RBI brings FASTag and NCMC auto-replenishment under e-mandate rules
No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
RBI's own words: “With the issue of these directions, the instructions/guidelines contained in the following circulars...stand repealed” — RBI/DPSS/2026-27/396
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2024-25/64 · issued 22 Aug 2024 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI now allows auto-replenishment of FASTag and NCMC balances under the e-mandate framework, exempting these top-ups from the 24-hour pre-debit notification requirement since they lack fixed periodicity.
The rule, in the simplest words
FASTag and NCMC (National Common Mobility Card) can now refill money automatically when the balance goes below a limit you set.
Banks do not have to send you a 24-hour warning before taking money for these refills, because they happen at random times, not on a fixed schedule.
All other rules for automatic payments (like getting your permission first and setting a maximum amount) still apply.
You must tell your bank how low your balance should be before it refills, and the bank must save that choice.
How it plays out — a real example
Ravi, a branch operations officer in Indore, updates his bank's system so that when a customer's FASTag balance drops below ₹100, the bank automatically adds ₹500 without sending a 24-hour notice. This saves Ravi from handling customer complaints about missed alerts and keeps toll payments smooth for drivers.
What changed
RBI has formally included auto-replenishment of FASTag and National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) balances under the existing e-mandate framework. These top-ups, triggered when the balance falls below a customer-set threshold, are exempt from the standard pre-debit notification requirement because they are recurring but without a fixed schedule.
What it means for you
Banks and card issuers can now process FASTag and NCMC auto-top-ups without sending a 24-hour advance notice to customers, reducing friction for users. All other e-mandate rules—like transaction limits and customer consent—still apply, so lenders must ensure their systems comply with the broader framework while updating notification logic for these specific products.
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 e-mandate systems to recognize FASTag and NCMC auto-replenishment as exempt from pre-debit notifications.
Ensure customer-set thresholds for auto-replenishment are captured and stored in compliance with existing e-mandate consent requirements.
Review and align internal processes with all other e-mandate instructions from earlier RBI circulars, as they remain fully applicable.
Communicate the change to relevant operations and IT teams to avoid unnecessary notification triggers for these transactions.
Who it affects
All Scheduled Commercial Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Urban Co-operative Banks, State Co-operative Banks, District Central Co-operative Banks, Payments Banks, Small Finance Banks, Local Area Banks, Non-bank Prepaid Payment Instrument issuers, Authorised Card Payment Networks, National Payments Corporation of India
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
Does this circular remove all pre-debit notifications for FASTag and NCMC auto-replenishment?
Yes, for auto-replenishment transactions triggered when the balance falls below a customer-set threshold, the 24-hour pre-debit notification requirement is waived. However, all other e-mandate rules remain in force.
Can customers still set their own threshold for auto-replenishment?
Yes, the circular specifies that auto-replenishment occurs when the balance falls below a threshold set by the customer. Banks must ensure this threshold is captured as part of the e-mandate setup.
When does this circular take effect?
The circular came into effect immediately upon its issuance on August 22, 2024, under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
📜 This document’s life story (1 recorded event, each backed by RBI’s own words)
RBI’s words: “With the issue of these directions, the instructions/guidelines contained in the following circulars...stand repealed”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2024-25/64
CO.DPSS.POLC.No.S528/02-14-003/2024-25
August 22, 2024
The Chairman / Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer
All Scheduled Commercial Banks, including Regional Rural Banks /
Urban Co-operative Banks / State Co-operative Banks /
District Central Co-operative Banks / Payments Banks /
Small Finance Banks / Local Area Banks /
Non-bank Prepaid Payment Instrument issuers / Authorised Card Payment Networks /
National Payments Corporation of India
Madam / Dear Sir,
Processing of e-mandates for recurring transactions
A reference is invited to our circulars DPSS.CO.PD.No.447/02.14.003/2019-20 dated August 21, 2019 , and other related circulars 1 (collectively referred to as “e-mandate framework”). The e-mandate framework prescribed, inter alia , that the issuer shall send a pre-debit notification to the customer at least 24 hours prior to the actual charge / debit to the account.
2. Reference is also drawn to the Statement on Developmental and Regulatory Policies dated June 07, 2024 , wherein it was announced that auto-replenishment of balances in FASTag and National Common Mobility Card (NCMC), which are recurring in nature but without any fixed periodicity, would be facilitated under the e-mandate framework.
3. It has been decided to include auto-replenishment of FASTag and NCMC, as and when the balance falls below a threshold set by the customer, under the e-mandate framework. Payments for auto-replenishment, since they are recurring in nature but without any fixed periodicity, will be exempt from the requirement of pre-debit notification.
4. All other instructions provided under the e-mandate framework shall continue to remain applicable.
5. This circular is issued under Section 18 read with Section 10 (2) of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 (Act 51 of 2007), and shall come into effect immediately.
Yours faithfully,
(Gunveer Singh)
Chief General Manager-in-Charge
1 RBI circulars:
DPSS.CO.PD No.1324/02.23.001/2019-20 dated January 10, 2020 ,
DPSS.CO.PD No.754/02.14.003/2020-21 dated December 04, 2020 ,
CO.DPSS.POLC.No.S34/02-14-003/2020-2021 dated March 31, 2021 ,
CO.DPSS.POLC.No.S-518/02.14.003/2022-23 dated June 16, 2022 , and
CO.DPSS.POLC.No.S-882/02.14.003/2023-24 dated December 12, 2023
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2024-25/64 · issued 22 Aug 2024. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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=12722&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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