DRAFT FOR COMMENTS RBI/DOR/2024-25/ DOR.STR.REC. /21.04.048/2024-25 May 03, 2024 All Commercial Banks (including Small Finance Banks but excluding Payments Banks, Local Area Banks and Regional Rural Banks) All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks All All-India Financial Institutions All Non-Banking Financial Companies

In exercise of the powers conferred under section 45W of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (hereinafter called the Act) read with section 45U of the Act and of all the powers enabling it in this behalf and in supersession of the Electronic Trading Platform (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2018 dated October 05, 2018, the Reserve Bank of India (hereinafter called the Reserve Bank), hereby issues the following Directions to all entities operating Electronic Trading Platforms.

CO.DPSS.POLC.No. S-*** / 02-14-008 / 2024-25 Date of Issue All Payment System Providers and Payment System Participants Madam / Dear Sir, Regulation of Payment Aggregators (PAs) - DRAFT Reference is invited to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) circulars DPSS.CO.PD.No.1810 / 02.14.008 / 2019-20 dated March 17, 2020, CO.DPSS.POLC.No.S33 / 02-14-008 / 2020-2021 dated March 31, 2021 on “Guidelines on Regulation of Payment Aggregators and Payment Gateways”, and circular CO.DPSS.POLC.No.S-761 / 02-14-008 / 2022-23 dated July 28, 2022 on “Regulation of Payment Aggregators – Timeline for submission of applications for authorisation – Review”. Keeping in view the importance of Payment Aggregators (PAs) in the payment ecosystem, these circulars provided for, inter-alia, direct regulation and authorisation of PAs facilitating payments at online Point of Sale by the RBI. 
 

CO.DPSS.POLC.No. S-*** / 02-14-008 / 2023-24 Date of Issue All Payment System Providers and Payment System Participants Madam / Dear Sir, Regulation of Payment Aggregators – physical Point of Sale - DRAFT

RBI/2023-24/ DOR.SFG.REC. /30.01.021/2023-24 February 28, 2024 All Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding Local Area Banks, Payments Banks and Regional Rural Banks) All Tier-IV Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs) All All-India Financial Institutions (viz. EXIM Bank, NABARD, NaBFID, NHB and SIDBI)All Top and Upper Layer Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs)

Please refer to paragraph 91.7 of Master Direction – Reserve Bank of India (Non-Banking Financial Company – Scale Based Regulation) Directions, 2023 dated October 19, 2023 as per which Government owned NBFCs set up to serve specific sectors are permitted to approach the Reserve Bank for exemptions, if any, from credit/investment concentration norms. 

Technological innovations are reshaping the financial services landscape, with FinTechs emerging as disruptors and facilitators. FinTechs encompass diverse entities in terms of constitution, size, activities, domains, etc., all subject to constant flux and evolution. FinTechs play a pivotal role in redefining financial services by saving time, enhancing access, and lowering costs. At the same time, the sector raises concerns relating to customer protection, data privacy, cyber security, grievance handling, internal governance, financial system integrity, and the like. While the innovation and dynamism of FinTechs needs to be harnessed, the emerging risks require to be appropriately managed. In such a context, approach to regulation should be imaginative, adaptive, flexible, and proportionate to the perceived risks. In particular, an effective regulatory approach should maintain the balance between maximising the creative potential of FinTechs, while minimising the idiosyncratic risks they pose to the financial system. 

Please refer to our circular DOR.NBFC (HFC).CC.No.118/03.10.136/2020-21 dated October 22, 2020, issued after examination of inputs received on the draft regulatory framework for HFCs, which was placed in public domain on June 17, 2020.  Reference is invited to para 4 of the above circular advising that further harmonisation between the regulations of HFCs and NBFCs will be taken up in a phased manner in the next two years so as to ensure that the transition is achieved with least disruption.   

Draft Circular for comments DOR.ACC.REC.No.##/21.02.067/2023-24 January 2, 2024 Madam/ Dear Sir, Declaration of dividend by banks and remittance of profits to Head Office by foreign bank branches in India The Reserve Bank has granted general permission to all scheduled commercial banks [excluding regional rural banks (RRBs)] to declare dividends vide circular reference DBOD.NO.BP.BC.88/21.02.067/2004-05 dated May 4, 2005 on ‘Declaration of dividends by banks’. Similarly, foreign banks operating in India in the branch mode are permitted to remit profits to their head office without prior approval from the Reserve Bank pursuant to circular reference DBOD.No.IBS.BC.46/16.13.100/2003-04 dated November 6, 2003.