Reserve Bank of India launches (a) UPI for Feature Phones (UPI123pay) and (b) 24×7 Helpline for Digital Payments (DigiSaathi)

RBI launches UPI for 400 mn feature phone users to widen digital payment reach. (1) UPI123Pay – Option to make Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payments for feature phone users, and (2) DigiSaathi – a 24×7 Helpline to address the queries of digital payment users across products.

Understanding New Umbrella Entity (NUE)

To address the ‘risk concentration’ of only one platform and offer consumers more options, the RBI in 2020 invited private companies to bid for a license to set up a new platform.
• NUE (New Umbrella Entity), a digital platform which will be for-profit and be allowed to charge fees for online transactions, unlike the existing system
• The new entity or entities will be able to earn interest from the float that customers maintain in their online shopping accounts

Statement on Developmental and Regulatory Policies

Statement on Developmental and Regulatory Policies sets out various developmental and regulatory policy measures on (i) liquidity management and support to targeted sectors; (ii) regulation and supervision (iii) deepening financial markets; (iv) upgrading payment and settlement systems and (v) consumer protection.

Introduction of Legal Entity Identifier for Large Value Transactions in Centralised Payment Systems

The Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) is a 20-digit number used to uniquely identify parties to financial transactions worldwide. It was conceived as a key measure to improve the quality and accuracy of financial data systems for better risk management post the Global Financial Crisis. LEI has been introduced by the Reserve Bank in a phased manner for participants in the over the counter (OTC) derivative and non-derivative markets as also for large corporate borrowers.

Loans Sourced by Banks and NBFCs over Digital Lending Platforms: Adherence to Fair Practices Code and Outsourcing Guidelines

RBI brings in norms to curb malpractices by lending apps. RBI had to bring in these norms as hundreds of lending apps have mushroomed over the past year or so. RBI has made banks or NBFCs directly responsible for the actions of the digital platforms they have tied up with. RBI said that digital platforms and lenders must make adequate efforts towards the creation of grievance redressal mechanism.

Introduction of a new type of semi-closed Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) – PPIs upto ₹ 10,000/- with loading only from bank account

RBI launches new prepaid payment instrument for digital transactions up to Rs 10,000. The amount loaded in such PPIs during any month will not exceed Rs 10,000 and the total amount loaded during the financial year will not exceed Rs 1,20,000.

Availability of National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) System on 24×7 basis

With effect from December 16, 2019 RBI has asked banks to Extend NEFT facility 365/24*7 .

RBI’s new guidelines for ‘failed’ ATM transactions

The Reserve Bank Friday prescribed a turnaround time (TAT) for banks to settle failed transactions for customers and also notified compensations payable for various types of customer complaints.

Bitcoin – A New Payment System – Essentially a Digital Money

WHAT IS BITCOIN?Bitcoin is a consensus network that enables a new payment system and a completely digital money. It is the first decentralized peer-to-peer payment network that is powered by its users with no central authority or middlemen. From a user perspective, Bitcoin is pretty much like cash for the Internet. Bitcoin can also be…