National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), launched the much-awaited Unified Payments Interface (UPI), next-generation online payments solution on 11th April 2016.

What is Unified Payment Interface (UPI)…?

UPI (Unified Payment Interface) is a NextGen unique online payment solution, as the recipient is now empowered to initiate the payment request from a smartphone.UPI  is completely different from traditional online transfer methods like NEFT/IMPS.

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ie; One can use UPI app instead of paying cash on delivery on receipt of product from online shopping websites and can perform miscellaneous expenses like paying utility bills, over-the-counter payments, barcode (scan and pay) based payments, donations, school fees and other such unique and innovative use cases.

Everyone who has an account should be able to send and receive money from their mobile phone with just an identifier without having any other bank/account details.

All they need to do is to “Pay to” or “Collect From” a “Payment Address” (such as an Aadhaar number, Mobile number, RuPay Card, virtual payment address, etc.) with a single click. The entire process is as easy as sending an Email.

Unified Payment Interface Features

• You can transfer money (up to 1 lakh) to any other bank account instantly (24 *7) without any Fees (Absolutely FREE).
• No need to wait long for the Bank Working hours to process the NEFT or RTGS transactions.
• You can transfer any amount between Rs.50 to Rs.100000/– at a time.
• No need to Add the beneficiary to tranfer the funds.
• No more Waiting for the OTP
• Beneficiary Account Number, IFSC Code, Swift Code etc not Required. So you don’t have to worry about sharing those details to an unknown to collect the money.
• Consumers can easily pay their shopping bills from their Mobile phone to the Unique ID of the Merchant Instantly.
• The user just need a smart phone and a Mobile App to send and Receive money.
• One single App for Multiple Bank Accounts including Bank to Bank funds transfer

How to Send or Receive Money using UPI APP ?

Follow the below steps to complete the One-time registration of your UPI App and generate your unique UPI ID

Step 1: Download your bank’s UPI App from the Google Play Store or App Store and install the App in your Bank Account Registered Mobile Number Phone.

Step 2: Open the App and Click on the Registration. Once you register, a unique virtual address will be created.

Step 3 : Enter your Bank Account details and Registered Mobile Number with the Bank.

Step 4: Note down your unique UPI ID (Virtual ID).

To Receive the money, give your unique UPI ID to the Sender.

To Send the money, collect the receiver’s unique UPI ID and send the money.

To Send the money using UPI, you can use any of the below details:

1. Any UPI Enabled Bank Account Number and IFSC Code, but no need to add the Beneficiary
2. Any Bank Account Linked to Adhar Number
3. A Bank Account Linked Payment Address

Virtual ID is a unique ID similar to an email ID which will be issued by the Bank to the user and will be mapped to user’s Bank Account which helps the user to keep confidentiality of his Account details.

Virtual ID will be a combination of username + “@ ” + Bank Handle.

UPI is really going to change Indian Payment System with a Paperless currency.