Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/197 · issued 07 Sep 2012 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI directs all scheduled commercial banks (excluding RRBs), local area banks, and all-India FIs to start uploading AML reports in test mode on FINnet Gateway from August 31, 2012, while continuing existing CD submissions until FIU-IND announces go-live.
The rule, in the simplest words
From August 31, 2012, banks must start testing their ability to upload AML (Anti-Money Laundering) reports on FINnet Gateway (a government website for reporting) in test mode.
Keep sending the old reports on CDs (compact discs) as before until FIU-IND (the financial intelligence unit) says it's time to switch fully.
Your bank's Principal Officer (the person in charge of following these rules) must say they got this message.
Make sure your bank can use the new single XML format (a special computer file type) as told by IBA (Indian Banks' Association) and FIU-IND.
How it plays out — a real example
Ravi, a compliance officer at a scheduled commercial bank in Mumbai, logs into FINnet Gateway on September 1, 2012, to upload a test AML report. He also reminds his team to keep burning CDs for the old reports until FIU-IND announces the go-live date, ensuring no disruption in reporting.
What changed
FIU-IND has asked banks to begin submitting reports under PML Rules, 2005 on the FINnet Gateway in test mode from August 31, 2012. This is a step toward a single XML reporting format, replacing the earlier CD-based system. Banks must continue existing CD submissions until further notice.
What it means for you
Banks need to test their electronic upload capability on FINnet Gateway without disrupting current reporting. This is a preparatory phase for a unified digital reporting system to FIU-IND. Non-compliance could delay the transition, so banks must ensure their systems are ready.
What you must do
Initiate submission of AML reports on FINnet Gateway in test mode from August 31, 2012.
Continue submitting existing reports on CD as per current requirements until FIU-IND announces go-live.
Advise your Principal Officer to acknowledge receipt of this circular.
Ensure your bank's capacity to implement the single XML format as per IBA and FIU-IND guidelines.
Who it affects
All Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs), Local Area Banks, All India Financial Institutions
❓ Common questions
What is the FINnet Gateway test mode?
It is a trial phase where banks upload AML reports electronically to FIU-IND using a single XML format, starting August 31, 2012, to test system readiness before full go-live.
Do we stop CD submissions during test mode?
No, banks must continue submitting existing reports on CD as before until FIU-IND officially announces the go-live of the FINnet project.
Who needs to acknowledge this circular?
The Principal Officer of each bank or financial institution must acknowledge receipt of this circular to RBI.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2012-13/197
DBOD. AML.BC.No.39/14.01.001/2012-13
September 7, 2012
The Chairmen/CEOs of all Scheduled Commercial Banks(Excluding RRBs)/ Local
Area Banks / All India Financial Institutions
Dear Sir,
Uploading of Reports in ‘Test Mode’ on FINnet Gateway
Please refer to our circular DBOD.AML.BC.No.63/14.01.001/2005-06 dated February 15, 2006 prescribing various reporting formats for banks/FIs as required under provisions of PML Rules, 2005. In this connection, your attention is also invited to FIU-IND Office Memorandum F.No.9-29/2011/FIU-IND dated March 31, 2011, enclosed to Indian Banks’ Association’s (IBA) letter No. RB/AML/3034 dated April 30, 2011 regarding introduction of single XML reporting format under Project FINnet for furnishing reports under Rule 3 of PML Rules to FIU-IND. Banks were requested to develop capacity and be in readiness to implement the new format as and when advised by FIU-IND.
2. FIU-IND have now advised vide their letter F.No.9-29/2011-FIU-IND dated August 28, 2012, that all banks should initiate submission of reports on the FINnet Gateway in ‘TEST MODE’ from August 31, 2012 to test their ability to upload the report electronically. Such submission in ‘Test Mode’ would continue till FIU-IND informs the banks about ‘go-live’ of the project. Banks are also required to continue to submit the existing reports in CD as presently required till further notice.
3. All banks and financial institutions are accordingly advised to take action as required by FIU-IND.
4. Please advise your Principal Officer to acknowledge receipt of this circular.
Yours faithfully,
(Sudha Damodar)
Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/197 · issued 07 Sep 2012. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (All Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs), Local Area Banks, All India Financial Institutions), your first concrete step on “FINnet Gateway Test Mode for AML Reports” is: “Initiate submission of AML reports on FINnet Gateway in test mode from August 31, 2012.” (RBI issued this 07 Sep 2012).
Circular: RBI/2012-13/197 -- FINnet Gateway Test Mode for AML Reports
Issued: 07 Sep 2012
Action required: Initiate submission of AML reports on FINnet Gateway in test mode from August 31, 2012.
Action required: Continue submitting existing reports on CD as per current requirements until FIU-IND announces go-live.
Action required: Advise your Principal Officer to acknowledge receipt of this circular.
Action required: Ensure your bank's capacity to implement the single XML format as per IBA and FIU-IND guidelines.
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=7554&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.
Help us keep this accurate
Found an inaccuracy or have an improvement? Tell us. Every report is reviewed by our team before any change is made — nothing goes live unverified.
Public beta — plain-English informational summaries. Always verify against the official RBI source (circular number cited on every page) before making compliance, credit, treasury, audit, or operational decisions. · Join our WhatsApp channel ↗
BANKPULSE · FREE DAILY BRIEF
Get RBI updates for your role
Every important RBI update, decoded in plain English — for your career, exams & financial awareness.
We collect only your email, name and role, used solely to send your brief — never sold or shared. Withdraw anytime via the unsubscribe link in any email. Independent platform, not affiliated with the RBI. Information, not legal advice.
REPORT AN ERROR · BETA
Spotted an error? Earn 500 BankPulse Credits
Help us stay accurate. If your correction is verified true and approved by our founder, you earn 500 BankPulse Credits — redeemable when the platform monetises.
Reviewed by a human before any credit is awarded. We never change the site from crowd input without verification.
WANT A NEW FEATURE · BETA
What would make BankPulse more useful for you?
Tell us what to build next — a tool, a data view, a role page, anything. We read every suggestion.
Thank you — your ideas directly shape what we build.