Meta Platforms is expanding payment options under WhatsApp to support popular UPI payments apps such as Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm as well as debit and credit cards and netbanking as it looks to integrate more in the digital payments ecosystem in India with its large user base.

“We’re making it easier to complete a purchase directly in the chat. Starting today, people in India can add items to their cart and send a payment using the method of their choice from all supported UPI apps, debit and credit cards and more. We’re excited to be working with partners Razorpay and PayU to make paying for something as simple as sending a message,” WhatsApp said in a statement on Wednesday on the occasion of the global Conversations event in Mumbai.

Two more business specific announcements were by the instant messaging platform — WhatsApp Flows and Meta Verified Business.

“With Flows, businesses will be able to provide rich menus and customisable forms that support different needs. We’ll make Flows available to businesses around the world using the WhatsApp Business Platform in the coming weeks,” the statement said.

“To become Meta Verified, businesses have to demonstrate their authenticity to Meta and in return receive a verified badge, enhanced account support and impersonation protection,” the statement added. WhatsApp said that it will begin testing Meta Verified soon with small businesses using WhatsApp Business app.

According to market estimates, India has the largest number of around 400 million monthly active users of WhatsApp.

At a virtual address at the Conversations event, Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg said India is leading the world on how people and businesses have embraced messaging as a better way to get things done, as the social media giant unveiled a slew of new tools aimed at supercharging businesses using WhatsApp.

Announcing the new offerings for WhatsApp, Zuckerberg said the company has continued to innovate with its messaging formats, group chats and broadcast channels.

"India, (is) a country that's at the forefront of a lot of what we're going to talk about today. You're (India is) leading the world in terms of how people and businesses have embraced messaging as the better way to get things done,” he said.

Citing examples, he said that with "WhatsApp Flows" a bank can build a way for customers to book an appointment to open a new account, a food delivery service can build a way to place any order from any of their partner restaurants or an airline can build a way to check in for a flight and pick up a seat, all without having to leave the chat thread.

“We've been hearing from a lot of businesses that they're very eager to build more credibility and get greater visibility. So I'm excited to start rolling out Meta Verified in the coming months," he said.