The correct answer is option 3: Both 1 and 2.
Explanation:
1. National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) helps in promoting financial inclusion in the country:
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is a not-for-profit organization that was set up in 2008 by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian Banks` Association (IBA) to promote digital payments and financial inclusion in the country. NPCI`s objective is to create a robust payment and settlement infrastructure in India and make digital payments accessible to all sections of society, including those who are unbanked or underbanked.
NPCI has launched several digital payment solutions like UPI (Unified Payments Interface), BHIM (Bharat Interface for Money), IMPS (Immediate Payment Service), AePS (Aadhaar-enabled Payment System), and NACH (National Automated Clearing House), which have played a crucial role in promoting financial inclusion in the country. These payment systems have made it easier for people to transact digitally and have reduced the dependence on cash.
Therefore, statement 1 is correct.
2. NPCI has launched RuPay, a card payment scheme:
RuPay is a domestic card payment scheme launched by NPCI in 2012 to provide an alternative to international payment schemes like Visa and Mastercard. RuPay is accepted at all domestic payment channels like ATMs, Point of Sale (POS) terminals, and e-commerce websites. NPCI has also launched variants of RuPay like RuPay Classic, RuPay Platinum, and RuPay Select.
RuPay has played a significant role in promoting digital payments in India, especially in rural areas where internet penetration is low. The scheme has also helped in reducing the cost of transaction processing and has increased the revenue for Indian banks.
Therefore, statement 2 is also correct.
In conclusion, both statements 1 and 2 are correct, and the correct answer is option 3: Both 1 and 2.