RBI doubles pre-paid card limit to Rs 1 lakh

Only one card can be issued to one beneficiary.

Relaxing norms for Pre-paid Payment Instruments, the Reserve Bank on Wednesday doubled the card limit to Rs 100,000.

"The limit of PPI. . . has now been enhanced from Rs 50,000 to Rs 100,000. The balance in the PPI should not exceed Rs 100,000 at any point of time," RBI said.

The move would help in achieving the objective of limiting cash transactions in the system.

Besides, the maximum validity of gift cards has been enhanced from one year to three years, it said, adding that other provisions of PPI guidelines with respect to gift cards will continue to be applicable.

RBI also allowed issue of multiple PPIs by banks from fully-KYC compliant bank accounts for dependent or family members, it said.

Only one card can be issued to one beneficiary, it said.

"The bank may put in place mechanisms to monitor and report suspicious transactions on these PPIs to Financial Intelligence Unit India," it added.

Based on a comprehensive internal review and feedback received from entities currently authorised to issue PPIs, it has been considered necessary to amend certain provisions of existing guidelines for ensuring growth of prepaid payment industry, it said.

The central bank also permitted banks to issue rupee denominated PPIs for visiting foreign nationals and NRIs.

"Banks are permitted to issue open system rupee denominated non-reloadable PPIs to NRIs and foreign nationals visiting India and PPIs co-branded with exchange houses/money transmitters (approved by RBI) to NRIs and foreign nationals visiting India," it said.

However, this would be subject to certain conditions like the cards can be issued by overseas branches of banks in India directly or by co-branding with the exchange houses/money transmitters up to a maximum amount of Rs 200,000 by loading from a KYC compliant bank account.

Such PPIs should be activated by the bank only after the traveller arrives in India and cash withdrawal will be restricted to Rs 50,000 per month.

The cards should be issued strictly for use in India and transactions settled in Indian rupee, it added.