Ans. The Reserve Bank owns and operates following CPS:

i. Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) System – It is the country’s Large Value Payment System and was introduced in March 2004. It was subsequently enhanced to Next Generation-RTGS (NG-RTGS) built on the ISO 20022 standard with advanced features such as hybrid functionality, liquidity management functions, future date functionality, scalability, etc. The transactions settle real-time on a gross basis in the books of RBI and have a floor value of Rs. 2 lakh. RTGS also settles Multilateral Net Settlement Batch (MNSB) files emanating from ancillary payment systems such as CCIL and NPCI. It is available round the clock on all days of the year with effect from December 14, 2020.

ii. National Electronic Fund Transfer (NEFT) system – It is a retail payment system and was introduced in November 2005. NEFT has a straight through process which operates in 48 half-hourly batches 24x7x365 with effect from December 16, 2019. There is no floor or ceiling for the amount that can be transferred in a single transaction, because of which NEFT has emerged as a popular hybrid payment system.

Ans. Following links can be perused for understanding RTGS and NEFT systems: -

RTGS System Regulations

NEFT Procedural Guidelines

FAQs on RTGS

FAQs on NEFT

Master Guidelines on Access Criteria for Payment Systems

Ans. Non-bank entities with access to CPS are standalone primary dealers, clearing corporations of stock exchanges, central counterparty (CCIL), retail payment system organisation (NPCI), select financial institutions (NABARD, EXIM Bank) and DICGC.

Ans. Banks have been providing the services to non-banks for their payment and settlement needs.

Ans. Direct participation in CPS can reduce delay in execution of funds transfer instructions of non-banks. Further, if there is any impact in the functioning of the bank, it can cause business disruptions for its non-bank customers as well. Such disruptions, even if temporary, can have the potential to spread instability in the system.

Direct participation to CPS will enable access neutrality between banks and non-banks and facilitate better settlement risk management with increased participation of non-banks.

Ans. Non-banks increasingly and actively offer financial services and direct access to CPS can enable them to leverage technology and offer more choices to their consumers.

Apart from managing settlement risk in payments landscape, expanding access and participation of non-banks is a progressive move and leads to diversity and resiliency of the payments ecosystem.

Ans. Direct access to CPS for non-banks will be enabled in a phased manner. In the first phase, the following authorised non-bank PSPs will be provided access –

i. Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) Issuers,

ii. Card Networks and

iii. White Label ATM Operators.

Ans. Details of types of membership in RTGS are available in chapter 4 of RTGS System Regulations. The type of membership in RTGS for non-banks PSPs will be decided by Reserve Bank based on the type of transactions they handle.

Ans. RTGS system enables participants to initiate and receive payments for inter-bank / non-bank / customer transactions. NEFT system allows members to send and receive transactions of retail nature electronically. Membership to NEFT is, however, relevant to non-bank PPI issuers only.

RTGS system also enables eligible members to post MNSB transactions, do Own Account Transfers (OAT) between current account and settlement account in RTGS. In the context of Q.7 above, MNSB transactions are relevant for Card Networks only.

Ans. No. For any shortfall / default in completing the payment / settlement obligations, such entities will need to have a pre-approved line of credit facility from a bank. They will also have to ensure that appropriate liquidity support arrangements are in place with their bankers to avoid gridlock and to ensure business continuity. Any such shortfall / default in availability of funds by the PSP can entail appropriate regulatory action from the Reserve Bank, including review of CPS membership.