Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPIs) are tools that allow users to pay for goods, services, financial products, and remittance facilities using the value stored in them. This stored value represents the amount already paid by the holder through cash, debit from a bank account, or credit card.

PPIs can be issued by both banks and non-bank entities. Banks may issue them after obtaining RBI approval, while non-bank issuers must be Indian companies incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956/2013, and authorised by the RBI to operate a PPI payment system.

The RBI’s Master Directions prescribe the eligibility requirements and conditions for Payment System Operators (PSOs) managing PPIs in India. No entity is permitted to establish or operate a PPI payment system without prior approval or authorisation from the RBI.

ANNUAL/ QUARTERLY/ MONTHLY COMPLIANCE

Compliance/Report Type

Frequency/Timeline

Mode/Format

Net-worth Certificate (Annual)

Annually – within 6 months of FY end

CA Certificate in Annex-2 format

System Audit Report (SAR)

Annually – within 2 months of FY end

CERT-IN empanelled auditor report

Cybersecurity Audit Report

Annually – with SAR submission

Technical audit by CERT-IN/ISO 27001 auditor

PPI Customer Grievance Report

Quarterly – by 10th of Apr/Jul/Oct/Jan

PDF template (Annex-6)

Escrow Account Certificate (Quarterly)

Quarterly – within 15 days of quarter end

Auditor certificate in Annex-5 format

Monthly Transaction Data

Monthly – within 15 days of month end


 Prescribed statistical format

EVENT BASED COMPLIANCE

Compliance/Report Type

Frequency/Timeline

Mode/Format

Fraud Reporting


 Immediate – as and when fraud occurs

Online/Email/FIU reporting format

KYC/AML/CFT Compliance Monitoring

Ongoing/Continuous

Internal monitoring & RBI inspection

Suspicious Transaction Reports (STR)

As required – upon detecting suspicious activity

FIU-India electronic format

Certificate of Authorisation Renewal

≥ 3 months before CoA expiry

Written application

Change in Management/Ownership Notification

Within 15 days of change

Letter to CGM, DPSS with Annex-3

Major System/Business Changes Notification

Prior to event


Letter to CGM, DPSS, RBI

Board-Approved Policy Submissions

At setup and on updates

Formal document submission

Interoperability Compliance Status

As required by RBI

Online/Written confirmation

Disclaimer: This article provides general information existing at the time of preparation and we take no responsibility to update it with the subsequent changes in the law. The article is intended as a news update and Affluence Advisory neither assumes nor accepts any responsibility for any loss arising to any person acting or refraining from acting as a result of any material contained in this article. It is recommended that professional advice be taken based on specific facts and circumstances. This article does not substitute the need to refer to the original pronouncement.


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