Assessing The Impact of Digital Payment Platforms On Consumer Spending Behavior

India’s digital payments ecosystem has undergone unprecedented expansion over the past decade, driven by innovations such as the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), Aadhaar-enabled systems, and a competitive fintech market. This study investigates how the proliferation of these digital payment platforms has reshaped consumer spending behaviour in India. Using secondary data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), Statista India, Deloitte, IAMAI-Kantar, and peer-reviewed national studies, this paper evaluates changes in transaction frequency, expenditure patterns, impulsive buying tendencies, microtransaction behaviour, financial discipline, and demographic variations. The findings indicate that digital payment adoption has led to a notable increase in spending frequency (30–70%), a significant rise in discretionary expenditure, and a heightened propensity for impulsive consumption, especially among young urban consumers. The study concludes with a discussion of the socio-economic implications and provides strategic recommendations for policymakers, fintech firms, and consumers.