Are UPI IDs and phone numbers linked?

Yes, UPI IDs and phone numbers are generally linked. A phone number can be registered as a UPI Number, which is a bank-verified identifier of your UPI ID, allowing you to receive money from other users. As per NPCI guidelines, to receive payments via a phone number on UPI, the receiver must map their phone number to a UPI ID. Some platforms, like Paytm, also allow users to create personalized UPI IDs to hide their mobile number for increased privacy.