WhatsApp has surprised its users with plenty of updates this year. Beginning from the 'mute always' update to the disappearing messages feature that is underway for its users -- we've seen a plethora of exciting news from the Facebook-owned messaging app in 2020. Numerous in India today woke up to a 'money transfer' highlight on their WhatsApp, and the company confirmed that it was made available to a few beta-users.

"WhatsApp has developed a payment feature in partnership with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI - National Payments Corporation of India). This feature uses the Unified Payment Interface (UPI - Unified Payment Interface), India's first real-time payment system," the company wrote on its blog. The company also mentioned how it has been working on this feature for more than two years, and it only plans to bring in more banks to support it.

Here's how you can use the WhatsApp pay feature for yourself:

• Make sure you (and the contact you wish to send money to) has an updated version of the app.

• After opening your WhatsApp, choose a contact you wish to transfer the money.

• Click on the attachment icon in the chat bar; you will find a payment symbol.

• On clicking the payment option, the app will redirect you to 'Add bank account' page.

• Choose the bank registered with your WhatsApp mobile number, and it will send a text to verify the initiation.

• Type in the amount you wish to send to your contact; the app will now take you to your Google Pay (or UPI) PIN page.

• Viola! You can now send/receive money via WhatsApp.

To view your bank account and transfer history, click on the three dots on your menu page -- which will show you 'payments' on a drop-down menu. On clicking the same, you will be able to view your recent transactions and account details.

"As with every feature in WhatsApp, the security and privacy principles of payments are set strictly", and users have to enter their UPI PIN for each payment," the company wrote on its blog.

"Payments are now available on WhatsApp for iPhone and Android users who are on the latest version of the app." However, if you're one of the few who hasn't received the update yet, the company plans to bring it in for everyone soon.