meta_id 3082858

On April 21, 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued consolidated directions on the Digital Payments – E-mandate framework, 2026. The directions consolidate existing instructions on electronic mandates and incorporate minor amendments based on feedback received from stakeholders. Electronic mandates enable customers to authorise recurring payments through digital channels, streamlining transactions for utilities, subscriptions, loan repayments, and other regular payment obligations. By consolidating extant instructions into a single framework, the RBI aims to provide clarity and consistency for payment service providers, banks, and other financial institutions operating in India's digital payments ecosystem. The consolidated directions address the operational and technical requirements for e-mandate processing, customer authentication, security standards, and dispute resolution mechanisms. The framework applies to all entities involved in facilitating electronic mandates, including banks, payment gateways, and authorised payment system operators. The directions came into effect immediately upon issuance on April 21, 2026. Financial institutions and payment service providers must ensure compliance with the new consolidated framework. The RBI's consolidation of e-mandate instructions reduces regulatory fragmentation and provides stakeholders with a unified set of guidelines for managing recurring digital payments. **Reference:** Reserve Bank of India Press Release 2026-2027/116 (April 21, 2026)

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released a set of consolidated directions on the processing of recurring transactions via e-mandates for payment system providers and payment system participants. The guidelines prescribe: Registration and revocation procedures including a mandate that customers undertake a one-time registration validated by an additional factor of authentication (AFA), requiring issuers to allow customers to specify maximum transaction values for variable mandates, and mandating that customers be provided with facilities to modify validity periods or withdraw e-mandates at any time. Transaction processing obligations including requiring AFA validation for the first transaction under an e-mandate and stipulating that subsequent recurring payments shall not be subject to any other customer-defined limits or controls. Notification mandates including requiring issuers to send a pre-transaction notification at least 24 hours prior to a debit with an AFA-validated opt-out facility, mandating detailed post-transaction notifications with grievance redressal details, and exempting the auto-replenishment of FASTag and National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) balances from pre-transaction alerts. Transaction limit and velocity check specifications including authorizing general recurring transactions without AFA up to INR15,000 (US$159) per transaction, allowing specific payments like insurance premiums, mutual fund subscriptions, and credit card bills without AFA up to INR100,000 (US$1066) per transaction, and requiring AFA for any amounts exceeding these caps. Dispute resolution and consumer protection requirements including mandating that issuers establish appropriate grievance redressal systems, applying existing RBI instructions on limiting customer liability for unauthorized transactions, and prohibiting any charges to the customer for availing the e-mandate facility. The guidelines take immediate effect.