CBSE Asks Schools to Promote Digital Payments: Check UPI, RuPay and BBPS Guidelines

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has advised its affiliated schools to promote the use of digital payment systems for financial transactions carried out within the school ecosystem.

The Board issued the advisory on September 30, 2026, referring to the Digital Payments Promotion Plan developed by the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance. The notice is listed on the official CBSE website as a latest circular dated October 1, 2026.

The initiative covers digital payments involving schools, students and parents and focuses on expanding access, increasing adoption and promoting safe digital transactions. CBSE has advised school heads and managers to introduce suitable digital payment facilities across different services.

CBSE Digital Payment Guidelines for Schools

Under the advisory, schools may enable UPI and RuPay card payments across a range of payment points. These include school fees, canteen payments, library services and other school-related transactions. The Board has also suggested demonstrations and assisted-use models to help users become familiar with digital payment methods.

For institutions located in areas with limited connectivity, CBSE has suggested alternatives such as UPI Lite, UPI LiteX and UPI 123PAY. These options are intended to support digital payment adoption where regular internet connectivity may be limited.

BBPS Integration for School Fee Payments

CBSE has also advised schools to consider onboarding the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) for fee collection. BBPS provides a standardised and interoperable mechanism for recurring payments. Schools may also integrate digital payment facilities with their ERP systems to streamline recurring transactions, including staff salary payments.

CBSE had previously encouraged affiliated schools to use BBPS for school-fee payments, describing it as a secure and contactless option for parents.

Digital Payment Awareness and Financial Literacy

The latest advisory also places emphasis on digital financial literacy. Schools have been advised to include digital payment awareness in teacher-training programmes and school-level campaigns.

Schools may also promote financial literacy modules covering digital payments and conduct awareness programmes for parents. Such activities can be organised on school campuses, during events and through parent-teacher interactions. The objective is to encourage safe and convenient use of digital payment services among members of the school community.

CBSE's Earlier Push for Digital School Payments

The latest advisory builds on previous government and CBSE initiatives supporting digital transactions in education. In October 2025, the Ministry of Education encouraged States, Union Territories and autonomous bodies including CBSE, KVS and NVS to explore mechanisms that allow schools to collect admission and examination fees through secure digital modes such as UPI.

CBSE had also issued an earlier circular on BBPS-based school fee payments, advising affiliated schools to onboard the system to enable safe and contactless fee collection.

The latest CBSE digital payments advisory therefore expands the focus beyond fee collection to include school services, digital literacy and broader adoption of cashless payment options across the education ecosystem.