RBI mandates digital payment accessibility for disabled persons
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2024-25/83 · issued 11 Oct 2024 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI directs all payment system participants to review and modify their systems—like POS machines—for accessibility by Persons with Disabilities, adhering to Ministry of Finance standards, and submit an action plan within one month.
The rule, in the simplest words
Banks and payment companies must check their machines (like card-swiping POS machines) and apps (like UPI) to make sure disabled people can use them easily.
They must follow the government's rules from February 2024 about making banking stuff accessible for disabled people.
Within one month, they have to tell the RBI which machines need fixing and send a plan with dates for when they'll fix them.
They must also name a special officer (Nodal Officer) who the RBI can call with questions.
How it plays out — a real example
A payments & clearing officer in Indore, Priya, reviews her bank's POS machines and finds the screens are too small and buttons too close for customers with low vision. She orders new machines with voice guidance and larger buttons, then emails the RBI a list of 20 machines to upgrade and a 3-month plan, including the name of her colleague Raj as the Nodal Officer for any follow-up questions.
What changed
RBI issued a new circular on October 11, 2024, requiring all payment system participants (banks and non-bank providers) to review their digital payment systems and devices for accessibility for Persons with Disabilities. They must submit a time-bound action plan to RBI within one month, referencing the Ministry of Finance's Accessibility Standards for Banking Sector from February 2024.
What it means for you
Banks and non-bank payment providers must now proactively ensure their POS machines, UPI interfaces, and other digital payment devices are usable by differently abled persons. This adds compliance and modification costs but aligns with inclusive banking goals. Security must not be compromised during upgrades.
What you must do
Review all payment systems and devices (e.g., POS machines) for accessibility gaps for Persons with Disabilities.
Adhere to the Ministry of Finance's Accessibility Standards for Banking Sector (Feb 2024) as applicable.
Submit a detailed list of systems needing modification and a time-bound action plan to [email protected] within one month.
Appoint a Nodal Officer for RBI queries and include their details in the submission.
Who it affects
All scheduled commercial banks, Non-bank payment system providers (e.g., fintechs, payment aggregators), Payment system participants handling digital payments and POS devices
❓ Common questions
What is the deadline for submitting the action plan?
The action plan must be submitted within one month from the circular date, i.e., by November 11, 2024.
Does this apply to non-bank payment providers?
Yes, the circular applies to all payment system participants, including banks and authorised non-bank payment system providers.
What standards should we follow for accessibility?
You should adhere to the Ministry of Finance's 'Accessibility Standards and Guidelines for Banking Sector' notified on February 2, 2024, as applicable.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2024-25/83
CO.DPSS.POLC.No.S-708/02-12-004/2024-25
October 11, 2024
All Payment System Participants
Madam / Dear Sir,
Facilitating accessibility to digital payment systems for Persons with Disabilities - Guidelines
A reference is invited to Reserve Bank’s Master Circular on Customer Service in Banks dated July 01, 2015 , which, among other things, contains instructions for scheduled commercial banks to ensure banking services for Persons with Disabilities. In this context, reference is also invited to ‘ Accessibility Standards and Guidelines for Banking Sector ’ as notified by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India on February 02, 2024.
2. All sections of population, including differently abled persons, are increasingly adopting digital payment systems. To promote effective access, payment system participants (PSPs, that is, banks and authorised non-bank payment system providers) are advised to review their payment systems / devices in terms of accessibility to Persons with Disabilities. Based on the review they may carry out the necessary modifications, such that all their payment systems and devices, such as Point-of-Sale machines, can be accessed and used by Persons with Disabilities with ease. In this connection, the Accessibility Standards issued by the Ministry of Finance referred to above may also be adhered to, as applicable, by all PSPs. While selecting potential solutions for the purpose, care should be taken to ensure that the modifications / enhancements do not compromise security aspects of their systems.
3. PSPs shall submit to the Reserve Bank, within one month of the date of issue of this circular, details of their systems / devices that need to be modified, along with a time bound plan of action for achieving the same. The action plan may be sent to the Department of Payment and Settlement Systems, Reserve Bank of India at [email protected] along with details of a Nodal Officer who could be contacted, if required, for further queries / clarifications.
4. This directive is issued under Section 18 read with Section 10 (2) of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 (Act 51 of 2007).
Yours faithfully,
(Gunveer Singh)
Chief General Manager-in-Charge
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2024-25/83 · issued 11 Oct 2024. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Review all payment systems and devices (e.g., POS machines) for accessibility gaps for Persons with Disabilities.
Submit a detailed list of systems needing modification and a time-bound action plan to [email protected] within one month.
📜 Compliance
Adhere to the Ministry of Finance's Accessibility Standards for Banking Sector (Feb 2024) as applicable.
Appoint a Nodal Officer for RBI queries and include their details in the submission.
Grouped from the action items above — a single circular may involve more than one team.
Worked example & action-note template
Example: if you are an IT/Systems lead at a bank this circular applies to (All scheduled commercial banks, Non-bank payment system providers (e.g., fintechs, payment aggregators), Payment system participants handling digital payments and POS devices), your first concrete step on “RBI mandates digital payment accessibility for disabled persons” is: “Review all payment systems and devices (e.g., POS machines) for accessibility gaps for Persons with Disabilities.” (RBI issued this 11 Oct 2024).
Circular: RBI/2024-25/83 -- RBI mandates digital payment accessibility for disabled persons
Issued: 11 Oct 2024
Action required: Review all payment systems and devices (e.g., POS machines) for accessibility gaps for Persons with Disabilities.
Action required: Adhere to the Ministry of Finance's Accessibility Standards for Banking Sector (Feb 2024) as applicable.
Action required: Submit a detailed list of systems needing modification and a time-bound action plan to [email protected] within one month.
Action required: Appoint a Nodal Officer for RBI queries and include their details in the submission.
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=12741&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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