RBI Framework on Offline Digital Payments

January 4, 2022

On January 3, 2022, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released a framework for small-value offline transactions in digital mode.

Key Points of the framework

As per framework, offline payments can be made using any channel or instrument such as wallets, mobile devices or cards. However, they shall be made in proximity, or in face-to-face mode only.
Authorised payment system operators (PSOs) and payment system participants (PSPs) including banks and non-banks, which wants to offer payments in offline mode will require to comply with the requirements under the prescribed framework.
Offline payment transactions can be offered without additional factor of authentication (AFA).
Payment instruments shall be enabled for offline transactions on the basis of explicit consent of the customer. Such transactions through cards shall be allowed without the need of switching on contactless transaction channel.
Upper limit of an offline payment transaction should be 200.
Total limit for offline transactions on a payment instrument should be Rs 2,000 at any point in time.
Replenishment of the used limit should be allowed only in online mode with AFA.
Bank or non-bank issuer have been mandated to send transaction alerts to users as soon as transaction details are received. However, there is no compulsion to send alert for each transaction.
Payment instruments will be enabled for offline transactions only after receiving explicit consent of the customer.

What is offline payment?

Transaction which does not require telecom or internet connectivity to take effect are called as offline payment.

Grievance Redressal

As per the framework, customers shall have recourse to integrated ombudsman scheme of RBI, as applicable, for grievance redressal.

Background

These guidelines are part of RBI’s “framework for facilitating small value digital payments in offline mode”. It is followed by pilot testing conducted by some entities in between September 2020 to July 2021. RBI had permitted a pilot scheme in August 6, 2021 for encourage technological innovations which will enable small value digital transactions done offline.

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