UPI: Unified Payments Interface - Instant Mobile Payments

Unified Payments Interface (UPI)

Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is a system that powers multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application (of any participating bank), merging several banking features, seamless fund routing & merchant payments into one hood. It also caters to the “Peer to Peer” collect request which can be scheduled and paid as per requirement and convenience.

With the above context in mind, NPCI conducted a pilot launch with 21 member banks. The pilot launch was on 11th April 2016 by Dr. Raghuram G Rajan, Governor, RBI at Mumbai. Banks have started to upload their UPI enabled Apps on Google Play store from 25th August, 2016 onwards.

How is it unique?

Immediate money transfer through mobile device round the clock 24*7 and 365 days.
Single mobile application for accessing different bank accounts.
Single Click 2 Factor Authentication – Aligned with the Regulatory guidelines, yet provides for a very strong feature of seamless single click payment.
Virtual address of the customer for Pull & Push provides for incremental security with the customer not required to enter the details such as Card no, Account number; IFSC etc.
QR Code
Best answer to Cash on Delivery hassle, running to an ATM or rendering exact amount.
Merchant Payment with Single Application or In-App Payments.
Utility Bill Payments, Over the Counter Payments, QR Code (Scan and Pay) based payments.
Donations, Collections, Disbursements Scalable.
Raising Complaint from Mobile App directly.

Participants in UPI

Payer PSP
Payee PSP
Remitter Bank
Beneficiary Bank
NPCI
Bank Account holders
Merchants

UPI - Benefits to the Ecosystem participants

Banks:

Customers:

Round the clock availability
Single Application for accessing different bank accounts
Use of Virtual ID is more secure, no credential sharing
Single click authentication
Raise Complaint from Mobile App directly

Merchants:

Seamless fund collection from customers - single identifiers
No risk of storing customer’s virtual address like in Cards
Tap customers not having credit/debit cards
Suitable for e-Com & m-Com transaction
Resolves the COD collection problem
Single click 2FA facility to the customer - seamless Pull
In-App Payments (IAP)

Registration in UPI enabled application

Steps for Registration:

User downloads the UPI application from the App Store/Banks website
User creates his/her profile by entering details like name, virtual id (payment address), password etc.
User goes to “Add/Link/Manage Bank Account” option and links the bank and account number with the virtual id

Generating UPI – PIN:

User selects the bank account from which he/she wants to initiate the transaction
User clicks one of the option -

Change UPI PIN

User receives OTP from the Issuer bank on his/her registered mobile number
User now enters last 6 digits of Debit card number and expiry date
User enters OTP and enters his preferred numeric UPI PIN( UPI PIN that he would like to set) and clicks on Submit
After clicking submit, customer gets notification (successful or decline)
User enters his old UPI PIN and preferred new UPI PIN (UPI PIN that he would like to set) and clicks on Submit
After clicking submit, customer gets notification (successful or failure)

Performing a UPI Transaction:

PUSH - Send Money

User logs in to UPI application
After successful login, user selects the option of Send Money/Payment
User enters beneficiary’s/Payee virtual id, amount and selects account to be debited
User gets confirmation screen to review the payment details and clicks on Confirm
User now enters UPI PIN
User gets successful or failure message

Send money Using UPI -

PULL - Request Money

User logs in to his bank’s UPI application
After successful login, user selects the option of collect money (request for payment)
User enters remitters/payers virtual id, amount and account to be credited
User gets confirmation screen to review the payment details and clicks on confirm
The payer will get the notification on his mobile for request money
Payer now clicks on the notification and opens his banks UPI app where he reviews payment request
Payer then decides to click on accept or decline
In case of accept payment, payer will enter UPI PINto authorize the transaction
Transaction complete, payer gets successful or decline transaction notification
Payee/requester gets notification and SMS from bank for credit of his bank account

Request Money using UPI -

Product

A. Financial Transactions: UPI supports the following financial transactions viz.

Pay Request: A Pay Request is a transaction where the initiating customer is pushing funds to the intended beneficiary. Payment Addresses include Mobile Number & MMID, Account Number & IFSC and Virtual ID

Collect Request: A Collect Request is a transaction where the customer is pulling funds from the intended remitter by using Virtual ID.

B. Non-Financial Transactions: UPI will support following types of non-financial transactions on any PSP App viz.

Mobile Banking Registration*
Generate One Time Password (OTP)
Set/Change PIN
Check Transaction Status
Raise Dispute/Raise query

* Mobile Banking Registration is possible only if the mobile number (which is to be registered) is registered with the Issuer Bank for SMS Alerts/mobile alerts.

New customers can onboard and use UPI on all platforms, using UPI Apps, on Android API version 23 and above / iOS version 17 and above.