RBI expands valid KYC documents for semi-closed prepaid cards up to ₹5,000
No longer current — replaced by Inter-operability among Pre-paid Payment Instruments (PPIs) – Clarifications
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-2011/444 · issued 23 Mar 2011 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI now allows NREGA job cards and Aadhaar letters as officially valid identity documents for issuing semi-closed prepaid cards up to ₹5,000, aligning with PMLA rules. Full KYC still applies for other cases.
What changed
RBI clarified that NREGA job cards signed by a State Government officer and Aadhaar letters from UIDAI are now officially valid documents for identity under PMLA Rules. This expands the list of acceptable documents for customer due diligence when issuing semi-closed prepaid cards up to ₹5,000.
What it means for you
Banks and prepaid payment instrument issuers can now accept these two additional documents for low-value semi-closed prepaid cards, simplifying onboarding for rural and Aadhaar-linked customers. However, full KYC requirements remain unchanged for other prepaid instruments or higher-value cards.
Historical instruction — do not use for current compliance. This is what was required at the time; it no longer reflects current RBI requirements. If no replacement rule is linked above, that only means none is recorded on our register yet — it does not prove no later applicable rule exists. Confirm on the official RBI source below.
What banks were required to do at the time
Update your KYC document checklist for semi-closed prepaid cards up to ₹5,000 to include NREGA job cards and Aadhaar letters.
Ensure that NREGA job cards are verified as signed by a State Government officer.
Continue to perform full KYC as per existing AML/PML guidelines for all other prepaid instruments.
Train frontline staff on accepting these new documents for low-value prepaid card issuance.
Who it affects
Prepaid payment instrument issuers, System providers and participants, Banks issuing semi-closed prepaid cards, Customers in rural areas with NREGA job cards, Aadhaar holders using UIDAI letters
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-19 02:11 IST
Superseded by — Inter-operability among Pre-paid Payment Instruments (PPIs) – Clarifications
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
What is the maximum value of semi-closed prepaid cards for which these new documents are valid?
These documents are valid for semi-closed prepaid cards up to ₹5,000, as per the April 27, 2009 guidelines.
Do I still need to do full KYC for other prepaid instruments?
Yes, full KYC as per KYC/AML/PML guidelines must continue for all other prepaid instruments and higher-value cards.
Are NREGA job cards and Aadhaar letters now considered officially valid documents under PMLA?
Yes, they have been added to the definition of officially valid documents under Rule 2(d) of the PMLA Rules 2005, as per the Government notification dated December 16, 2010.
📜 This document’s life story (2 recorded events, each backed by RBI’s own words)
Superseded byInter-operability among Pre-paid Payment Instruments (PPIs) – Clarifications
RBI’s words: “In modification of instructions quoted above, banks are advised that they may now accept NREGA Job Card as an 'officially valid document'”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2010-2011/444
DPSS No. 2174/02.14.004/2010-2011
March 23, 2011
To
All System Providers, System Participants
and any prospective prepaid payment instrument Issuer.
Madam/Dear Sir
Issuance and Operation of pre-paid payment instruments in India- Clarification
We invite your attention to the directions issued by RBI vide RBI/2010-11/389 DBOD.AML.No. 77/14.01.001/2010-11 dated January 27, 2011 on the basis of a notification issued by the Government of India, (No. 14/2010/ F.No.6/2/2007-E.S. dated December 16, 2010), amending the Prevention of Money-laundering (Maintenance of Records of the Nature and Value of Transactions, the Procedure and Manner of Maintaining and Time for Furnishing Information and Verification and Maintenance of Records of the Identity of the Clients of the Banking Companies, Financial Institutions and Intermediaries) Rules, 2005.
2. As per the notification an amendment has been made to Para 2 (d) of the PML Rules 2005 to incorporate the job card issued by NREGA duly signed by an officer of the State Government, and the letter issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India containing details of name, address and Aadhaar number as officially valid documents for identity.
3. Para 6.4 (ii) of the guidelines on prepaid instruments issued by RBI on April 27, 2009 permits issue of semi-closed prepaid cards upto Rs 5000/- wherein customer due diligence can be carried out by accepting any officially valid document as defined under Rule 2(d) of the PMLA Rules 2005. Hence job card issued by NREGA duly signed by an officer of the State Government, and the letter issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India containing details of name, address and Aadhaar number as quoted under Para 2 (d) of PML Rules 2005 can be considered by the issuer as officially valid document for identity while issuing such cards..
4. It may be noted that system providers shall continue to carry out full KYC as per KYC/AML/PML guidelines mandated in terms of other provisions of the guidelines.
5. Please acknowledge receipt.
Yours faithfully,
(K Sivaraman)
General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-2011/444 · issued 23 Mar 2011. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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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=6304&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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