Permitting non-banks to participate in CPS to boost digital payments: PCI

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Permitting non-banks to participate in centralised payments systems like RTGS and NEFT will give a further boost to digital payments, the Payments Council of India said on Friday.

Welcoming the Reserve Bank of India’s recent move to allow authorised non-bank payment system providers to participate in CPS, the industry body said it would also trigger financial innovations and enhance customer protection.

Read also: RBI opens up RTGS, NEFT to non-banks in phases

“The industry will work towards implementation of the RBI notification. This move definitely indicates a bright way forward for digital payments instruments in the country,” said Vishwas Patel, Chairman, Payments Council of India and Director, Infibeam Avenues.

The RBI had on July 28 said authorised non-banks payment system providers, including prepaid payment issuers, card networks and white label ATM operators, will be eligible to participate in CPS in the first phase.

Mahendra Nerurkar, VP and CEO, Amazon Pay India and Co-Chair, PPI Committee, PCI, said: “We would like to express our sincere thanks to the central bank for allowing Prepaid Payment Instrument Issuers access to centralised payment systems. This will assist to strengthen digital payments and bring more innovation, as well as improve customer protection and efficiency.”

PCI in the statement said that ever since the announcement of the grant to access the CPS to the non-banking digital payments industry in the Statement on Developmental and Regulatory Policies in April this year, the industry was looking forward to the instructions by RBI for the implementation.

At present, very few select non-banks have been approved to participate in CPS so far. Banks have been providing the services to non-banks for their payment and settlement needs.

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Do not ban cryptocurrency, Internet and Mobile Association appeals to government

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The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) on Wednesday appealed to the government not to ban cryptocurrency, and instead proposed that robust mechanisms should be developed to regulate the ecosystem.

“Cryptocurrency has been generating jobs across a variety of functions — legal, compliance, tech, marketing, business development, finance — in India and abroad. Given the scale and diversity, the good governance and regulation of the cryptocurrency ecosystem in India is critical and will give impetus to the government of India’s Digital India vision,” IAMAI said in a statement.

Digital assets

It also pointed out that the country is witnessing a considerable rise in digital assets.

“The crypto community consists of over one crore crypto holders holding over $1 billion worth crypto assets, over 300 start-ups generating tens of thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue and taxes. There’s a daily trading volume of $350-500 million,” IAMAI added.

The comments come in the wake of the government listing the Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2021 for introduction, consideration and passing in the current session of Parliament.

Nishith Desai, Founder, Nishith Desai Associates, noted that countries such as the US, Japan and other developed countries have a positive outlook towards crypto and are considering setting up regulations for the currency.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said the government will take a “calibrated” approach to crypto trading and that “negotiations and discussions” are going on with the Reserve Bank of India on how to regulate cryptocurrency in India. IAMAI members welcomed the statement but have raised concerns against the proposed ban of cryptocurrency.

Naveen Surya, Chairman, Fintech Convergence Council, and Chairman Emeritus of Payments Council of India (PCI), said: “Through AML/CFT and KYC-related compliances, the government can ensure a safe and secure crypto market for investors.”

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