India urges banks to review digital payment access for disabled users 

They must submit a plan of action for any modification within a month’s time.

India’s central bank has advised financial institutions to review the accessibility of their digital payment systems to persons with disabilities.

In a circular published on 11 October, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) ordered payment system participants— which include banks and authorised non-bank payment system providers— to submit details of their systems or devices that need to be modified, along with a time-bound plan of action to apply the modification.

“Based on the review they may carry out the necessary modifications, such that all their payment systems and devices, such as Point-of-Sale machines, can be accessed and used by Persons with Disabilities with ease,” the RBI said in a circular published on 11 October 2024.

Financial institutions are required to submit their action plan within 1 month after the circular’s publication.

The RBI reminded payment system participants to ensure that the modifications and enhancements “do not compromise security aspects of their systems.”