What changed
RBI issued fresh instructions following a DBT workshop in Mysore, emphasizing proactive account opening and Aadhaar seeding. Banks must now provide acknowledgements and confirmations for seeding requests, form DBT Implementation Coordination Committees at district level, and display business correspondent details on SLBC websites. A complaint redressal mechanism with a nominated officer per district is also mandated.
What it means for you
Banks must treat Aadhaar seeding as a scalable business opportunity, not just a compliance task. The directive increases operational pressure to complete seeding in all DBT districts, requiring closer coordination with state governments and UIDAI. Lenders need to invest in systems for tracking, acknowledgements, and grievance handling, which may raise short-term costs but enable smoother subsidy transfers and customer engagement.
What you must do
- Complete account opening and Aadhaar seeding for all beneficiaries in DBT districts immediately.
- Set up a district-level DBT Implementation Coordination Committee with state government officials.
- Display district- and village-wise details of business correspondents on your SLBC website.
- Establish a complaint redressal mechanism and nominate a Complaint Redressal Officer per district for seeding issues.
- Provide written acknowledgement for each seeding request and send confirmation once seeding is done.
Who it affects
SLBC convenor banks and lead banks, Bank branches in DBT districts, Business correspondents engaged by banks, State government departments handling DBT
What is the deadline for completing Aadhaar seeding in DBT districts?
The circular does not specify a fixed deadline, but banks are advised to take immediate steps to complete account opening and seeding in all DBT districts.
Do we need to form a new committee for DBT coordination?
Yes, banks must form a DBT Implementation Coordination Committee at the district level, involving the concerned state government department, to review seeding progress.
What kind of grievance mechanism is required?
Each bank must set up a complaint redressal mechanism and nominate a Complaint Redressal Officer in each district specifically to handle issues related to Aadhaar seeding in bank accounts.