{"what_this_is":"The machine-readable twin of the BankPulse page for one RBI rulebook. Same points, same dates, same paragraph references as the page a person reads. RBI's own wording is not reproduced here: each point names the RBI paragraph, the character offset into the text BankPulse read and the sha256 of that text, so the claim can be checked against RBI's own document.","schema_version":1,"release_id":"d653cdb0a5","generated_at":"2026-09-15T00:33:59.117975+00:00","id":"md13083","title":"Reserve Bank of India (Local Area Banks – Digital Banking Channels Authorisation) Directions, 2025","document_kind":"Directions","page":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13083","status":"In force","importance":{"code":"MR","label":"MUST READ","weight":"Must read","why":"Binding RBI Directions naming this institution class in the title","layer":"bankpulse_inference"},"applies_to":{"shown":"Local area banks","class_code":"LAB","from":"the document's own title","layer":"bankpulse_inference"},"dates":{"prid":"md13083","mode":"four_dates_v1","published":{"label":"Published","value":"Nov 28, 2025","stated":true,"why":"The day RBI put this document out."},"effective":{"label":"Starts to apply","value":"January 01, 2026","stated":true,"why":"The day this rule starts to apply, as RBI's own text states it."},"transition":{"label":"Time to get ready","value":"34 days","stated":true,"why":"The room between the day it was published and the day it starts to apply."},"deadline":{"label":"Last date to act","value":"","stated":false,"why":"No date to act by was found in this document. Other dates may sit inside single paragraphs."},"sources":{"published":"doc_date in data/highlights/md13083.json","effective":"data/date_kinds.json kind=effective_date","transition":"worked out from published and starts-to-apply","deadline":"none held"}},"rbi_source":{"url":"https://rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_ViewMasDirections.aspx?id=13083","document_date":"Nov 28, 2025","read_by_bankpulse":"2026-08-21 16:17:53 UTC","text_sha256":"6d57a4ba01b6e3c5b7b7db7b23b5a0695d2b34bcc87605540d3901c09b330acc","word_count":2429,"standing_last_checked":"Standing checked on RBI’s Master Directions index, 15 September 2026, 5:58 am IST."},"counts":{"points_shown":33,"points_naming_an_rbi_paragraph":33,"points_stored":33,"actions":0,"amendments":0},"points":[{"n":1,"claim":"md13083-f7a18ee5","page_group":"Chapter I. Preliminary","stored_section":"KEY DATES","heading":"Starts in January","plain_english":"These rules take effect from January 01, 2026.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 2","rbi_char_offset":2710,"weight":"MUST KNOW","role":"Compliance","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13083#p1","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":2,"claim":"md13083-efd5659d","page_group":"Chapter I. Preliminary","stored_section":"WHO IT APPLIES TO","heading":"Who must follow this","plain_english":"These rules apply to every local area bank in India.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 3","rbi_char_offset":2790,"weight":"MUST KNOW","role":"All staff","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13083#p2","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":3,"claim":"md13083-32d4a4a7","page_group":"Chapter I. Preliminary","stored_section":"THE CORE IDEA","heading":"What view only means","plain_english":"Balance enquiry, balance viewing and downloading a statement.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 4","rbi_char_offset":4183,"weight":"MUST KNOW","role":"All staff","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13083#p3","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":4,"claim":"md13083-5e3bbdef","page_group":"Chapter I. Preliminary","stored_section":"THE CORE IDEA","heading":"What view only cannot do","plain_english":"No loans, no funds transfer, nothing that moves money or creates a liability.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 4","rbi_char_offset":4256,"weight":"MUST KNOW","role":"All staff","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13083#p4","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":5,"claim":"md13083-9a3fefb9","page_group":"Chapter I. Preliminary","stored_section":"THE CORE IDEA","heading":"Two kinds of digital banking","plain_english":"RBI splits it in two: a view only facility and a transactional one.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 4","rbi_char_offset":4591,"weight":"MUST KNOW","role":"All staff","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13083#p5","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":6,"claim":"md13083-7808daa3","page_group":"Chapter I. Preliminary","stored_section":"THE CORE IDEA","heading":"Forms may still be offered","plain_english":"A view only bank may still put downloadable forms on its channel.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 4","rbi_char_offset":4467,"weight":"BACKGROUND","role":"Branch","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13083#p6","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":1,"claim":"md13083-d5c3f95f","page_group":"Chapter II. 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Prudential Requirements","stored_section":"WHO SHOULD ACT","heading":"Core banking and IPv6","plain_english":"Core banking must be in, and public systems must handle IPv6 traffic.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 7","rbi_char_offset":6784,"weight":"MUST KNOW","role":"Compliance","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13083#p9","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":4,"claim":"md13083-e9b686f5","page_group":"Chapter II. Prudential Requirements","stored_section":"WHO SHOULD ACT","heading":"Capital ratio must be met","plain_english":"The bank must meet the smallest capital ratio RBI sets for it.