Update (February 12, 2018): WhatsApp has begun rolling out it's UPI based payments feature in India. The feature has been made live on both Android and iOS. All users will not be able to see the feature yet as the rollout seems to be a phased one. However, the service gets activated after someone with access to the payments feature messages the user. After receiving a message, the other user should relaunch the app and Payments will reflect in WhatsApp’s settings. Earlier (January 18, 2018): WhatsApp is reportedly set to launch a built-in payments feature by the end of February. A report on the Economic Times quotes unnamed sources saying, the messaging app is at various stages of integrating its Unified Payments Interface (UPI)-based payments feature with State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank. According to one source quoted by ET, the platform is already in beta testing with one of its partner banks and that the product is expected to go live by the end February. The report also quotes a banker who said, security checks are being done to ensure the safety of the data. The final step following security checks in the integration process involves testing the product among select users before it can go live. The Facebook-owned messaging app had received NCPI's approval for UPI integration last July. WhatsApp's arrival on the payments scene could, at least temporarily, lead to a surge in usage of digital payments as it has to over 200…
