French woman's biggest India surprise wasn't the Taj Mahal but QR codes everywhere

A French content creator said India's everyday use of UPI QR codes surprised her most during her visit. Her post has gone viral.A French woman was surprised to learn the use of UPI. (Photos: Instagram/experiencesacree.inde)Indians scanning a QR code to pay for a cup of tea or a short auto ride is hardly news. For a French tourist, however, the sheer ubiquity of UPI came as an unexpected culture shock.Manika, a content creator who helps French travellers discover India, shared her experience on Instagram as UPI marked its 10th anniversary. While she was familiar with India’s digital payment system before arriving, she said seeing it in action across the country was a very different experience.“One thing I NEVER expected to discover in India,” she wrote, explaining that she knew about UPI but “honestly didn’t realise how deeply digital payments are integrated into everyday life”.What surprised her most was that UPI wasn’t limited to large cities, shopping malls or high-end restaurants. Instead, the familiar QR code appeared everywhere, from small street-food stalls and neighbourhood shops to local cafs and rickshaws. “And what surprised me most is that it’s not just in big cities or fancy places,” she said. “You can find QR codes at small street-food stalls, local shops, cafs, rickshaws and businesses of all kinds.”For someone used to France’s payment ecosystem, the sheer scale of this everyday adoption became an unexpected cultural experience. A Rs 20 snack, a quick rickshaw ride or a small purchase from a roadside vendor could all be settled with the same simple routine: scan, pay and move on. “Coming from France, this was one of those little everyday cultural differences that made me think: ‘Wow, I really didn’t expect this,’” Manika said.Watch the video here:Her reaction comes as UPI completes a decade since its launch in August 2016 by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). What began as a digital payments system has since become a ubiquitous part of India’s financial landscape.For Indians, scanning a QR code for a cup of tea or an auto ride may now feel completely routine. For visitors, however, the sight of the same technology powering transactions at both high-end establishments and tiny roadside stalls can offer a very different perspective on India’s digital transformation.And for Manika, that tiny black-and-white square turned out to be one of the country’s biggest surprises.- EndsPublished By: Srimoyee ChowdhuryPublished On: Aug 26, 2026 10:54 IST