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 7","rbi_char_offset":6883,"weight":"MUST KNOW","role":"Compliance","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13083#p10","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":5,"claim":"md13083-159c6f67","page_group":"Chapter II. Prudential Requirements","stored_section":"WHO IT APPLIES TO","heading":"The money test","plain_english":"The licence requirement, or 50 crores, whichever of the two is higher.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 7","rbi_char_offset":6939,"weight":"MUST KNOW","role":"Board","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":"A bank's licence asks it to hold 30 crore of net worth, and it holds 40 crore. That answers its licence. It does not answer the 50 crores this rulebook names, so the bank cannot switch on money-moving digital banking until it gets there.","anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13083#p11","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":6,"claim":"md13083-c92ee6f6","page_group":"Chapter II. Prudential Requirements","stored_section":"WHO SHOULD ACT","heading":"Two clean audit years","plain_english":"No major adverse finding in the security audits of the last two financial years.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 7","rbi_char_offset":8074,"weight":"MUST KNOW","role":"Compliance","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13083#p12","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":7,"claim":"md13083-5f1ab631","page_group":"Chapter II. Prudential Requirements","stored_section":"WHAT CHANGES","heading":"One approval covers all","plain_english":"Once approved, the bank may run every kind of digital channel.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 7","rbi_char_offset":8221,"weight":"MUST KNOW","role":"Board","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13083#p13","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":8,"claim":"md13083-bcc27517","page_group":"Chapter II. Prudential Requirements","stored_section":"THE CORE IDEA","heading":"A written policy first","plain_english":"The bank must have a full written policy for all its digital channels.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 5","rbi_char_offset":5169,"weight":"DO IT","role":"Board","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13083#p14","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":9,"claim":"md13083-e5cdfe3d","page_group":"Chapter II. Prudential Requirements","stored_section":"KEY DATES","heading":"Thirty days to tell RBI","plain_english":"A bank switching on view only banking tells RBI within thirty days.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 6","rbi_char_offset":6141,"weight":"DO IT","role":"Compliance","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13083#p15","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":10,"claim":"md13083-28bbe010","page_group":"Chapter II. Prudential Requirements","stored_section":"WHO SHOULD ACT","heading":"Money and skill needed","plain_english":"The bank must show it can pay for and staff the facility.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 7","rbi_char_offset":7149,"weight":"DO IT","role":"Board","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13083#p16","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":11,"claim":"md13083-07b7d82c","page_group":"Chapter II. Prudential Requirements","stored_section":"WHO SHOULD ACT","heading":"An outside auditor signs it","plain_english":"The gap report must be certified by a CERT-In empanelled auditor.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 7","rbi_char_offset":7997,"weight":"DO IT","role":"Compliance","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13083#p17","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":1,"claim":"md13083-22c00369","page_group":"Chapter IV. General Guidelines","stored_section":"WHO SHOULD ACT","heading":"No forced sign up","plain_english":"The bank cannot make digital banking a condition for a debit card.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 10","rbi_char_offset":13813,"weight":"MUST KNOW","role":"Branch","team":null,"products_covered":["credit-card"],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13083#p18","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":2,"claim":"md13083-5730ed34","page_group":"Chapter IV. General Guidelines","stored_section":"WHO SHOULD ACT","heading":"No bundling of services","plain_english":"Services cannot be tied together and sold as one packet.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 10","rbi_char_offset":14059,"weight":"MUST KNOW","role":"Branch","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13083#p19","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":3,"claim":"md13083-831e4cd2","page_group":"Chapter IV. General Guidelines","stored_section":"WHO SHOULD ACT","heading":"The customer chooses","plain_english":"The choice of any digital facility rests with the customer alone.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 10","rbi_char_offset":14122,"weight":"MUST KNOW","role":"Branch","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13083#p20","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":4,"claim":"md13083-54f86563","page_group":"Chapter IV. General Guidelines","stored_section":"WHO SHOULD ACT","heading":"Works on every network","plain_english":"Mobile banking outside an app must work on every mobile network.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 10","rbi_char_offset":14493,"weight":"MUST KNOW","role":"Compliance","team":null,"products_covered":["digital-payment"],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13083#p21","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":5,"claim":"md13083-8f712ad0","page_group":"Chapter IV. General Guidelines","stored_section":"WHO SHOULD ACT","heading":"The tighter rule wins","plain_english":"Where two rules apply, the stricter of the two is the one to follow.