Junio Payments (JPPL), a 100% subsidiary of FirstPay Technologies, has received in-principle authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to issue Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPIs).
With this, Junio Payments will expand access to secure and innovative digital financial solutions designed especially for teenagers and young adults.
With this authorisation, Junio will soon introduce a digital Wallet linked to UPI, allowing users to scan UPI QR codes and make payments even without a bank account. This capability aligns closely with the UPI Circle initiative launched by NPCI, enabling youngsters to make UPI payments using their parents’ linked UPI accounts.
Founded by Ankit Gera and Shankar Nath, the Junio app, along with its RuPay co-branded physical and virtual prepaid cards, empowers parents to transfer money, set spending limits, assign tasks or allowances, and monitor financial activity in real time, helping nurture responsible spending habits and early financial awareness.
The Junio app, trusted by over 2 million students and young professionals, creates a safe, cashless, and educational payment environment for India’s digital-native youth. It supports online and offline purchases, tap & pay, and NCMC-enabled transit payments. Parents can enjoy full visibility and control through an integrated app, while youngsters benefit from goal-setting tools, savings features, and rewards that make learning about money engaging and fun.
Looking ahead, Junio is expanding its product suite with regulated, technology-driven financial offerings designed to enhance inclusion and access. Upcoming features include UPI integration, savings-linked rewards and brand voucher incentives
Ankit Gera, Co-founder of Junio Payments, said, “This in-principle authorisation from the RBI is more than a regulatory nod—it’s an affirmation of our vision to reimagine how the next generation experiences money. We are building a responsible, future-ready financial ecosystem that helps young users manage money confidently, learn by doing, and grow into financially aware adults. Prepaid wallet is more powerful now as it can be linked for UPI payments. Our focus is on innovation that balances freedom with guidance—ensuring every digital transaction becomes a step toward independence, literacy, and trust.”
