Viyona Fintech India Pvt Ltd has officially received certification as a Biller Operating Unit (BOU) under the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS), a major step in expanding digital payment accessibility. This certification, issued by NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd (NBBL), allows the fintech firm to onboard service providers from various sectors into the national bill payment network. By serving as a bridge between billers and the BBPS infrastructure, Viyona will help streamline recurring payment collections for utilities, educational institutions, and financial services across India.
The Role of Viyona Fintech in the BBPS Ecosystem
Viyona Fintech India Pvt Ltd operates as a Technology Service Provider (TSP) certified by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). As a newly certified Biller Operating Unit (BOU), the company now acts as a technical and operational gateway for various service providers. Its primary responsibility is to integrate these billers with the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS), enabling them to collect payments from customers through any BBPS-enabled application or physical point of sale.
The certification ensures that Viyona can handle critical functions such as real-time bill fetching, payment confirmation, and settlement. This development is particularly significant for regional billers and smaller institutions that may lack the technical infrastructure to connect directly with national payment networks. By leveraging Viyona’s platform, these entities can offer their customers the convenience of paying bills via popular apps like BHIM, Google Pay, or PhonePe, as well as through bank portals and agent outlets.
Understanding Bharat Connect and the Operating Units
The Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS), which was rebranded as Bharat Connect in 2024, is an integrated and interoperable bill payment ecosystem in India. It functions under the regulatory framework of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and is operated by NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd (NBBL). The system is designed to provide a “anytime, anywhere” bill payment experience to customers through a network of participating entities.
The ecosystem consists of two primary types of operating units:
- Biller Operating Unit (BOU): This is the biller-facing entity responsible for onboarding service providers like electricity boards, gas suppliers, and schools. A BOU ensures that the biller’s system is technically integrated with the central BBPS switch.
- Customer Operating Unit (COU): This is the customer-facing entity that provides the interface for consumers to pay their bills. Banks and non-bank payment apps usually act as COUs, allowing users to browse their bills and initiate payments.
By receiving BOU certification, Viyona Fintech joins the critical infrastructure layer that brings more businesses into the digital payment fold. This ensures that even small-scale service providers can benefit from standardized settlement cycles and centralized grievance redressal mechanisms.
Institutional Background: NPCI and NBBL
The expansion of the Bharat Connect network is driven by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), which was established in 2008 as an initiative of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA). NPCI is the umbrella organization for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India. It is headquartered in Mumbai and has been instrumental in developing transformative technologies such as UPI, RuPay, and IMPS.
To focus specifically on the bill payment business, NPCI incorporated a wholly-owned subsidiary called NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd (NBBL) on December 10, 2020. NBBL officially commenced its operations on April 1, 2021. The subsidiary is responsible for setting business standards, rules, and technical procedures for all participants in the Bharat Connect ecosystem. By delegating these functions to a specialized subsidiary, NPCI has been able to rapidly scale the bill payment network to include diverse categories such as insurance premiums, municipal taxes, and loan repayments.
Key Takeaways
- Viyona Fintech India Pvt Ltd has received certification as a Biller Operating Unit (BOU) under the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS).
- The BBPS ecosystem, rebranded as Bharat Connect in 2024, is operated by NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd (NBBL).
- NBBL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NPCI, incorporated in 2020 and operational since April 2021.
- A Biller Operating Unit (BOU) is responsible for onboarding service providers into the national bill payment network.
- NPCI was established in 2008 as a joint initiative of the RBI and the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA).
- The certification allows Viyona to facilitate bill collections across sectors including utilities, education, and financial services.
