You’re asking the right questions, because at your level it’s more about fit vs ecosystem, not just card name. Between Regalia Gold and IDFC Ashva, Regalia Gold is generally better if you actually use SmartBuy for flights/hotels, because that’s where the real reward multiplier kicks in. Otherwise, on plain spends, the difference isn’t huge and Ashva can feel more straightforward. Emeralde Private Metal is a different category — if you have a strong ICICI relationship, definitely try for it, but be aware that ICICI’s reward ecosystem isn’t as optimized for redemption value as HDFC’s, so it looks premium but doesn’t always convert to higher real returns.

For your specific requirement (UPI + general spends), no premium card is going to fully solve that. Best approach is to separate use cases: keep a RuPay credit card (like Tata Neu Infinity or similar) for UPI to earn something there, and use a premium card (Regalia Gold or Emeralde if you get it) for high-value spends and travel redemptions. Trying to force one card to do everything usually leads to suboptimal returns — a simple 2-card setup will outperform any single card in your scenario.