Digital Payments in Urban Odisha: Insights from a Primary Survey

Abstract

This study discusses the insights derived from a primary survey conducted in urban centres in the Indian state of Odisha located in the eastern region of India, which is generally perceived as less developed than other regions of the country. There is evidence that Odisha is catching up with the digital revolution, and the survey reveals significant achievements in terms of people’s general awareness of various digital payment systems and access to smartphones. The use of digital payments has increased with increasing education and income levels, and the proportion of cash transactions has declined post-COVID-19. Major barriers to the wider adoption of digital payments in the state include network issues such as poor internet connectivity, low internet speed and lack of acceptability. The empirical findings of this study establish that receiving incomes into bank accounts instead of in cash increases the affinity towards paying digitally.