Everything you need to know about the use of OTPs in India

We recently learned about how OTP’s are used in India from our very own Anandita, who is based in Ireland. Anandita Chatterjee is a Customer Campaign Executive in our CRM team and recently explained to us how she uses Ding and all about the use of OTPs in India. Anandita uses Ding to both stay connected to family members back home and to keep her OTP registered device in India active. You see, Anandita not only uses Ding to recharge her family's phones back in India but also her own mobile phone in India.

Why, you ask? Well, firstly she wants to make sure her Indian mobile number remains active for her visits home to India. It's also important to keep her mobile phone in India active for essential tasks such as managing her ID cards and banking affairs, all of which require a single registered mobile number for OTP verification. If her Indian mobile number were to go inactive, she would need to go through the hassle of getting a new mobile number attached to everything just to receive timely OTPs. So to keep her mobile phone in India active and also keep her family members connected, Anandita uses Ding to easily and instantly send mobile recharge to Indian phone numbers.  

What is an OTP? 

An OTP is a 'One Time Password'. It's a unique four to six digit code sequence used in India to help prevent potential fraud. An OTP is activated during a transaction or login, it appears on the registered mobile device that is linked to your bank account.

Why did India introduce the use of OTPs? 

Every day, more and more of us are using the internet to buy the things we want and need, to enjoy our lives. With this, comes risk. With malicious sites and online fraud, strong security is forever important. One security measure to prevent online fraud in India, is the OTP. If you've done any online shopping or used a banking app from India, this security tool will be familiar to you.

India introduced the use of OTPs to add an extra layer of security for bank account owners. In India, OTPs are mandatory for many types of transactions including online banking and shopping. They are also used for some ATM withdrawals over certain amounts. The aim is to prevent unauthorised transactions. It does this by ensuring that the only person who receives the code is the person in possession of the linked mobile device. 

India is not the only country to use OTPs as they are used in many different countries. Although, the regulations for OTPs in India differs from other regions. Keep reading to learn how OTPs are used in India.

How does an OTP work in India? 

The process of how OTPs work during transactions and account logins is straightforward and effective. It follows the following steps: 

1. When you attempt a transaction or online log in, you will be prompted to enter your registered mobile number. 

2. Once the system sees your request, it will generate a unique one time password. This unique code is associated with that specific transaction or login attempt. 

3. You will receive the OTP code usually via SMS notification, voice call or a mobile app notification. 

4. You will then input the code on the website or the app you are trying to transact on or login to. 

5. If the OTP code matches the code on the system, you will be allowed to proceed. 

To prevent misuse or fraud, OTPs have a limited time period. Typically, the OTP is valid for between 5-10 minutes. If you fail to enter the OTP within the specified time frame, it becomes invalid. OTPs are also meant for one-time use only. Once it has been used or expires, it cannot be used again.

One Time Passwords are used in India for many different type of online transactions including online mobile top-ups. Make sure if you are sending a top-up or purchasing a gift card with Ding using an account from India, that your mobile number is linked to your bank account and you are ready to receive your OTP to confirm your purchase. 

If like Anandita, you want to send mobile recharge to India instantly, click the link below.