RBI Launches Offline Digital Rupee (e₹): Secure Cashless Payments Without Internet Access - The420.in
India’s central bank, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has rolled out an offline version of its digital currency, the e₹, enabling secure cash-like payments even without internet connectivity. The launch was officially announced at the Global Fintech Fest 2025 in Mumbai and marks a significant step in the country’s digital finance journey. Unlike traditional online payment systems, this offline mode leverages technologies like Near Field Communication (NFC) and telecom-assisted transfers, allowing transactions in areas with poor or no network coverage. Users can download digital-wallet apps from a set of banks, which impose no minimum balance and support up to ₹50,000 daily or 20 transactions, with wallet balances capped at ₹1 lakh. The digital rupee also supports “programmable money” features — funds can be locked for specific uses, geo-fenced, or time-bound — making it especially useful for welfare disbursements and corporate payouts. With this initiative, the RBI aims to deepen financial inclusion and strengthen India’s digital payment infrastructure.
The Key points
- The RBI has launched the e₹ digital currency with offline functionality, letting people pay without relying on the internet or full network connectivity.
- Offline payments are enabled via two key technologies: NFC ‘tap-to-pay’ transfers and telecom-assisted transfers in low-signal zones.
- The e₹ wallet has no minimum balance requirement; daily usage is limited to ₹50,000 or 20 transactions, and the wallet cap is set at ₹1 lakh.
- This digital rupee is issued by the RBI and directly backed by the central bank, making it legally equivalent to cash.
- It supports person-to‐person (P2P) and person‐to‐merchant (P2M) transactions, aiming to mirror the ease of cash.
- The “programmable money” feature enables the e₹ to be restricted by purpose, time or geography — ideal for targeted welfare or corporate payments.
- The initiative is part of India’s broader Digital Public Infrastructure, enhancing the FinTech ecosystem and promoting financial inclusion.
- Initial rollout covers retail wallets through a set of participating banks, enabling broader public access beyond just bank-to-bank transfers.
- Use of the offline e₹ targets rural and remote areas where internet connectivity is unreliable, bridging the access gap.
- By operationalising a CBDC with offline capability, India positions itself among the first countries globally to deploy this kind of digital currency infrastructure.
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