RBI Issues ‘Digital Payments – E-Mandate Framework, 2026’

·         The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has consolidated existing guidelines and issued a unified E-Mandate Framework, 2026 under the PSS Act, 2007.

Key Highlights

·         Immediate Effect:

o    The Directions come into force with immediate effect.

·         Applicability:

o    Applies to all payment system providers and participants.

o    Covers recurring transactions via cards, PPI, and UPI (domestic and cross-border).

E-Mandate Registration & Control

·         One-time registration with Additional Factor of Authentication (AFA) is mandatory.

·         Customers can modify or revoke mandates anytime with AFA.

·         Mandates must include a validity period.

·         Allowed for:

o    Fixed amount, or

o    Variable amount with a customer-defined cap.

·         Customers can choose notification mode (SMS, email, etc.).

Transaction Processing

·         First transaction requires AFA (can be combined with registration).

·         Subsequent recurring payments follow mandate terms without additional controls set by customers.

Notifications

·         Pre-transaction alert:

o    Must be sent at least 24 hours before debit.

o    Includes merchant name, amount, date/time, reference number, and reason.

o    Customers can opt-out of a transaction or mandate (with AFA).

o    Not required for FASTag and NCMC auto-replenishment.

·         Post-transaction alert:

o    Mandatory with full transaction details and grievance redressal info.

Limits & Authentication

·         Up to ₹15,000: No AFA required for recurring transactions.

·         Above ₹15,000: AFA mandatory.

·         Higher limit (₹1,00,000 without AFA) allowed for:

o    Insurance premiums

o    Mutual fund subscriptions

o    Credit card bill payments

Customer Protection

·         Issuers must have a grievance redressal mechanism.

·         Customer liability rules for unauthorised transactions apply to e-mandates.

Other Provisions

·         No charges for using e-mandate facility.

·         Existing mandates can be mapped to reissued cards.

·         Acquirers must ensure merchant compliance.

Repeal

·         All previous RBI circulars on e-mandates stand repealed and replaced by this framework.

 

RBI Issues Consolidated Directions on Digital Payments – E-mandate Framework, 2026

[RBI Press Release/21.04.2026]

The Reserve Bank of India today issued directions on Digital Payments – E-mandate framework, 2026.

The directions consolidate extant instructions on e-mandates as also incorporate a few minor changes based on feedback obtained from stakeholders.

The directions come into effect immediately.

 

RBI/DPSS/2026-27/396
RBI/CO.DPSS.POLC.No.S56/02.14.003/2026-27

April 21, 2026

Index

Ø  Introduction

Ø  Short Title and Commencement

Ø  Applicability

Ø  Definitions

Ø  Registration and revocation of E-mandate

Ø  Processing of First Transaction and Subsequent Recurring Transactions

Ø  Pre-Transaction Notification

Ø  Post-Transaction Notification

Ø  Transaction Limits and Velocity Check

Ø  Dispute Resolution and Grievance Redressal

Ø  Other Provisions

Ø  Repeal

Digital Payments – E-mandate Framework, 2026

In exercise of the powers conferred by Sections 10(2) read with Section 18 of the Payment and Settlement Systems (PSS) Act, 2007, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), being satisfied that it is necessary and expedient in the public interest so to do, hereby consolidates all circulars pertaining to e-mandates and issues the Directions hereinafter specified.

1.   Short Title and Commencement

(a) These Directions shall be called the “Digital Payments - E-mandate Framework, 2026”.

(b) These Directions shall be effective immediately.

2.   Applicability

The provisions of these Directions shall be applicable to all Payment System Providers and Payment System Participants in respect of processing of recurring transactions, domestic or cross-border, using cards / PPI / UPI.

3.   Definitions

(a) The terms ‘authentication’, ’factor of authentication’, ‘issuer’, ‘merchant’ will have the same meaning as defined in Reserve Bank of India (Authentication mechanisms for digital payment transactions) Directions, 2025 dated September 25, 2025 and Master Direction on Regulation of Payment Aggregator (PA) dated September 15, 2025.

4.   Registration and revocation of E-Mandate

(a) 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.

(b) 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. Information about this facility shall be clearly communicated to the customer at the time of registration.

(c) The e-mandate may be for either a pre-specified fixed amount or for a variable amount subject to the overall cap fixed by the RBI. 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.

(d) 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.

(e) Any modification in, or withdrawal of, an existing e-mandate shall require AFA validation by the issuer.

5.   Processing of first transaction and subsequent recurring transactions

(a) 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.

(b) Payments under e-mandates shall not be subject to any other limits / controls set by the customer.

6.   Pre-transaction Notification

(a) An issuer shall send a pre-transaction notification to the customer, at least 24 hours prior to the actual charge / debit.

(b) 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.

(c) The issuer shall provider 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. An intimation to this effect shall be sent to the customer.

(d) Pre-transaction notification is not required for e-mandates registered to auto-replenish balances of FASTag, and National Common Mobility Card (NCMC).

7.   Post-transaction notification

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 redressal1.

8.   Transaction limits and velocity check

(a) All recurring transactions may be authorised without AFA up to ₹15,000/- per transaction. Transactions above this amount shall be subject to AFA.

(b) 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.

9.   Dispute resolution and grievance redressal

(a) An appropriate dispute redressal system shall be put in place by the issuer to facilitate the customer to lodge grievance/s.

(b) RBI instructions on limiting liability of customers for unauthorised transactions shall be applicable to recurring transactions under e-mandates as well.

10. Other provisions

(a) No charges shall be levied to the customer for availing the e-mandate facility for recurring transactions.

(b) In case of cards, existing e-mandate(s) can be mapped to reissued cards2.

(c) An acquirer shall ensure compliance with these directions by merchants on-boarded by them.

11.       Repeal

With the issue of these directions, the instructions/guidelines contained in the following circulars, issued by the Reserve Bank stand repealed.

 

No

Circular No.

Date

Subject

1.

DPSS.CO.PD.No.447/02.14.003/ 2019-20

August 21, 2019

Processing of e-mandate on cards for recurring transactions

2.

DPSS.CO.PD No.1324/02.23.001/2019-20

January 10, 2020

Processing of e-mandate in Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for recurring transactions

3.

DPSS.CO.PD No.754/02.14.003/ 2020-21

December 04, 2020

Processing of e-mandates for recurring transactions

4.

CO.DPSS.POLC.No.S34/02-14-003/2020

March 31, 2021

Framework for processing of e-mandates for recurring online transactions

5.

Clarification issued to IBA on e-mandate based recurring transactions

October 08, 2021

RBI's framework for e-mandate based recurring transactions

6.

CO.DPSS.POLC.No.S-518/02.14.003/2022-23

June 16, 2022

Processing of e-mandates for recurring transactions

7.

CO.DPSS.POLC.No.S-882/02.14.003/2023-24

December 12, 2023

Processing of e-mandates for recurring transactions

8.

CO.DPSS.POLC.No.S528/02-14-003/2024-25

August 22, 2024

Processing of e-mandates for recurring transactions

1 The requirement for providing details of grievance redressal is added, based on feedback.

2 This clause is added based on feedback.