RBI Denies News Reports on Linking of Aadhaar with Bank Accounts; Says It is Mandatory

Interbank Exposure - RBI - Taxscan

Finally, the Reserve Bank of India has clarified that linking of Aadhaar with Bank account is mandatory.

Earlier, there were reports saying that RBI has not mandate linking of aadhaar with bank accounts.

The Central Government, in June, had notified that making furnishing of Aadhaar (for those individuals who are eligible to be enrolled for Aadhaar) and permanent number (PAN) mandatory for opening a bank account. Following this, the banks have asked the people to link their Aadhaar with bank accounts by December 31st 2017.

A press release issued by the RBI today said that “Some news items have appeared in a section of the media quoting a reply to a Right to Information Act application that Aadhaar number linkage with bank accounts is not mandatory. The Reserve Bank clarifies that, in applicable cases, linkage of Aadhaar number to bank account is mandatory under the Prevention of Money-laundering (Maintenance of Records) Second Amendment Rules, 2017 published in the Official Gazette on June 1, 2017.”

“These Rules have statutory force and, as such, banks have to implement them without awaiting further instructions,” the Bank said.

 

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