RBI’s Payment Systems Report – June 2025 – 73 Most Expected Questions

RBI’s Payment Systems Report – June 2025 is the definitive source for current trends in the Indian financial landscape. In this comprehensive guide, we cover the 73 most critical questions derived directly from the official report. This resource is specifically designed for aspirants of RBI Grade B, SBI PO, IBPS PO, and RBI Assistant exams to help you secure maximum marks in the General Awareness and Finance sections.
RBI's Payment Systems Report - June 2025 detailed analysis for RBI Grade B and SBI PO

Why This [Primary Keyword] Test Matters?


Exam Weightage: For RBI Grade B, this report is crucial for both Phase 1 (GA) and Phase 2 (Finance & Management). For SBI PO and IBPS PO, data from this report frequently appears in the Mains General Economy section.
Difficulty: Moderate to Hard (Data-Intensive).

Practice [Primary Keyword] (Live Mock Test)

⚠️ Content Protected

Get the PDF on Telegram: t.me/BankPromotionExamGuide

RBI’s Payment Systems Report – June 2025 – 73 Most Expected Questions

GET PDF
Q. 1 of 73
Which payment system is described as having “completely transformed digital payments in India”, and promoted a diversified and inclusive payments ecosystem?
A National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT)
B Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS)
C Unified Payments Interface (UPI)
D Immediate Payment Service (I M P S)
What is the primary legal foundation for the regulation and supervision of payment and settlement systems in India?
A The Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934
B The Banking Regulation Act, 1949
C The Payments and Settlement Systems Act, 2007
D The Information Technology Act, 2000
Following an amendment to the PSS Act, 2007, which entity replaced the erstwhile Board for Regulation and Supervision of Payment and Settlement Systems (BPSS), effective May 2025?
A The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)
B The Payments Regulatory Board (PRB)
C The Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC)
D The Digital Payments Committee (DPC)
Who serves as the chairman of the Payments Regulatory Board (PRB), the designated authority for regulating payment systems, under the PSS Act, 2007?
A The Finance Minister of India
B The CEO of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)
C A retired Supreme Court Judge
D The Governor, RBI
In the decade ending 2024 (2014-2024), what was the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR), for digital payments in India, in terms of volume?
A 10%
B 13%
C 46%
D 52.5%
Which of the following is identified as a major milestone in the evolution of India’s Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system?
A Adoption of the ISO 20022 message standard
B Merging with the NEFT system
C Restricting operations to banking hours only
D Replacing all retail payments
What is a key Reserve Bank of India initiative, related to the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), aimed at improving cross-border payments?
A Interlinking UPI with fast payment systems globally
B Restricting UPI usage to domestic transactions only
C Replacing the domestic RuPay card network with UPI
D Mandating UPI for all import/export settlements
During H1 2025, what percentage of the total payment volume did the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) account for?
A 84.8%
B 9.1%
C 68.7%
D 3.2%
During H1 2025, what percentage of the total payment value did the Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system account for?
A 68.7%
B 15.1%
C 9.1%
D 0.1%
What was the share of National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT), in terms of total payment value, during H1 2025?
A 15.1%
B 3.9%
C 9.1%
D 2.4%
What trend was observed in the transaction volume for paper-based instruments, including cheques, over the last three half-years (from H1-2024 to H1-2025)?
A A declining trend
B An increasing trend
C The volume remained static
D The volume decreased in 2024 but increased in 2025
What was the daily average transaction value for Total Payments (which includes all digital and paper-based instruments), during H1-2025?
A 9 lakh crore
B 69 crore
C 8 lakh crore
D 3 lakh crore
How are “Retail Payments” defined, for the purpose of the payment system statistics?
A Retail Digital Payments, and Paper-based Instruments
B Retail Digital Payments, and RTGS
C Only UPI, and Card payment transactions
D All payments excluding RTGS
According to the data on payment system infrastructure as of June 2025, which two categories registered a decline in their outstanding numbers, compared to December 2024?
A Credit Cards, and PoS Terminals
B Debit Cards, and UPI QR
C PPI Wallets, and Micro ATMs
D Bank owned ATMs, and Bharat QR
What is the primary purpose of Large Value Payment Systems (LVPS), also referred to as wholesale payment systems?
A To process a high volume of small-value retail purchases
B To facilitate large value and high-priority payments, such as money market, and interbank settlements
C To exclusively handle cross-border remittances for individuals
D To manage paper-based cheque clearing across the country
In India, which two entities operate the Large Value Payment Systems (LVPS)?
A National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), and Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL)
B Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)
C Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL)
D All commercial banks, and the Ministry of Finance
