RBI's restriction on Card Networks

Card network

• Financial intermediary- They are also known as a payment network or card association that facilitates transactions between merchants and cardholders.
• Digital payment ecosystem-It plays a crucial role in enabling electronic payments and ensuring the smooth transfer of funds between different parties involved in a transaction.
• Role-They provide the infrastructure and technology that allows credit and debit cards to be used for purchasing goods and services.

• Authorised card networks in India-Visa, Mastercard, RuPay, Diners Club, and American Express.
• They were developed to utilise one mode of payment to pay for goods and services at multiple merchants and avoid carrying cash around.

Key provisions of Payment and Settlement System Act, 2007

Key aspect

Description

About

It provides for the regulation and supervision of payment systems in India and designates the Reserve Bank of India as the authority for that purpose and all related matters.

Definition of payment system

It is a system which enables a payment between a payer and a beneficiary, including clearing, payment, or settlement service, but it does not include a stock exchange.

Designation of payment system

The Act empowers the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to designate payment systems in India

Regulation

The RBI has the authority to regulate and oversee payment and settlement systems to ensure their efficiency, integrity, and stability.

Consumer protection

The Act outlines the rights and responsibilities of consumers and the obligations of payment system providers to ensure consumer protection.

Offences

It includes unauthorized operation of a payment system, failure to comply with the terms of authorization, failure to produce statements, return information, or documents providing false information, disclosure of prohibited information, violating the provisions of the Act, not acting in compliance of the directions given by the RBI.

Penalty

RBI is empowered to initiate a criminal proceeding against the offender. RBI can even impose fines on the person for contravening certain provisions of the Act.

Immediate Mobile Payment Services (IMPS)

• It is a time period instant inter-bank funds transfer system managed by National Payment Corporation of India.
• IMPS is obtainable 24/7 throughout the year together with bank holidays.

RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement)

• It is a system that allows for the instantaneous transfer of money and/or securities between banks.
• It has a minimum transfer limit of Rs. 2 lakh and no maximum transfer limit.

NEFT (National Electronic Fund Transfer)

• It is a one-to-one fund transfer system in India that allows you to transfer money from one bank account to another, within the same or different banks, across the country.
• It has no minimum or maximum transfer limit. However, the transfer limit may vary depending on the specific conditions set by the respective banks.
• NEFT transactions are settled in batches, not in real-time