The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on November 28, 2025 issued the Reserve Bank of India (Payments Banks – Digital Banking Channels Authorisation) Directions, 2025. These Directions, issued under Section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, stipulate a comprehensive regulatory framework governing the authorisation and functioning of digital banking channels of Payments Banks, effective from January 01, 2026.
The Directions lay down detailed eligibility criteria for providing view-only and transactional digital banking facilities, including requirements relating to Core Banking Solution (CBS), IPv6 readiness, capital adequacy, cyber security compliance, GAICA reports, and Information Security audit standards. They also mandate adherence to various RBI technology, fraud-risk, cybersecurity, outsourcing, IT governance, and customer-protection guidelines applicable to digital banking. Payments Banks must ensure customer consent, clarity of terms, optionality of digital services, risk mitigation measures, and accessibility for persons with disabilities.
The Directions also repeal previous instructions relating to digital channels for Payments Banks and provide transitional provisions to preserve actions already taken under earlier guidelines. They further clarify that these Directions operate alongside other applicable laws and empower RBI to issue clarifications or exemptions where required.
[Notification No. RBI/DOR/2025-26/382 DOR.RAUG.AUT.REC.305/24.01.041/2025-26]
