Published Paper Details:

This study examines the impact of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and digital payment systems on the financial behaviour of small retailers across five districts in Karnataka. As digital payment adoption accelerates in India, understanding the behavioural patterns and satisfaction levels of small business users is critical for driving financial inclusion and digital transformation. The study aims to identify the key factors influencing behavioural intention, actual usage, and user satisfaction with UPI services. A descriptive research design was adopted, utilizing primary data collected from 400 small retailers through structured questionnaires, supported by secondary data from RBI, NPCI, and economic reports. Statistical tools such as descriptive statistics, one-sample t-tests, and ANOVA were used for analysis. Results show that ease of use, smartphone comfort, cashback incentives, and peer recommendations significantly impact adoption. User satisfaction is influenced by app usability, transaction speed, customer support, and trust in service providers. Gender and location emerged as major demographic influencers, while age had limited effects. The study concludes that strengthening digital infrastructure and enhancing service quality are vital to encourage consistent UPI usage among small retailers. Future research can explore UPI usage among other business segments, assess the long-term impact of digital incentives, and compare adoption patterns between rural and urban markets to guide policy and fintech innovations.