VPA (Virtual Payment Address)

Human-friendly identifier like user@bank. Maps to actual account via PSP. Users share VPA instead of account number.

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VPA (Virtual Payment Address)

Human-friendly identifier like user@bank. Maps to actual account via PSP. Users share VPA instead of account number.

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Push vs pull

Push: payer initiates ('send to X'). Pull: payee requests ('collect from X'). Payer approves. Both flow through NPCI switch.

Immediate settlement

Debit + credit happen synchronously via NPCI. Inter-bank net settlement happens at RBI's IMPS system later. User sees instant.

Two-factor mandatory

Every UPI transaction requires PIN entered on payer's device. PIN never leaves device — cryptographically bound to registered SIM.

Scale metrics

10B+ transactions/month. 3B+ daily peak. NPCI switch is the critical path — sub-2-second success rate above 99.9%.