On 21 April 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) notified the Digital Payments – E-mandate Framework, 2026, consolidating all existing circulars on e-mandates for recurring digital transactions
Key Points of Digital Payments – E-mandate Framework, 2026:
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The framework is effective immediately and applies to all payment system providers and participants processing recurring domestic and cross-border transactions using cards, PPIs, and UPI.
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Registration, modification, or withdrawal of an e-mandate requires Additional Factor of Authentication (AFA), ensuring strong customer consent and security.
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Issuers are required send pre-transaction notifications at least 24 hours before debit and post-transaction notifications after debit, with clear transaction details and opt-out options.
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Recurring transactions up to ₹15,000 per transaction are permitted without AFA, with higher limits allowed for specified payments such as insurance premiums, mutual funds, and credit card bill payments.
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Every e-mandate should specify a validity period, and customers will be allowed to modify or withdraw the e-mandate at any time, subject to AFA.
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E-mandates may be registered for fixed or variable amounts; in the case of variable mandates, customers will be allowed to set a maximum transaction value.
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Pre-transaction notification is not required for e-mandates registered for automatic replenishment of FASTag and National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) balances.
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Acquirers are required to ensure merchant compliance with the provisions of the framework.
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No charges will be levied on customers for availing the e-mandate facility for recurring transactions.
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The framework mandates grievance redressal mechanisms and repeals all earlier RBI circulars, creating a single, consolidated regulatory framework.
Read More: RBI Shapes the Future of Digital Lending
[Digital Payments — E-mandate Framework, 2026, dt. on 21-4-2026]
