RBI mandates DR drills for RTGS/NDS/CFMS participants
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2008-09/495 · issued 10 Jun 2009 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI reiterates that all RTGS, NDS, and CFMS participants must maintain backup sites and actively join disaster recovery drills to ensure business continuity for critical payment systems.
The rule, in the simplest words
All RTGS, NDS, and CFMS participants must have backup sites for critical payment systems.
Participants must join disaster recovery (DR) drills as requested by RBI.
Participants must ensure their DR sites are operational and ready for drills.
How it plays out — a real example
As a payments & clearing officer in Indore, I ensure that our bank's backup site for critical payment systems is operational and ready for RBI-conducted disaster recovery drills. This means our team is prepared to participate in drills when called, and we document and report compliance with RBI's circular to our board and RBI as required.
What changed
RBI issued a circular on June 10, 2009, referencing the April 2009 Annual Policy, to reinforce the requirement for participants to have backup sites and participate in DR exercises. This is a reiteration of existing expectations, not a new rule.
What it means for you
Banks and other participants must ensure their own DR sites are operational and ready for drills. Non-compliance could risk system reliability and regulatory scrutiny. The RBI's own data centres have state-of-the-art backup, but participants' readiness is critical for end-to-end continuity.
What you must do
Verify that your institution has functional backup sites for all critical payment systems interfacing with RBI data centres.
Ensure your DR team is prepared to participate in RBI-conducted disaster recovery drills when called.
Document and report compliance with this circular to your board and RBI as required.
Who it affects
All RTGS participant members, All NDS participant members, All CFMS participant members, Bank IT and operations heads
❓ Common questions
What systems are covered under this circular?
The circular applies to all critical payment systems that interact with RBI's data centres, specifically RTGS, NDS, and CFMS.
Do we need to set up a new DR site if we already have one?
If your existing DR site is adequate for the critical systems mentioned, no new site is needed. However, you must ensure it is ready and you participate in RBI drills.
What happens if we don't participate in DR drills?
The circular stresses full compliance. Non-participation may be viewed as a regulatory lapse, potentially affecting your institution's standing with RBI.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2008-09/495
DIT.CO.(Pol).Cir 2/ 3092/09.63.26 /2008-09
June 10, 2009
The Chief Executives of all participant members (RTGS/NDS/CFMS)
Dear Sir / Madam,
IT based systems – Business Continuity and DR Operations
Please refer to the Annual Policy statement of the Governor , Reserve Bank of India, announced on April 21, 2009 ((cf. paragraph 152 ).
2. As you would be aware, the Reserve Bank has set up ‘state-of-the-art’ Data Centres, which have appropriate backup facilities so as to ensure that Business Continuity is ensured at all times. To ensure that these systems function effectively, regular Disaster Recovery (DR) exercises are conducted by the Reserve Bank in which all participants are expected to participate from their DR sites.
3.We once again reiterate the need for all participants to put in place necessary backup sites for their critical payment systems which interact with the systems at the Data Centres of the Reserve Bank. All participants are advised to participate in the DR drills as and when requested for by the Reserve Bank.
4.Please ensure full compliance to the above.
Yours faithfully,
(A M Pedgaonkar)
Chief General Manager-in-Charge
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2008-09/495 · issued 10 Jun 2009. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Verify that your institution has functional backup sites for all critical payment systems interfacing with RBI data centres.
📜 Compliance
Ensure your DR team is prepared to participate in RBI-conducted disaster recovery drills when called.
Document and report compliance with this circular to your board and RBI as required.
Grouped from the action items above — a single circular may involve more than one team.
Worked example & action-note template
Example: if you are an IT/Systems lead at a bank this circular applies to (All RTGS participant members, All NDS participant members, All CFMS participant members, Bank IT and operations heads), your first concrete step on “RBI mandates DR drills for RTGS/NDS/CFMS participants” is: “Verify that your institution has functional backup sites for all critical payment systems interfacing with RBI data centres.” (RBI issued this 10 Jun 2009).
Circular: RBI/2008-09/495 -- RBI mandates DR drills for RTGS/NDS/CFMS participants
Issued: 10 Jun 2009
Action required: Verify that your institution has functional backup sites for all critical payment systems interfacing with RBI data centres.
Action required: Ensure your DR team is prepared to participate in RBI-conducted disaster recovery drills when called.
Action required: Document and report compliance with this circular to your board and RBI as required.
Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
Evidence filed in compliance register on: ____________
Built only from this circular’s own published fields — not legal advice; always confirm against the official RBI source.
💬 Banker Discussion
Discuss this circular with fellow bankers — reply, upvote what helps, report what doesn’t belong. Be professional; no client data. Views are the commenter’s own, not BankPulse’s.
BankPulse Compliance Evidence Pack — generated 03 Aug 2026 · status cross-checked against RBI’s official withdrawal register (refreshed weekly). Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=5027&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by our expert reviewer, CA Amit Jain. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; is our own plain-English paraphrase, not RBI’s original wording.
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