What is the difference between VPA and UPI?

UPI (Unified Payments Interface) is the instant, real-time payment system developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) for bank-to-bank transfers via smartphones. A Virtual Payment Address (VPA) is a unique digital identifier, like username@bankname, used within the UPI system. VPA serves as your account's address, allowing you to send and receive funds effortlessly without needing to share sensitive bank account details like the account number or IFSC code.