Glossary
BharatQR
BharatQR is India's interoperable merchant QR standard, built on EMVCo, allowing a single code to accept card-network payments. It is distinct from UPI, which uses its own upi:// deep-link format.
BharatQR versus UPI
| BharatQR | UPI QR | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | EMVCo TLV | upi://pay deep link |
| Rails | Visa, Mastercard, RuPay, plus UPI | UPI only |
| Issued by | Acquiring bank | Anyone, from the VPA |
| Typical use | Card-accepting merchants | Everyone, including individuals |
In practice UPI QR is what most Indian merchants display, because anyone can generate one from their VPA with no acquirer relationship. BharatQR matters where card acceptance is required.
Common ground
Both are merchant-presented. Both leave the amount out for a static counter code. Both suffer the same dominant fraud — a sticker pasted over the real code — and the same defence: print the payee name large enough that customers notice a mismatch on the confirmation screen.
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