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 10","rbi_char_offset":15033,"weight":"MUST KNOW","role":"Compliance","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13083#p22","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":6,"claim":"md13083-6491b3d4","page_group":"Chapter IV. General Guidelines","stored_section":"WHO SHOULD ACT","heading":"No outside products inside","plain_english":"After login the bank must not show other people's products.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 10","rbi_char_offset":15257,"weight":"MUST KNOW","role":"Compliance","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13083#p23","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":7,"claim":"md13083-32f28b3a","page_group":"Chapter IV. General Guidelines","stored_section":"WHO SHOULD ACT","heading":"Ask the customer first","plain_english":"The bank must take and record the customer's clear consent to register.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 10","rbi_char_offset":12377,"weight":"DO IT","role":"Branch","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13083#p24","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":8,"claim":"md13083-87d35ab6","page_group":"Chapter IV. General Guidelines","stored_section":"WHO SHOULD ACT","heading":"Say that alerts will come","plain_english":"The customer must be told alerts will go to the registered mobile and email.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 10","rbi_char_offset":12574,"weight":"DO IT","role":"Branch","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13083#p25","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":9,"claim":"md13083-e4002014","page_group":"Chapter IV. General Guidelines","stored_section":"WHO SHOULD ACT","heading":"More ways to sign up","plain_english":"Registration should be possible without a branch visit.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 10","rbi_char_offset":12788,"weight":"DO IT","role":"Branch","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13083#p26","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":10,"claim":"md13083-25640dcf","page_group":"Chapter IV. General Guidelines","stored_section":"WHO SHOULD ACT","heading":"Plain words, three languages","plain_english":"Terms should be in English, Hindi and the local language, simply written.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 10","rbi_char_offset":12952,"weight":"DO IT","role":"Branch","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13083#p27","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":11,"claim":"md13083-df537002","page_group":"Chapter IV. General Guidelines","stored_section":"WHO SHOULD ACT","heading":"Set limits on transactions","plain_english":"The bank must set its own transaction limits, speed checks and fraud checks.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 10","rbi_char_offset":14540,"weight":"DO IT","role":"Compliance","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13083#p28","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":12,"claim":"md13083-a4084951","page_group":"Chapter IV. General Guidelines","stored_section":"IMPACT","heading":"Indian courts decide","plain_english":"Any legal dispute is settled inside India.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 9","rbi_char_offset":11224,"weight":"BACKGROUND","role":"Compliance","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13083#p29","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":1,"claim":"md13083-d1078c4b","page_group":"Chapter V. Exemptions, Repeal and Other Provisions","stored_section":"IMPACT","heading":"RBI can give more time","plain_english":"RBI may give a bank more time, or excuse it from any part of these rules.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 11","rbi_char_offset":15805,"weight":"BACKGROUND","role":"Compliance","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13083#p30","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":2,"claim":"md13083-591b4987","page_group":"Chapter V. Exemptions, Repeal and Other Provisions","stored_section":"WHAT IT REPLACES","heading":"Old rules stand repealed","plain_english":"The earlier digital banking rules for these banks are repealed.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 12","rbi_char_offset":16098,"weight":"BACKGROUND","role":"Compliance","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13083#p31","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":3,"claim":"md13083-1079c38d","page_group":"Chapter V. Exemptions, Repeal and Other Provisions","stored_section":"WHAT IT REPLACES","heading":"Old actions still stand","plain_english":"Anything done under the old rules stays governed by those old rules.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 12","rbi_char_offset":16471,"weight":"BACKGROUND","role":"Compliance","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13083#p32","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":4,"claim":"md13083-76f8c80d","page_group":"Chapter V. Exemptions, Repeal and Other Provisions","stored_section":"WHAT IT REPLACES","heading":"Old approvals still count","plain_english":"Approvals given under the repealed rules now come under these rules.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 12","rbi_char_offset":16650,"weight":"BACKGROUND","role":"Compliance","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13083#p33","layer":"bankpulse"}],"actions":[],"amendments":[],"layers":{"rbi_source":"Facts taken from RBI's own document.","bankpulse":"BankPulse's plain-English summary of RBI's document.","bankpulse_inference":"BankPulse's own inference, not stated by RBI."},"rbi_wording_not_included":"By design. BankPulse never republishes RBI's exact sentences. Use rbi_paragraph with rbi_source.url to read RBI's own words.","terms":"BankPulse's plain-English summaries are BankPulse's own work. The underlying regulation is the Reserve Bank of India's. 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