Offline Digital Payments: In order to promote digital transactions in villages and towns, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Monday released a framework for offline digital payments.
Currently, transactions up to Rs 200 have been allowed under offline payment. There will be a limit of doing offline transactions up to a maximum of 10 transactions i.e. a total of Rs 2,000.
Offline digital payments are meant for such transactions, which do not require internet or mobile network. In offline mode, payment can be made face to face through any means including card, wallet and mobile.
AFA not required
RBI said that such transactions will not require ‘Addition Factor of Authentication (AFA)’. RBI said that since the payment will be offline in these, customers will get ‘alerts’ through SMS or e-mail after a short interval.
The outline of the small value digital payment facility through offline mode states, “There will be a limit of Rs 200 for each transaction. Its total limit will be Rs 2,000…” The central bank said that offline payment was started on a pilot basis from September 2020 to June 2021 in different parts of the country. Based on the feedback received, this framework has been prepared.
The Reserve Bank said, “Offline payments will encourage digital transactions in areas with poor internet connectivity. Especially in villages and towns. This arrangement has come into force with immediate effect.” The central bank has clarified that offline payment can be used only after the permission of the customers.
