This paper highlights theimpact on consumer perception of digital payment methods in times of a COVID-19 period. In comparison to the pre-COVID-19 time, financial transactions have begun to use more digital payment options. Because of the coronavirus lockdown period all over India, people are afraid of going out to buy something. To that end, they use different methods of digital payment. However, the majority of individuals were compelled to embrace digitalization. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of a pandemic on customer perceptions of digital payment mechanisms. For users who want to do their transactions electronically, digital payment is the perfect solution. Digital payment methods are fast and secure modes of payment that ensure trust among the users. But most people are not aware of such digital payment methods. In digital payment methods, there is no intermediary between the buyer and seller of the goods. No doubt, there are security issues with online payments; this may be an inconvenience for many users and indicates a lack of trust in digital payment methods. This is the main reason that many people still prefer cash payments. We selected the Pune city region for the study of consumer perceptions of digital payment systems since most individuals use various digital payment methods for their daily financial activities. The current study analysed primary data from 137 respondents in Pune City to investigate consumer perceptions of digital payment methods based on criteria such as gender, age, education, benefits, trust, efficacy, ease of use, security, and consumers' perceptions toward digital payment methods. The data was analysed using correlation and ANOVA, and it was discovered that, based on the important parameters, there was no significant difference in consumer impression of digital payment methods even during the COVID pandemic. Usually, India is a traditionally cash-based economy, but now we see the growth of card-based economies.

Consumer Perception, Digital Payment Methods, E-payments, COVID-19 pandemic, online payment.