Mobile Banking

Removing the final hurdle to the launch of mobile banking services in the country, theReserve Bank of India has issued draft guidelines for banks to launch the service. According to banking sources, these services are likely to be in operation in a few months. Banks and other operators have been asked to comment on the guidelines by June 30. The final guidelines will be issued after that. The proposed guidelines require banks to issue PINs of four digits or more to customers to facilitate transactions through mobile networks. The objective behind the move is to make banking services accessible to all, the central bank said. Digital certificate-based transactions will guard against fraud, it added. There are over 26 crore mobile phone subscribers in India but far fewer bank accounts. RBI feels that mobile banking will bring more people into the banking net. It could also help contain graft in government schemes like NREGA where the state can make payments with the help of mobile banking.