Rural India Embraces Digital Payments with Spice Money and Bharat Connect
Between January and May 2025, over 9.5 million rural bill payments were completed via the Spice Money App, powered by Bharat Connect.
This remarkable milestone highlights the growing role of assisted digital payments in bringing financial access to India’s rural population.
Backed by NPCI Bharat BillPay Limited (NBBL), Bharat Connect enables safe, assisted transactions for citizens often making their first digital payments.
Spice Money, a subsidiary of DiGiSPICE Technologies, holds an authorized BBPOU license under the Bharat BillPay System (BBPS) framework.
The Power of Assisted Digital Payments
These transactions were made possible by Spice Money’s 15+ lakh strong Adhikari network, which spans across 95% of India’s rural pincodes.
Each month, over 1.5 lakh active Adhikaris help citizens pay for services like electricity, water, EMIs, mobile recharges, DTH, and more.
Because many rural users are unfamiliar with apps, Adhikaris act as digital guides, making complex transactions feel simple and trustworthy.
This assisted model bridges the digital divide, empowering those who might not otherwise access fintech services on their own.
Leading States in Adoption
Among all regions, West Bengal emerged as a top performer, logging 2.16 million transactions with help from 18,000+ Adhikaris.
Bihar followed closely with 15,800 Adhikaris facilitating 2.4 million transactions, showing a massive shift towards digital usage in the state.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh saw 7.1 lakh transactions, Madhya Pradesh registered 6.2 lakh, and Chhattisgarh recorded 5.2 lakh transactions.
These numbers reflect growing trust in platforms like Bharat Connect, especially when guided by local, familiar digital agents.
What People Are Paying For
Interestingly, loan repayments led the charts, accounting for 53% of all transactions—that’s 5.03 million payments during the reporting period.
Electricity bill payments followed, making up 36.8% of transactions, proving digital bill pay is now a vital rural need.
Other popular categories included DTH, mobile postpaid bills, LPG gas, and FASTag recharges, showing widespread digital utility adoption.
In fact, on average, each rural user paid more than 2 bills monthly, indicating growing reliance on assisted digital payments.
Voices from the Frontlines
Dilip Modi, Founder and CEO of Spice Money, said, “Digital inclusion in Bharat is not just about technology—it’s about building trust.”
He emphasized the role of Adhikaris as local nanopreneurs, who help users pay digitally for the very first time, often with care and consistency.
Ms. Noopur Chaturvedi, CEO of NBBL, added that Bharat Connect aims to reach every corner of India with a unified payment experience.
By integrating with 700+ apps, Bharat Connect ensures digital payments are accessible and inclusive, especially in rural and semi-urban areas.
A Future-Ready Bharat
Thanks to Spice Money and Bharat Connect, rural India is now entering the mainstream of digital financial inclusion with confidence.
Their impact is not just transactional—it’s a sign of behavioral transformation, where digital payments become a part of everyday life.
With a mission aligned with Viksit Bharat, Spice Money continues to digitize essential services while generating livelihoods in rural communities.
As more users embrace platforms like Bharat Connect, the dream of a digitally confident Bharat looks closer than ever.