Date: September 05, 2025
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced a significant technological upgrade that will modernize how banks report their digital banking activities. In a circular dated September 5, 2025, the central bank introduced the Centralised Information Management System (CIMS), marking a major step toward streamlining banking operations in India.
What is CIMS?
CIMS represents the RBI’s next-generation data warehouse system designed to centralize and modernize the collection of banking data. This new platform replaces older reporting methods and promises to make data submission more efficient and standardized across the banking sector.
Key Changes for Banks
Starting with August 2025 data, all banks must transition to reporting through the new CIMS portal. The system will initially handle two critical monthly reports:
Internet Banking Return (R065): This monthly report captures data about online banking services including transaction volumes, user statistics and service performance metrics.
Mobile Banking Return (R102): This report focuses on mobile banking applications and services, tracking usage patterns, transaction data and mobile-specific banking activities.
These reports provide the RBI with crucial insights into India’s rapidly growing digital banking ecosystem, helping regulators monitor trends and ensure system stability.
Who’s Affected?
The directive applies to virtually all banking institutions operating in India including:
- Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) and Regional Rural Banks (RRBs)
- Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs)
- State Cooperative Banks (StCBs) and District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs)
- Payment Banks and Small Finance Banks
This comprehensive coverage ensures that the RBI maintains complete visibility over India’s diverse banking landscape.
Implementation Timeline and Requirements
Banks must adhere to strict reporting deadlines. Each month’s data must be submitted by the 7th of the following month. For instance, August 2025 data was due by September 7, 2025. This timeline maintains the RBI’s existing reporting schedule while transitioning to the new platform.
The technical implementation involves a two-tier access system. The RBI has already created admin users for each bank within CIMS. These administrators are responsible for creating login credentials for staff members who will actually submit the reports by ensuring proper access control and accountability.
Legal Framework and Compliance
This transition isn’t optional—it’s mandated under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, specifically Sections 12 and 19. Banks that fail to comply face potential penalties, emphasizing the importance of timely adoption.
Why This Matters
The introduction of CIMS reflects the RBI’s commitment to modernizing India’s financial infrastructure. As digital banking continues to expand rapidly across the country having robust, centralized data collection becomes crucial for:
- Monitoring system-wide risks
- Identifying emerging trends in digital payments
- Ensuring consumer protection
- Maintaining financial stability
Banks should ensure their teams are prepared for this transition with proper training on the new portal and clear internal processes for meeting the monthly deadlines.
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