Current Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved Small Finance Banks (SFBs) to offer pre-approved credit lines on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) as of February 12, 2025.
- This move allows SFB customers to access short-term credit instantly through UPI, similar to how they use linked bank accounts or credit cards.
- Customers must provide explicit consent before utilizing these credit lines, and banks will set terms such as credit limits, repayment periods, and interest rates based on their policies.
- This initiative aims to provide seamless access to credit, reduce the need for separate loan applications, and enhance the overall user experience on UPI.
- By integrating credit facilities, overdrafts, and retail loans with UPI, the offering streamlines financial transactions and enables immediate access to funds.
Question:
1. What is the key feature of RBI’s new policy allowing Small Finance Banks (SFBs) to offer pre-approved credit lines on UPI?a)Customers can access credit through UPI only if they have a credit card
b) Customers need to submit a separate loan application for each credit request
c) Customers can instantly access short-term credit after providing explicit consent
d) Customers must maintain a fixed deposit with the bank to qualify for the credit line
Answer:c) The RBI’s initiative allows SFB customers to access instant short-term credit via UPI, just like linked bank accounts or credit cards.