New payment feature allows Axis Bank cardholders to approve Flipkart transactions using Face ID or fingerprint, reducing OTP friction
Flipkart, in partnership with Axis Bank and PayU, has introduced biometric authentication for card payments, marking a significant move in India’s digital commerce payments ecosystem.
The new feature enables eligible Axis Bank cardholders to authorise transactions on Flipkart using Face ID or fingerprint authentication on supported Android and iOS devices, removing the need for one-time passwords (OTPs).
With the rollout, Flipkart becomes one of the leading Indian e-commerce platforms to offer biometric verification for card payments, as online merchants increasingly seek faster and more secure checkout experiences.
The companies said the system is designed to reduce failed transactions and delays linked to SMS OTP delivery, while improving user convenience during checkout.
Under the arrangement, PayU manages the merchant-side technology infrastructure, including device security and authentication flows, while Axis Bank uses Wibmo, a PayU company, for issuer-side biometric verification.
The companies added that the model incorporates device binding, device fingerprinting and enhanced fraud checks, aimed at reducing risks such as SIM-swap attacks and OTP interception fraud.
The rollout comes as digital payment fraud remains a growing concern in India. Industry data linked to regulatory disclosures has shown a sharp rise in fraud values in recent years, prompting greater focus on stronger authentication standards.
The Reserve Bank of India’s Authentication Mechanisms for Digital Payment Transactions Directions, 2025 encouraged the use of biometric and risk-based authentication methods as alternatives to traditional OTP systems.
Gaurav Arora, Vice President, Payments and SuperCoins at Flipkart, said the integration reflects the company’s commitment to secure and seamless consumer payments as digital commerce scales rapidly.
Axis Bank said biometric approval offers customers a safer and easier one-touch payment experience, while PayU noted that reducing checkout friction without compromising security is becoming increasingly critical for merchants.
The launch is expected to support higher transaction success rates and smoother conversions for online retailers, especially during high-volume sale periods when OTP delays can impact purchase completion.
Industry observers say the move could accelerate wider adoption of device-bound biometric card authentication across India’s e-commerce and digital payments ecosystem.
The partnership between Flipkart, Axis Bank and PayU signals a broader shift away from OTP-led verification towards next-generation authentication tools that combine speed, security and regulatory compliance.
