In partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the ICRIER Prosus Centre for Internet and Digital Economy has undertaken a multi-stage study to assess the adoption of digital payments (UPI) by individuals and merchants in rural areas of India. The study is divided into three clear stages: (i) assessing the level of UPI adoption and identifying challenges in adoption; (ii) implementing interventions designed to reduce barriers to adoption of UPI and (iii) measuring the impact of interventions. The initial assessment (baseline survey) will be done through a combination of quantitative and qualitative surveys across rural areas in the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand and Odisha. In total sample consists of 4800 respondents across 240 villages and 16 districts. At the intervention stage we will identify two villages in every state, where adoption levels are low. Based on the findings of the baseline, we may consider engaging with local administration, financial services companies, technology companies and civil society organizations to design interventions that will address barriers to adoption. The final step (endline survey) will involve a second round of survey to assess whether the designed interventions contributed to greater adoption of UPI among the treatment group vis-à-vis the control group. In addition to re-interviewing the participants identified in the baseline, Participatory Rural Appraisals (PRAs) will be conducted across the sampled districts.
Pilot surveys were carried out in the months of May and June to design the questionnaire for the initial assessment. The initial assessment is underway in the four states and data collection is likely to be completed by the month of October.
For more information on the study please write to kramnath@icrier.res.in
