RBI mandates digital lending apps to register with centralised directory from May 13; 10 key takeaways

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) keeps issuing directions and circulars on digital lending by regulated entities (RE). The central bank recently released a fresh set of rules under the Reserve Bank of India (Digital Lending) Directions, 2025. 

The purpose of these regulations is to increase transparency and accountability in the rapidly growing digital lending.

The news was first reported by Zee Business on April 22.

As per the new rule, a public list of digital lending apps will soon be released on the RBI website. Under this, such a list will be made public on the RBI website by July 1, so that consumers can check whether an app is real or fake. The purpose of this list is to encourage people to use safe digital loan apps.

10 Key takeaways:

• A public list of digital lending apps will be released on RBI's website.
• This list will encourage consumers to avoid fraud and use only safe apps.
• The list will be updated regularly so that new apps can be added and illegal apps can be removed.
• Only those apps will be on the list that are associated with banks or NBFCs regulated by the RBI.
• Banks and NBFCs will have to upload data of their digital lending apps on RBI's CIMS portal from May 13.
• This list will be visible in the citizen corner on the RBI website from July 1, 2025.
• This initiative is an important step to protect consumers from fake and illegal loan apps.
• Encouraging consumers to use only legitimate and safe apps.
• Making the lending process more transparent and trustworthy.
• As digital loan app fraud cases are rising, this move will help keep consumers safe and make the digital lending sector trustworthy.