Archive · 10 Aug 2026
Rajya Sabha Passes Bill Making Digital Banking Records Admissible Evidence
India's big law-making group, the Rajya Sabha, approved a new rule called The Bankers' Books Evidence Bill, 2026 on Monday.
Banks keep records on computers now instead of paper books.
This new law says those computer records can be used as proof in court.
Before, the rules were very old, from 1891, when India was ruled by Britain and banks used paper.
The new law updates those rules to match how banks work today.
It accepts records kept on computers, in the cloud, or on backup systems, as long as they are true copies that have not been changed without permission.
A leader named Nirmala Sitharaman, who manages money matters for India, explained the new law to the lawmakers.
She said it keeps customers' private information safe and can also be applied to other money companies later.
Some other leaders walked out of the room during the discussion because they wanted to talk about different problems.
The Rajya Sabha on Monday passed The Bankers' Books Evidence Bill, 2026 by a voice vote, replacing the 1891 Bankers' Books Evidence Act.
Digital, electronic, virtual and cloud-based banking records will now be admissible as evidence in Indian courts.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the bill provides a technology-neutral legal framework while safeguarding customer privacy and confidentiality.
Clause 4 lets the central government extend the law to other regulated financial entities such as NBFCs, payment aggregators and fintech companies.
Opposition parties staged a walkout after the Chair disallowed raising the alleged pellet gun use at the July 20 Sansad march and alleged donation theft at the Ayodhya Ram temple.
- Who
- The Rajya Sabha, India's upper house of Parliament, and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
- What
- Passed The Bankers' Books Evidence Bill, 2026, which repeals the Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 1891, and makes digital, electronic, virtual and cloud-based banking records admissible as evidence in courts.
- When
- Monday, after the bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 3 and passed there on August 5.
- Where
- The Rajya Sabha in the Indian Parliament, New Delhi.
- Why
- To replace the British-era paper-based evidence law and align legal frameworks with contemporary digital banking practices.
Opposition Parties
Government / Chair
Issues the Opposition wanted to raise during the debate
Opposition Parties
Opposition parties walked out after the Chair disallowed their attempts to raise the alleged use of pellet guns against protesters during the July 20 Sansad march and the alleged theft or misappropriation of donations at the Ayodhya Ram temple, demanding Union Home Minister Amit Shah respond in Parliament.
Government / Chair
The Chair disallowed raising these issues during consideration of the bill, which was then passed by voice vote; Finance Minister Sitharaman said the bill provides a clear, secure and transparent legal framework for banking records while fully safeguarding customer privacy and confidentiality.
- Bill
- The Bankers' Books Evidence Bill, 2026
- Passed by
- Rajya Sabha, by voice vote
- Lok Sabha passage
- August 5 (introduced August 3)
- Replaces
- Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 1891
- Finance Minister
- Nirmala Sitharaman
- Key provision
- Clause 4 lets the central government extend the Act to other regulated financial entities
- Record formats covered
- Physical, electronic, digital, virtual and cloud-based
- Constitutional basis
- Entry 45 of the Union List, Seventh Schedule
Sources
Rajya Sabha passes bill to recognize digital bank records as evidence
Bankers’ Books Evidence Bill will create a technology-neutral framework: FM Sitharaman
Bankers' Books Evidence Bill 2026 passed: What the law changes, key takeaways from FM Sitharaman's reply
