Digital Payments / UPI
Every RBI rule that touches Digital Payments / UPI, simplified for bankers. 28 current circulars.
Status from our nightly regulatory-lineage check. Only circulars with no recorded withdrawal appear below — always confirm current applicability against the official RBI source linked on each circular.
Latest circulars in this cluster
RBI mandates settlement accounts for payment intermediaries
RBI directs banks to ensure intermediaries like payment aggregators route customer payments through internal accounts of
RCB Customer Liability Limits for Unauthorised EBTs Revised
RBI has revised liability rules for unauthorised electronic banking transactions at Rural Co-operative Banks (RCBs), app
UCB Customer Liability Limits for Unauthorised EBTs Revised
RBI has revised liability rules for unauthorised electronic banking transactions at UCBs, effective Jan 1, 2027. New def
RRB Customer Liability Limits for Unauthorised EBTs Revised (Third Amendment Directions, 2026)
RBI issued the Third Amendment Directions, 2026, revising customer liability rules for unauthorised electronic banking t
Payments Banks: New Liability Rules for Unauthorised EBTs
RBI has revised liability rules for unauthorised electronic banking transactions at Payments Banks, effective January 1,
SFB Customer Liability Rules for Unauthorised Digital Transactions Updated
RBI revised liability rules for SFB customers on unauthorised electronic transactions, effective Jan 1, 2027. New defini
RBI Tightens Customer Liability Rules for Unauthorised EBTs (Applicable from Jan 1, 2027)
RBI has revised liability limits for unauthorised electronic banking transactions (EBTs) applicable to transactions on o
SFB Credit Lines via UPI: Prudential Norms Clarified
RBI mandates that credit facilities linked to UPI or any payment mode must follow standard prudential norms based on the
UPI Credit Lines: RBI Mandates Uniform Prudential Norms
RBI now requires that any credit facility linked to UPI or other payment instruments must follow the same prudential nor
RBI TReDS Master Direction 2026: Key Changes for MSME Financing
RBI issued a comprehensive Master Direction for TReDS platforms, effective immediately. It streamlines capital requireme
RBI Tightens Payments Banks' Third-Party Product Rules
RBI has amended Payments Banks' agency and referral rules, effective Jan 1, 2027. Banks can only sell regulated financia
System Audit Qualification Mandate for Payment Operators
RBI now requires system audits for payment operators to be done only by CISA-certified (ISACA) or DISA-qualified (ICAI)
RBI Consolidates Prepaid Payment Instrument Guidelines
RBI issued consolidated guidelines for prepaid payment instruments (PPIs) on March 28, 2014, superseding all earlier cir
RBI mandates PPI interoperability, hikes limit to ₹2 lakh, allows cash withdrawal
RBI mandates full-KYC PPI interoperability via UPI/card networks by March 31, 2022, raises wallet limit to ₹2 lakh, and
RBI Expands Card Tokenisation to Card-on-File (CoFT) Services
RBI now permits Card-on-File Tokenisation (CoFT) for card payments, extending device-based tokenisation to stored card c
RBI Extends Timeline for Storing Card-on-File Data to June 2022
RBI has extended the timeline for storing actual card data (CoF) by non-bank payment aggregators and merchants to June 3
RBI Extends Card-on-File Storage Ban Deadline to Sept 30, 2022
RBI has extended the deadline for purging stored card-on-file (CoF) data by three months to September 30, 2022. Token cr
RBI Finalises Card-on-File Storage Ban: Oct 1 Deadline Stands
RBI confirms no extension to the October 1, 2022 ban on storing actual card data (CoF) by non-issuers/networks. Merchant
RBI Extends PA Authorisation Application Window to Sept 2022
RBI has given non-bank Payment Aggregators (PAs) existing as on March 17, 2020, a fresh window until September 30, 2022,
UPI Access for Foreign Nationals and NRIs Visiting India
RBI now allows foreign nationals and NRIs visiting India to use UPI for merchant payments, starting with G-20 travellers
RBI Brings Cross-Border Payment Aggregators Under Direct Regulation
RBI now directly regulates all entities handling cross-border payments for imports/exports, classifying them as Payment
RBI Allows Card Tokenisation Directly via Issuing Banks
RBI now permits card issuers to tokenise cards directly, giving cardholders a single process to tokenise for multiple me
RBI allows PPIs for public transit payments
RBI now permits authorised banks and non-banks to issue Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPIs) for payments across public tr
RBI mandates digital payment accessibility for disabled persons
RBI directs all payment system participants to review and modify their systems—like POS machines—for accessibility by Pe
UPI access for full-KYC PPIs via third-party apps
RBI now allows full-KYC PPI holders to use third-party UPI apps for payments, breaking the earlier restriction to only t
PPI Returns Move to RBI's CIMS Portal from Jan 2026
RBI has mandated PPI issuers to submit monthly statistics and quarterly grievance returns on the new Centralised Informa
RBI Master Directions
RBI issues Master Directions on authorization to operate a payment system, consolidating existing guidelines and instruc
RBI Payment System Rules
RBI issues master directions for payment system authorisation, outlining eligibility and requirements for operators.
Frequently asked questions
Who regulates UPI and digital payments?
RBI authorises and supervises payment-system operators under the payment and settlement systems law, while the retail UPI rail is operated by NPCI within that regulatory perimeter.
What is card tokenisation?
Tokenisation replaces actual card numbers with device- or merchant-specific tokens so the real number is not stored by merchants, reducing fraud exposure. Its scope and rules are in the cluster entries below.
What protects customers against unauthorised digital transactions?
The limited-customer-liability framework caps a customer's loss for unauthorised electronic transactions reported within defined timelines, shifting the burden to the institution. The relevant direction is linked below.
Related topics & data
Payment & Settlement Systems
family for this topic.
Credit Cards
Related BankPulse topic cluster.
KYC / AML
Related BankPulse topic cluster.
Deposits / Interest Rates
Related BankPulse topic cluster.