Who is identified as the owner and operator of India’s primary large-value payment system, the Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS)?
A The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)
B The Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL)
C The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
D A consortium of scheduled commercial banks
What is the primary purpose of Retail Payment Systems?
A To facilitate large-value, high-priority interbank settlements
B To exclusively process government securities and forex clearing
C To process routine, low- to medium-value transactions, like bill payments and fund transfers
D To manage only paper-based instruments like cheques
Retail Payment Systems are characterised by their ability to handle …… transactions efficiently.
A low volumes of
B large volumes of
C only high-value
D only cross-border
Which retail payment system is specifically mentioned as enabling the disbursal of government subsidies, and Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT)?
A National Automated Clearing House (NACH)
B Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS)
C Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS)
D Immediate Payment Service (I M P S)
What is the upper transaction limit imposed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for funds transfers through the National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) system?
A ₹2,00,000
B ₹5,00,000
C ₹10,00,000
D There is no upper limit imposed by the RBI
What was the total value of transactions processed by the National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) system, during the first half (H1) of CY 2025?
A ₹237.0 lakh crore
B ₹432.8 lakh crore
C ₹232.9 lakh crore
D ₹18.4 lakh crore
What was the total volume of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions recorded in the first half (H1) of CY 2025?
A 10,637 crore
B 17,221 crore
C 7,897 crore
D 1,079 crore
What is the individual transaction limit for the Immediate Payment Service (I M P S) across all channels, except for SMS and IVR?
A ₹1 lakh
B ₹2 lakh
C ₹5 lakh
D ₹10 lakh
How did the total transaction value of the Immediate Payment Service (I M P S) change, during the period from Calendar Year (CY) 2019 to CY 2024?
A It remained static
B It doubled
C It tripled
D It declined by half
What is the Aadhaar-enabled Payment System (AePS)?
A A bank-led model for online interoperable financial inclusion transactions at Micro ATM terminals, using Aadhaar authentication
B A system exclusively for cross-border remittances using Aadhaar numbers
C A mobile wallet operated directly by the Reserve Bank of India for subsidy payments
D A platform for trading government securities using Aadhaar for verification
Which of the following statements correctly describe the NACH transaction types?
A 1 and 2 only
B 3 and 4 only
C 1 and 4 only
D 2 and 3 only
Government’s Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) payouts are processed through the NACH Credit mechanism, while DBT-related transactions are processed through the …… system.
A Aadhaar Payment Bridge (APB)
B Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS)
C Immediate Payment Service (I M P S)
D National Financial Switch (NFS)
What technology does the National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) system use, to enable electronic payments at toll plazas, without the vehicle stopping?
A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
B Quick Response (QR) Code
C Near Field Communication (NFC)
D Biometric Authentication
What was the total number of outstanding FASTags issued as of June 2025?
A 11.11 crore
B 52 lakh
C 8.8 crore
D 1,782
How many toll plazas were onboarded to the National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) infrastructure, as of June 2025?
A 1,782
B 505
C 1,250
D 837
What is the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS)?
A An RBI-mandated, reliable, secure, and integrated platform for bill payments across the country
B A real-time gross settlement system for large-value corporate payments
C A system using RFID technology for electronic toll collection at highway plazas
D A bank-led model for financial inclusion transactions using Aadhaar authentication
Which entity operates the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS)?
A NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd. (NBBL)
B The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
C The Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL)
D A consortium of all member banks
As of June 2025, what was the total number of outstanding debit cards in India?
A 100.52 crore
B 11.12 crore
C 111.64 crore
D 86.8 crore
What was the total value of credit card transactions recorded in Calendar Year (CY) 2024?
A ₹20.4 lakh crore
B ₹7.1 lakh crore
C ₹11.1 lakh crore
D ₹10.76 lakh crore
Which bank group experienced a steep decline in its share of outstanding credit cards, from
11.7 per cent in June 2020, to
4.1 per cent in June 2025?
A Private Sector Banks
B Public Sector Banks
C Foreign Banks
D Small Finance Banks
What was the market share of Private Sector Banks in outstanding credit cards, as of June 2025?
A 70.8 per cent
B 24.1 per cent
C 4.1 per cent
D 65.8 per cent
What trend was observed in debit card transactions from Calendar Year (CY) 2019 to CY 2024?
A A decline in both volume and value
B An increase in both volume and value
C A decline in volume but an increase in value
D An increase in volume but a decline in value
Which bank group dominates the debit card space, holding
63.5 per cent of outstanding cards as of June 2025, even though its market share has declined since 2020?
