What is a VPA number in UPI?

A Virtual Payment Address (VPA) is a unique identifier used in the UPI system to send or receive money instantly. It acts as a financial address, similar to an email ID, following a format like name@bankname or mobilenumber@upi. By using a VPA, users can complete transactions without sharing sensitive bank details such as account numbers or IFSC codes. This system, developed by the NPCI, ensures secure, privacy-focused, and convenient real-time fund transfers directly between bank accounts.