What is the difference between UPI and VPA?

UPI (Unified Payments Interface) is the core digital payment system developed by NPCI, which facilitates instant money transfers between bank accounts in India. A VPA (Virtual Payment Address), also known as a UPI ID, is the unique digital identifier mapped to your bank account within the UPI network. Essentially, the VPA is the address used to send and receive funds through the UPI system without needing to share sensitive bank details.