payments through a vast network of physical collection points—such as bank branches and agent outlets—as well as digital platforms, including mobile apps and websites of banks and non-banks, ensuring accessibility across the country.
Bharat Connect facilitates seamless bill payments by enabling multiple settlements, supporting various payment modes, and providing access to over 22,000+ billers for millions of customers.
Bill payment transactions can be initiated through digital/online channels or a network of agents, enabling multiple payment modes, and providing instant confirmation of payment. Customers can make payments via Bharat Connect-enabled partner channels, such as-
All transactions can be easily identified by the Bharat Connect logo on the corresponding payment channels.
Bharat Connect supports multiple payment methods, making bill payments simple and convenient. Customers can pay using:
| Interoperable | Bharat Connect is an integrated platform connecting banks, non-banks, biller aggregators, billers, and retail bill outlets. |
| Accessible | Enables seamless bill payment through both digital and physical channels. |
| Cost-effective | Offers cost-efficient solution for collection of bill payments for the entire ecosystem. |
| Integration | OUs need to connect only to the CU to access all billers. Service Providers can connect to a maximum of two OUs to enable bill payments for all customers. |
| Complaint Management and Dispute Resolution | A standardized system to handle customer grievance and dispute . |
| Dispute Management | Facilitate OU’s to raise and resolve disputes relating to transactions that have passed through the Bharat Connect ecosystem. |
| Clearing & Settlement | Multiple clearing cycles throughout the day for quicker settlements, following a standardized turnaround time (TAT). |
| Standardisation | Uniform processes across the entire Bharat Connect ecosystem. |
| Brand Connect | A trusted, unified brand with Bharat Connect, offering a compliant and secure platform. |
Bharat Bill Payment Central Unit (BBPCU)
BBPCU is responsible for defining business standards, rules, and technical guidelines for all participants. It also manages the clearing and settlement process for transactions within the BBPS ecosystem.
BBPCU provides a platform connecting customers and billers, through COUs (Customer Operating Units) and BOUs (Biller Operating Units), respectively. NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd. (NBBL) is authorized to operate as the BBPCU.
An OU (Operating Unit) are entities that operate under the BBPS in a tiered structure and further strengthen the BBPS network. Operating Units may be banks as well as non-banks.
1. Customer Operating Unit (COU) –
COU is an entity that provides its customers with an interface (physical/digital) to pay bills, either directly or through Agent Institution(s) or its Agents.
2. Biller Operating Unit (BOU) –
BOU an entity that onboards biller(s), either directly or through biller aggregator(s), onto the BBPS platform for collection of its bills or other receivables, as the case may be.
Agent Institutions are entities which are certified by BBPCU and onboarded by COU. These entities are required to provide customer interface (physical or digital) for bill payments. COU may on-board Agent Institutions which may further on-board Agents as the physical last mile customer service points.
Eligible Entities who wish to offer or those who are currently in Bill payment, collection and aggregation business, would operate under a COU (Customer OU).
Customer OU will on-board Agent institutions, which may further on-board agents and/ or set up customer service points in various regions and locations.
Agents are last mile customer touch points onboarded by Customer Operating Unit (COU) in the form of branch offices, collection centers, business correspondents etc.
An Agent provides collection services for different biller categories and accepts payment primarily cash/ AEPS, along with other payment modes as applicable. Agents cannot further onboard Agents (sub-agents) and cannot extend their bill payment connectivity to any other entity(s) such as Technology Service Providers (TSP), Fintech etc. Agents are:
Billers are service providers (including Central and State Government Department or Public Sector Undertaking/individuals) that collect payments from customers for services rendered. By integrating with Bharat Connect, billers gain access to a wide network of third-party payment channels, ensuring seamless collections.