RBI Brings FASTag, NCMC Replenishment Under E-Mandate Framework

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has brought auto-replenishment of balances in FASTag and National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) under its e-mandate framework. This move is in line with the central bank’s announcement earlier this year.

“It has been decided to include auto-replenishment of FASTag and NCMC, as and when the balance falls below a threshold set by the customer, under the e-mandate framework,” the apex bank’s circular released on Thursday (August 22) read.

Under the RBI’s e-mandate framework, the issuer was to send a pre-debit notification to the customer at least 24 hours prior to the actual charge / debit to the account. With the latest change, the central bank has removed this requirement.

It is pertinent to note that after its Monetary Policy Meeting in June, the central bank had proposed bringing FASTag and NCMC under the e-mandate framework.

“The current e-mandate framework requires a pre-debit notification at least 24-hours before the actual debit from the customer’s account. It is proposed to exempt this requirement for payments made from customer’s account for automatic replenishment of balances in Fastag, NCMC, etc. under the e-mandate framework,” the RBI said then. 

FASTag employs Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for making toll payments directly while the vehicle is in motion. The National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) program is developed and operated by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). 

Customers can link their FASTag to their existing savings/current account or to a prepaid account basis the offering from the issuer member banks. For opening a prepaid account it is not mandatory to have an existing relationship with the issuer bank.

The central government has made FASTag mandatory for vehicles to have FASTag or pay double the toll amount on highways. 

Meanwhile, the NCMC, branded as One Nation One Card, is an inter-operable transport card conceived by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs of the Government of India. It was launched in 2019.

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