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Digital Payments – E-mandate Framework 2026

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued e-mandate framework for digital payments.

What is an e-mandate? 

A mandate is a standard instruction that a customer provides to his / her issuing bank and other institutions allowing them to automatically debit the mentioned amount from his / her bank account. e-mandate is the electronic version of it.

To whom shall the framework be applicable?

The framework shall be applicable to Payment System Providers and Payment System Participants.

To which transactions shall the framework be applicable?

The framework shall be applicable to processing of recurring transactions, domestic or cross-border, using cards / Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) / Unified Payments Interface (UPI).

What are the guidelines for registration and revocation of e-mandate?

  • A customer desirous of opting for e-mandate facility shall undertake a one-time registration process. The mandate shall be registered only after successful validation of additional factor of authentication (AFA), in addition to the normal process required by the issuer.
  • Every e-mandate registered by the issuer shall specify the validity period of the e-mandate. The issuer shall provide the customer with a facility to modify the validity period or withdraw the e-mandate at any point of time. 
  • The e-mandate may be for either a pre-specified fixed amount or for a variable amount. In the case of variable e-mandates, the issuer shall provide the customer with a facility to specify the maximum value of any recurring transaction.
  • The customer shall be given a facility to choose or change a mode among available options (SMS, email, etc.) for receiving the pre-transaction notification from the issuer.
  • Any modification in, or withdrawal of, an existing e-mandate shall require AFA validation by the issuer.

What are the guidelines for processing of first transaction and subsequent recurring transactions?

  • The first transaction under an e-mandate shall require AFA validation. If the first transaction is processed along with registration of the e-mandate, then AFA validation may be combined.
  • All recurring transactions may be authorised without AFA up to ₹15,000/- per transaction. Transactions above this amount shall be subject to AFA.
  • Payment of insurance premiums, subscription to mutual funds, and credit card bill payments may be made without AFA up to ₹1,00,000/- per transaction.

What are the guidelines for pre-transaction and post-transaction notifications?

  • An issuer shall send a pre-transaction notification to the customer, at least 24 hours prior to the actual charge / debit.
  • The pre-transaction notification shall, at the minimum, inform the customer about the merchant’s name, transaction amount, date / time of debit, reference number of e-mandate, reason for debit, i.e., e-mandate registered by the customer.
  • The issuer shall provide a customer with a facility to opt-out of any particular transaction or the e-mandate. Any such opt-out shall be validated by the issuer using AFA.
  • Pre-transaction notification is not required for e-mandates registered to auto-replenish balances of FASTag, and National Common Mobility Card (NCMC).
  • An issuer shall send a post-transaction notification to the customer. This notification shall, at the minimum, inform the customer about the merchant’s name, transaction amount, date and time of debit, reference number of transaction and e-mandate, reason for debit, i.e., e-mandate registered by the customer, and details on grievance redressal.


References

Reserve Bank of India. (2026, April 21). 'Digital Payments – E-mandate Framework, 2026'. Retrieved from https://rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=13374&Mode=0

Reserve Bank of India. (2026, April 21). 'RBI issues consolidated directions on Digital Payments – E-mandate framework, 2026'. Retrieved from https://rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_PressReleaseDisplay.aspx?prid=62594


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