The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced draft guidelines for a compensation scheme to protect consumers from digital fraud losses. Under the proposed rules, affected customers could receive up to 85% of their lost amount or ₹25,000, whichever is lower. This compensation can be claimed once in a customer’s lifetime. Additionally, the maximum loss amount eligible for reimbursement is capped at ₹50,000.
The RBI’s initiative shifts the burden of proving customer liability to banks, requiring them to demonstrate customer responsibility in cases of fraudulent electronic transactions. The new regulations will take effect for transactions conducted on or after July 1, 2026.
In situations where fraud occurs due to a bank’s negligence or a third-party breach, customers will bear zero liability, and the transaction will be reversed. However, compensation is contingent on the bank confirming the loss as legitimate and the victim promptly reporting the fraud to both the bank and the National Cyber Crime Helpline (1930) within five days.
These measures aim to address the prevalent issue of digital banking fraud, with the RBI highlighting that a significant portion of cases involve amounts below ₹50,000. By setting clear guidelines and compensation limits, the RBI’s proposed scheme intends to enhance consumer protection in the digital financial landscape.
Source: Inc42 Media