A Private Sector Banks
B Public Sector Banks
C Foreign Banks
D Small Finance Banks
What is the primary function of Card-on-File Tokenisation (CoFT), as introduced by the Reserve Bank of India in 2021?
A It replaces actual card details with a unique ‘token’ to enhance transaction security
B It allows users to store multiple cards in a single physical device
C It enables offline payment transactions using a debit card
D It consolidates all card network arrangements into one platform
As per the March 2024 instructions, what choice must card issuers (with over 10 lakh active cards) provide to their eligible customers, at the time of issue or renewal?
A An option to choose from multiple card networks
B An option to link a pre-sanctioned credit line
C An option to opt-out of card tokenisation
D An option to choose between a physical or virtual card
What was the primary objective of launching the Payments Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) in January 2021?
A To boost payment acceptance in Tier-3 to 6 centres, the North-Eastern Region, and Jammu & Kashmir
B To fund the development of the UPI Lite offline payment system
C To provide subsidies for e-Mandates on recurring transactions
D To finance the expansion of the Trade Receivables e-Discounting System (TReDS)
To encourage the use of UPI Lite, what were the per-transaction and total limits enhanced to, in December 2024?
A ₹1,000 per-transaction limit, and ₹5,000 total limit
B ₹500 per-transaction limit, and ₹2,000 total limit
C ₹2,000 per-transaction limit, and ₹1,00,000 total limit
D ₹5,000 per-transaction limit, and ₹15,000 total limit
In February 2025, which category of banks was newly permitted to offer pre-sanctioned credit lines on UPI?
A Small Finance Banks (SFBs)
B Payment Banks
C Regional Rural Banks
D Foreign Banks
In December 2024, the Additional Factor of Authentication (AFA) exemption limit for e-mandates was increased to ₹1 lakh, for which specific categories of recurring transactions?
A Mutual fund subscriptions, insurance premiums, and credit card bill payments
B Utility bill payments, loan EMIs, and rent payments
C All Person-to-Merchant (P2M) transactions
D All UPI and PPI wallet transactions
As a major regulatory development in H1 2025, what change was made regarding UPI transaction limits?
A NPCI was permitted to prescribe and revise limits for all P2M transactions
B P2P transaction limits were increased to ₹5 lakh
C All P2M transaction limits were capped at ₹1 lakh
D P2P limits were removed, but P2M limits were capped
Following the regulatory developments in H1 2025 that allowed NPCI to set P2M limits, what is the transaction limit for Person to Person (P2P) payments in UPI?
A Capped at ₹1 lakh
B Capped at ₹5 lakh
C Set by NPCI based on evolving user needs
D No limit is applicable
RTGS is designated as a Financial Market Infrastructure (FMI) and a Systematically Important Payment System (SIPS). What other designation does it hold?
A A critical information infrastructure by NCIIPC
B A Retail Payment System (RPS)
C A Central Counterparty (CCP)
D A Cross-Border Payment System (CBPS)
What is the minimum amount that can be transferred for a customer transaction through the RTGS system?
A ₹2,00,000
B ₹1
C ₹1,00,000
D There is no minimum limit
What are the minimum and maximum limits for interbank transactions within the RTGS system?
A There are no minimum or maximum limits
B Minimum ₹2,00,000, no maximum limit
C Minimum ₹2,00,000, maximum ₹10 crore
D No minimum limit, maximum ₹50 crore
The RTGS system uses the Structured Financial Messaging System (SFMS) over which secure network for transferring messages?
A Indian Financial Network (INFINET)
B SWIFT
C The public internet
D National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) network
What is a primary benefit of the ISO 20022 messaging standard used in financial systems?
A It enables straight-through processing (STP), which streamlines transactions and lowers operational costs
B It restricts payment systems to operate only during business hours
C It eliminates the need for any interbank settlement
D It is an older standard used exclusively for paper-based clearing
On what date did the Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system become available on a \times7\times365$ basis?
A December 14, 2020
B August 26, 2019
C March 26, 2004
D December 31, 2021
In CY 2024, what percentage of the total volume of RTGS transactions was conducted outside regular business hours (18:00 to 08:00)?
A 19 per cent
B 8 per cent
C 16 per cent
D 5 per cent
What is the “positive confirmation” feature in the Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system?
A An acknowledgement message from the beneficiary bank to the remitter bank, incorporating the date and time of credit
B A notification sent to the RBI confirming the transaction has been initiated
C A pre-authorization check to confirm the beneficiary’s account balance
D An automated message from the Central System confirming receipt of the transaction
What is the “Gridlock Resolution Mechanism” in the Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system?
A An automated process that settles transactions pending due to inadequate liquidity by using netting
B A manual process where the RBI intervenes to settle pending transactions
C A system feature that rejects all transactions in a queue if one fails
D A mechanism that reprioritizes transactions based on value instead of time
Approximately what percentage of all digital transactions in India, by value, does the Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system settle?
