How to track UPI reference number

Digital payments have grown by leaps and bounds over the past few years and a big credit for this rapid expansion goes to the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), an instant payment system developed by National Payments Corporation of India.

The NPCI, a not-for-profit company, set up by the Reserve Bank of India and a bunch of commercial banks to strengthen the payment infrastructure in India, launched the UPI in April 2016. In the first month, only 21 banks allowed UPI payments. In April 2023, the number of banks that allow UPI payments stood at 414. Almost 8.9 billion UPI transactions were recorded during April 2023.

The UPI system facilitates digital payments and transfer of funds in real time through handheld mobile devices for both inter-bank peer-to-peer (P2P) and person-to-merchant (P2M) transactions between two bank accounts. Indeed, it has revolutionised the old-school ways of transferring money online. 

A user can receive or make payments through UPI money transfer by sharing his/her phone number or even through a QR code with the sender through WhatsApp, Messenger, or other modes. There are some limitations as it restricts payment up to Rs 1 lakh in a day to any bank account which is linked with the UPI.

There are several UPI apps. PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm, BHIM app, and MobiKwik are the most popular UPI apps. All of them can easily be downloaded on phone, either from the Google Play store or the Apple store. 

After downloading, a person has to register for the service, link a bank account and then start transfering funds using the virtual identity.

Understanding UPI reference number 

Every UPI transaction generates a 12-digit unique UPI reference number. This number is normally mentioned below the amount transferred. This allows users to track their transactions. If users have any queries about a transaction, they can check the UPI reference number tracking associated with the payment and use it to fetch all the details.

How to find UPI reference number?

The UPI reference number tracking process is easy. It depends on the app's interface on the payment aggregator. A user can find the UPI reference number by navigating into options such as:

• Transaction History 
• Digital Passbook

The user has to click on the required transaction from the list after identifying it and get the UPI reference number. If there is an ambiguity regarding the payment, one can contact the bank or the merchant regarding the status.

Guide for UPI transaction reference number tracking

Here’s a step-by-step guide for the 12-digit UPI reference number tracking process.

1. Open the UPI app used for transactions.
2. Select the ‘Passbook’ section if you are using Paytm and the ‘History’ section if you’re using Phonepe or Google Pay.
3. Select the bank account you use for UPI payments. Click on the transaction for which you require the UPI reference number.
4. Note the 12-digit UPI reference number. 
5. Using the above steps, you can easily track UPI reference numbers whenever you need them.

Benefits of using UPI reference number

The UPI reference number tracking process has a few key benefits for users.

Track transactions: With the help of the UPI reference number, one can instantly track the details of the transaction and generate data related to fund transfers quickly. This helps users discover any discrepancies in a transaction and rectify the error by contacting the merchant or the bank.

Maintain Privacy: Since the UPI reference numbers can be used to track transactions, a user need not disclose information about their bank account or details about their debit or credit cards to anyone else. This makes UPI safe for carrying out financial transactions.

Reference ID in a bank

A reference ID in a bank is a unique ID associated with all online and offline transactions. These reference IDs enable customers and banks to monitor financial transactions. While tracking transactions, simply producing this ID can fetch all the transaction details, making the tracking process simpler. 

In the case of the UPI, each user has a unique UPI reference ID that identifies the user and their bank accounts linked with the UPI app. The UPI reference number tracks the transaction between two bank accounts.

FAQs

Is UPI payment safe?

UPI payments are very safe as they are regulated by the Reserve Bank of India and NPCI. All UPI apps must follow the guidelines laid by the RBI. The UPI payments are initiated through a person’s registered mobile number which is linked to their bank accounts. A user must enter their secret UPI PIN, or personal identification number, to complete every transaction. Moreover, the UPI transaction reference number tracking helps keep a check on these payments.

How to transfer money using UPI?

It’s an easy process. A user has to download a mobile application from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Then they need to set up their UPI account and create a UPI reference ID.

After completing the setup, a user can open the mobile payment application and then click on either pay or send. Then a user is required to either scan the QR code or enter the receiver’s mobile number, followed by entering the amount. Then all they need to do is confirm, and payment is made within a few seconds.

Can I perform a UPI transaction on Paytm?

Yes, UPI transactions can be made through the Paytm app. You can transfer money either by entering a mobile number, scanning a UPI QR code, entering the UPI ID or by entering the bank account number and IFSC code.