**Executive Summary**
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued Amendment Directions, 2025, on December 29, 2025, modifying the "Reserve Bank of India (Rural Co-operative Banks – Know Your Customer) Directions, 2025" originally issued on November 28, 2025. The amendment clarifies the responsibilities of entities uploading and downloading customer records from the Central KYC Records Registry (CKYCR), effective immediately.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Amendment Context:** The directions are issued in compliance with the provisions of the PML Act, 2002, and rules made thereunder. They address the responsibility of entities uploading and downloading customer records from CKYCR, based on the office memorandum issued by the Department of Revenue, Govt of India, dated September 18, 2025.
* **Authority:** The amendment is issued under the powers conferred by the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, the Payment and Settlement Systems Act 2007, the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, and the Prevention of Money-Laundering (Maintenance of Records) Rules, 2005.
* **Amendment Details:** The amendment inserts an “Explanation” into paragraph 64 of the original directions.
* The RE that last uploaded or updated the customer's KYC records in the CKYCR is responsible for verifying the identity and/or address of the customer, as applicable.
* Any bank downloading and relying on such records from the CKYCR is not 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 CKYCR remains responsible for all aspects of CDD procedure and provisions of these Directions, except verification of identity and / or address of the customer.
**Impact Analysis**
**Impact** Rural Co-operative Banks are impacted by the amendment.
**Action Required** Rural Co-operative Banks need to adhere to the revised KYC verification responsibilities as outlined in the amendment, specifically regarding uploading and downloading customer KYC records from the CKYCR. Those Rural Co-operative Banks downloading customer records from CKYCR must ensure they are current and compliant with the PML Act, 2002 / PML Rules, 2005.
Key Entities Referenced
Reserve Bank of India (Rural Co-operative Banks – Know Your Customer) Amendment Directions, 2025: Amendment Directions issued by the Reserve Bank of India to modify the existing KYC Directions for Rural Co-operative Banks.
Reserve Bank of India (Rural Co-operative Banks – Know Your Customer) Directions, 2025: The original KYC Directions for Rural Co-operative Banks, which are being amended by the Amendment Directions, 2025.
Prevention of Money-Laundering Act, 2002: Indian law to combat money laundering. Amendment directions issued to comply with the provisions of the PML Act, 2002 and the Rules made thereunder.
Banking Regulation Act, 1949: Indian law regulating banking companies. Amendment directions issued in exercise of the powers conferred by sections of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
CKYCR: Central KYC Records Registry. Amendment directions clarify the responsibility of entities uploading and downloading customer records from CKYCR.
RBI/2025-26/163
DOR.AML.REC.367/14.01.005/2025-26 December 29, 2025
Reserve Bank of India (Rural Co-operative Banks – Know Your Customer)
Amendment Directions, 2025
Reserve Bank had issued Reserve Bank of India (Rural Co-operative 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 (Rural Co-operative
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 (Rural Co-operative
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