**Executive Summary**
This document is the Reserve Bank of India (Regional Rural Banks – Know Your Customer) Amendment Directions, 2025, issued on December 29, 2025. It amends the existing KYC Directions of November 28, 2025, to clarify responsibilities related to uploading and downloading customer records from the Central KYC Records Registry (CKYCR). These directions take immediate effect.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Amendment Title:** These Directions are called the Reserve Bank of India (Regional Rural Banks – Know Your Customer) Amendment Directions, 2025.
* **Effective Date:** The directions come into force immediately.
* **Modification to Existing Directions:** These Amendment Directions modify the Reserve Bank of India (Regional Rural Banks – Know Your Customer) Directions, 2025.
* **Clarification of KYC Responsibility:**
* The RE (Regulated Entity) that last uploaded or updated a customer's KYC records in the CKYCR is responsible for verifying the identity and/or address of the customer.
* Banks downloading and relying on KYC records from CKYCR are not required to re-verify the authenticity of customer identity and/or address, provided the KYC records are current and compliant with the PML Act, 2002 and PML Rules, 2005.
* Banks downloading KYC records remain responsible for all aspects of CDD (Customer Due Diligence) procedure and provisions, except verification of identity and/or address of the customer.
**Impact Analysis**
**Regional Rural Banks (RRBs)**
* **Impact:** RRBs need to be aware of the clarification regarding KYC responsibilities. Banks uploading KYC information will need to continue to verify customer information. Banks downloading information can rely on information that is current and compliant with PML regulations.
* **Action Required:** RRBs need to update their KYC procedures in line with the clarified responsibilities for KYC record management and ensure compliance with the amendment. They must implement procedures to ensure that KYC records uploaded by them are accurate and verified. They must also adhere to CDD procedures for downloaded information.
**Customers of Regional Rural Banks**
* **Impact:** The aim of the new Amendment Directions is to streamline the KYC process and avoid repeated verification of customer identity and address.
* **Action Required:** Customers should ensure that they are updating their information with at least one bank. No further action is required, provided their KYC records are up-to-date.
Key Entities Referenced
Reserve Bank of India (Regional Rural Banks – Know Your Customer) Directions, 2025: Directions issued by the Reserve Bank of India concerning KYC procedures for Regional Rural Banks, amended by the current notification.
Banking Regulation Act, 1949: Indian law that empowers the Reserve Bank of India to regulate the banking sector.
Prevention of Money-Laundering Act, 2002: Indian law aimed at preventing money laundering and providing for confiscation of property derived from money laundering.
Central KYC Records Registry (CKYCR): A centralized repository of KYC records, referenced in the amendment as the source of customer KYC data for banks.
Reserve Bank of India: The central bank of India, issuing the directions.
RBI/2025-26/162
DOR.AML.REC.366/14.01.004/2025-26 December 29, 2025
Reserve Bank of India (Regional Rural Banks – Know Your Customer) Amendment
Directions, 2025
Reserve Bank had issued Reserve Bank of India (Regional Rural Banks – Know Your
Customer) Directions, 2025 dated November 28, 2025 (hereinafter referred to as the
Directions) in compliance of the provisions of the PML Act, 2002 and the Rules made
thereunder. There is a need to amend the Directions to clarify the responsibility of entities
uploading customer records to and downloading the same from CKYCR, based on the
office memorandum (OM) titled “CKYCR and the ultimate responsibility of REs – reg.”
issued by the Department of Revenue, Govt of India, dated September 18, 2025.
2. Accordingly, in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 35A of the Banking
Regulation Act, 1949, the Banking Regulation Act (AACS), 1949, read with section 56 of
the Act ibid., section 10(2) read with section 18 of Payment and Settlement Systems Act
2007 (Act 51 of 2007), section 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999,
Rule 9(14) of the Prevention of Money-Laundering (Maintenance of Records) Rules,
2005, and all other enabling laws in this regard, the Reserve Bank being satisfied that it
is necessary and expedient in the public interest so to do, hereby issues the Amendment
Directions hereinafter specified.
3. Short Title and Commencement
(1) These Directions shall be called the Reserve Bank of India (Regional Rural Banks
– Know Your Customer) Amendment Directions, 2025.
(2) These Directions shall come into force with immediate effect.
4. These Amendment Directions modify the Reserve Bank of India (Regional Rural Banks
– Know Your Customer) Directions, 2025 as under:(1) In paragraph 64, the following “Explanation” is being inserted after sub-paragraph
(10):
“Explanation: The RE that has last uploaded or updated the customer’s KYC records in
the CKYCR shall be responsible for verifying the identity and / or address of the customer,
as applicable. Accordingly, any bank downloading and relying on such records from the
CKCYR shall not be required to re-verify the authenticity of the customer’s identity and /
or address, provided the KYC records downloaded from CKYCR are current and
compliant with the PML Act, 2002 / PML Rules, 2005. The bank downloading and relying
on KYC records downloaded from the CKCYR shall remain responsible for all aspects of
CDD procedure and provisions of these Directions, except verification of identity and / or
address of the customer.”
(Veena Srivastava)
Chief General Manager