RuPay JCB Global Card Transforms Cross-Border Payment Experience for Indian Travelers

India’s payment infrastructure just got a major upgrade. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and JCB International Co., Ltd. have jointly rolled out the RuPay JCB Global Card, marking the first JCB-branded card to hit the Indian market. This strategic partnership represents a significant step in bridging domestic payment systems with global acceptance networks.

What Makes This Card Stand Out

The RuPay JCB Global Card operates on a dual-network model—cardholders can use it at RuPay-accepting merchants across India and access JCB’s global network outside the country for both POS transactions and ATM withdrawals. Multiple Indian banks including State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Axis Bank, Union Bank of India, Central Bank of India, Andhra Bank, City Union Bank, and TJSB Bank are participating in the issuance.

This launch represents phase two of the NPCI-JCB collaboration, following the 2017 initiative that enabled Indian ATMs and POS terminals to accept incoming foreign JCB cards. The evolution addresses a clear market need—India’s outbound travel sector has been expanding rapidly, requiring better payment solutions for international tourism.

Compelling Launch Incentives

The partnerships introduced a special promotional program offering cardholders attractive cashback benefits:

• 15% cashback on all POS transactions made outside India
• Additional 15% cashback (totaling 30%) at select popular destinations: Thailand, Singapore, and the UAE

Beyond cashback, JCB members gain access to premium services including airport lounge access at major hubs in China, Japan, Hawaii, Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Korea. The company also provides year-round merchant promotions across its global network of approximately 30 million merchants operating in 23 countries and territories.

Market Impact and Scale

JCB’s presence is substantial—the payment brand serves over 130 million cardmembers worldwide. This partnership expands access to that infrastructure for Indian travelers while simultaneously introducing RuPay’s homegrown payment technology to international markets. NPCI, established in 2008 as India’s umbrella organization for retail payments, operates multiple systems including UPI (Unified Payments Interface), BHIM, IMPS, and NETC that have become fundamental to India’s digital payment transformation.

The collaboration reflects broader industry trends: as digital payment adoption accelerates in India and Indian consumers increasingly travel internationally, payment networks must evolve to serve dual-market demands. The RuPay JCB Global Card positions itself at that intersection, offering the familiarity of domestic payment infrastructure with the convenience of international acceptance.

For more details on NPCI’s payment solutions, visit npci.org.in.