WhatsApp Bill Payments Roll Out in India via Bharat Connect

Meta-owned WhatsApp has begun rolling out a bill payment feature in India, allowing users to settle household and utility bills directly within the messaging app. The service, announced on Thursday, is being introduced gradually and will reach all Android and iOS users in the country over the coming weeks.

The feature is powered by the Bharat Connect (BBPS) network, giving users access to 22,722 billers spanning 30 categories. These include electricity, gas, water, FASTag, insurance, credit card dues, and loan repayments.

To use the service, users can tap an icon at the top of the WhatsApp home screen. From there, they can view past payments, check upcoming bills, manage multiple accounts under a single provider, and choose their preferred payment method. The app will also pre-fetch household bills and surface the most-used categories automatically, with an option to browse the full list.

WhatsApp said the move extends its utility in India, where people already use the platform for phone recharges, metro tickets, and citizen services through government chatbots. The company emphasised that paying a bill on WhatsApp should feel as simple as sending a message.

Arun Srinivas, Managing Director and Country Head of Meta India, said the feature aims to reduce the need to juggle multiple apps or track different due dates. He added that the company hopes to bring the convenience of digital payments to people across the country, including in remote areas.

The launch comes as India's digital payments ecosystem continues to expand rapidly, driven by widespread UPI adoption and growing smartphone penetration.