E-Challan, EV Wallet, Insurance: New Bharat Connect Categories for Your Portal
When most people hear BBPS, they think of electricity and gas bills. Bharat Connect, as BBPS is now called, has grown well past that. WhatsApp's recent bill payment launch, for example, was reported to cover about 22,722 billers across 30 categories. For a retailer network, every new category is one more reason for a customer to walk in.
Categories worth knowing about
Traffic e-challan
Traffic fines can be paid through Bharat Connect in several states. NBBL reported that e-challan payments on Bharat Connect crossed one million transactions, with the service live in five states, including strong uptake in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. For counters near highways, RTOs or busy markets, this is a natural add-on.
EV wallet recharge
In January 2026, NBBL announced EV wallet recharge through Bharat Connect, letting users top up wallets used for EV charging. It is early, but EV owners are growing in cities.
Insurance premiums
Insurance is a large category on Bharat Connect. In April 2026, Postal Life Insurance and Rural Postal Life Insurance were added as billers, opening digital premium payment for over 1.25 crore policyholders, many of them in smaller towns.
Loan EMIs
Many banks and finance companies accept loan repayments through Bharat Connect. Customers who are not comfortable with net banking often prefer paying at a known shop.
FASTag, broadband, cable TV and more
These are already common, and our FASTag recharge API guide covers how FASTag works.
Which categories to add first
| If your retailers are near… | Start with |
|---|---|
| Highways, transport hubs | FASTag, e-challan |
| Villages and small towns | Electricity, insurance premiums, loan EMIs |
| City markets and offices | Electricity, broadband, postpaid, credit card bills |
| Housing colonies | Piped gas, water, cable TV |
Pro tip: before adding a category, check whether your API supports bill fetch for it. Categories with bill fetch are much easier for retailers, because the customer's name and amount appear on screen.
Margins and expectations
Commission on bill payments is usually small, and under the new UPI rules apps can no longer charge users a platform fee on bill payments (read what the fee ban means). The value of these categories is footfall: a customer who pays an EMI or a challan at your retailer's shop also recharges there.
New to the technical side? Our bill payment API integration guide explains biller lists, bill fetch and status.
Add more categories to your portal
A1Topup's Utility API gives your software access to Bharat Connect billers across many categories through one integration. Ask for the category list on WhatsApp.
Frequently asked questions
Is BBPS the same as Bharat Connect?
Can e-challan be paid through Bharat Connect?
Which bill categories should a retailer network add first?
Have a question? Talk to our team
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