A 70%
B 99%
C 10%
D 0.1%
What is the focus of Project Hertha, an initiative by the BIS Innovation Hub?
A To examine the use of network analytics to detect financial crime in real time
B To test instant payments with modular FX and tokenised wholesale central bank money
C To study how tokenisation can improve wholesale payments
D To assess the feasibility of embedding regulatory requirements into a common protocol
What does Project Mandala, an initiative by the BIS Innovation Hub, assess?
A The feasibility of embedding jurisdiction-specific regulatory requirements into a common protocol
B The use of network analytics to detect financial crime in real time
C How tokenisation can improve wholesale payments
D Instant payments with modular FX and tokenised wholesale central bank money
What is Project Nexus, an international initiative joined by India?
A A multilateral initiative to enable instant cross-border retail payments by interlinking domestic Fast Payment Systems (FPSs)
B A bilateral agreement between India and Singapore to link UPI and PayNow
C A project to assess the feasibility of embedding regulatory requirements into a common protocol
D A project to study how tokenisation can improve wholesale payments
Which country was the top recipient of global foreign remittances in 2024, with a record inflow of 7.7 billion?
A India
B Mexico
C Philippines
D China
Which country consistently leads global remittance outflows, sending .4 billion in 2024?
A United States
B Saudi Arabia
C Switzerland
D Germany
What is the target set by the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the G20 for the global average remittance cost to be reached by 2030?
A 3 per cent
B 5 per cent
C 6.62 per cent
D 8.45 per cent
According to data from Q4 2024, which region of the world was the most expensive to send a 0 remittance to, with an average cost of
8.45%?
A Sub-Saharan Africa
B Europe & Central Asia (Excl. Russia)
C South Asia
D Middle East & North Africa
According to data from Q4 2024, which region of the world offered the lowest remittance transaction costs, with an average of
5.01% for sending 0?
A South Asia
B East Asia & Pacific
C Lattin America & Caribbean
D Sub-Saharan Africa
Which corridor was identified as the most cost-effective for sending a 0 remittance to India in Q4 2024, with a rate of
2.10%?
A Kuwait to India
B Singapore to India
C Malaysia to India
D Bahrain to India
When was the Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system, India’s large-value payment system, launched?
A 2004
B 2016
C 2011
D 1990
Which payment system is described as being designed for bulk and repetitive payments, such as salary disbursements, pension payments, utility bill payments, and loan EMIs?
A National Automated Clearing House (NACH)
B Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS)
C Unified Payments Interface (UPI)
D Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS)
Which payment system, introduced by NPCI, offers 24×7 instant fund transfer through multiple channels including mobile banking, internet banking, and ATMs?
A Immediate Payment Service (I M P S)
B National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT)
C Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS)
D National Automated Clearing House (NACH)
In which year was the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) launched?
A 2016
B 2004
C 2011
D 2019
What is the maximum value allowed for a Gift Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI)?
A ₹10,000
B ₹3,000
C ₹1,00,000
D ₹2,000
What is the maximum value for a reloadable Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) issued by Mass Transit Systems (MTS) operators?
A ₹3,000
B ₹10,000
C ₹5,000
D ₹1,000
What is the primary purpose of the Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS)?
A To facilitate the financing of trade receivables for MSMEs
B To provide a unified and interoperable toll payment solution
C To enable instant, 24×7 fund transfers between bank accounts
D To process bulk and repetitive payments like salaries and pensions
▶ Watch Video Solution
⚡ Quick Revision: Key Facts for RBI’s Payment Systems Report – June 2025
Digital Growth: Digital payments volume CAGR (2014-24) stands at 52.5%.
UPI Dominance: UPI accounted for 84.8% of total payment volume in H1 2025.
RTGS Value: RTGS handled 68.7% of total payment value in H1 2025.
New Regulator: Payments Regulatory Board (PRB) replaced BPSS in May 2025.
NEFT Limits: No RBI-imposed upper limit for NEFT transactions.
Remittance: India received a record $137.7 billion in remittances in 2024.
FASTag: Over 11.11 crore FASTags issued as of June 2025.
Card Trends: Credit card transaction value hit ₹20.4 lakh crore in CY 2024.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the RBI’s Payment Systems Report – June 2025 important for exams?
It contains the latest data on UPI, RTGS, and NEFT, which are high-probability topics for the General Awareness section of RBI Grade B and SBI PO exams.
What is the most important finding in the RBI’s Payment Systems Report – June 2025?
The massive 52.5% CAGR in digital payment volumes and the dominance of UPI (85% volume share) are the most critical findings.
Does the report cover new regulatory bodies?
Yes, the RBI’s Payment Systems Report – June 2025 highlights the establishment of the Payments Regulatory Board (PRB) replacing the BPSS.
Are the statistics for H1 2025 or the full year?
The report primarily analyzes data for the first half (H1) of 2025 and the preceding decade ending 2024.

Leave a comment