HomeCirculars › RBI/2021-2022/165

RBI Merges & Moves Payment Returns Online Under RRA 2.0

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2021-2022/165 · issued 18 Feb 2022 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI is merging two White Label ATM returns and moving PPI, MTSS, and ATM deployment returns to online systems (CIMS/CISBI) under RRA 2.0. Effective dates will be notified later. This reduces manual reporting for banks and payment operators.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

Rahul, a branch operations officer in Indore, will now file only one return for White Label ATM complaints and statistics, reducing paperwork and potential errors. He will also prepare his team to migrate PPI, MTSS, and ATM deployment returns to CIMS or CISBI platforms, ensuring they have access to these systems.

What changed

RBI announced the merger of the WLA Customer Complaints Return and WLA Statistics Return into a single return. Separately, the PPI Statistics, MTSS, and ATM deployment returns will be migrated to online filing via CIMS or CISBI, with parallel reporting to be discontinued once the new system is live.

What it means for you

Banks and payment system operators will see fewer standalone returns to file, as two WLA returns are merged. The shift to CIMS/CISBI for PPI, MTSS, and ATM data means a move toward centralized, online submission, reducing paperwork and potential errors. However, until the effective date is announced, existing reporting obligations remain unchanged.

What you must do

Who it affects

Banks filing payment system returns, White Label ATM Operators (WLAOs), Non-bank PPI issuers, Overseas Principals under MTSS

❓ Common questions

When will these changes take effect?

RBI has not yet announced the effective date for the merger and migration. It will be notified in due course, so continue with current reporting until then.

What returns are being merged?

The WLA Customer Complaints Return and the WLA Statistics Return are being merged into one. The exact name of the merged return has not been specified yet.

Do I need to stop filing any returns now?

No. Parallel reporting will be discontinued only after the effective date is notified. Until then, file all existing returns as usual.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2021-2022/165 CO.DPSS.OVRST.No.S1478/06-08-001/2021-2022 February 18, 2022 The Chairman / Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer Authorised Payment System Operators / Banks Madam / Dear Sir, Regulations Review Authority (RRA 2.0) – Interim Recommendations – Discontinuation / Merger / Online Submission of Returns Please refer to the press release dated February 18, 2022 issued on the captioned subject. 2. As part of the implementation of interim recommendations of the RRA 2.0, it is proposed to merge the returns listed in the Annex 1 . Further, it is also proposed to migrate the returns listed in the Annex 2 , to online filing systems viz. Centralised Information Management System (CIMS) and / or Central Information System for Banking Infrastructure (CISBI). 3. The date of effect for merger / migration to CIMS / CISBI, and discontinuation of parallel reporting would be notified in due course. Yours faithfully, (P. Vasudevan) Chief General Manager Encl.: As above. Annex 1 List of Returns to be Discontinued / Merged (Enclosure to CO.DPSS.OVRST.No.S1478/06-08-001/2021-2022 dated February 18, 2022) S. No.
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2021-2022/165 · issued 18 Feb 2022. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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Who does what — compliance checklist
💻 IT / Systems
  • Plan for migration of PPI, MTSS, and ATM deployment returns to CIMS or CISBI platforms; ensure your team has access to these systems.
📜 Compliance
  • Review the Annex 1 and Annex 2 lists to identify which returns your institution files.
  • Prepare to merge WLA Customer Complaints and WLA Statistics returns into a single submission once notified.
  • Monitor RBI notifications for the effective date of these changes and discontinue parallel reporting only after confirmation.
Grouped from the action items above — a single circular may involve more than one team.
Worked example & action-note template

Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (Banks filing payment system returns, White Label ATM Operators (WLAOs), Non-bank PPI issuers, Overseas Principals under MTSS), your first concrete step on “RBI Merges & Moves Payment Returns Online Under RRA 2.0” is: “Review the Annex 1 and Annex 2 lists to identify which returns your institution files.” (RBI issued this 18 Feb 2022).

  1. Circular: RBI/2021-2022/165 -- RBI Merges & Moves Payment Returns Online Under RRA 2.0
  2. Issued: 18 Feb 2022
  3. Action required: Review the Annex 1 and Annex 2 lists to identify which returns your institution files.
  4. Action required: Prepare to merge WLA Customer Complaints and WLA Statistics returns into a single submission once notified.
  5. Action required: Plan for migration of PPI, MTSS, and ATM deployment returns to CIMS or CISBI platforms; ensure your team has access to these systems.
  6. Action required: Monitor RBI notifications for the effective date of these changes and discontinue parallel reporting only after confirmation.
  7. Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
  8. Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
  9. 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.

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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=12239&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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