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26 July 2026

Common customer identification system for banks and insurers

The Central Know-Your-Customer 2.0 (CKYC) is a specific, named government-led digital infrastructure initiative aimed at improving financial inclusion and governance efficiency, making it a highly relevant topic for GS2 and GS4.

1 min read 2 questions 1 prelims

Notes

  • India is launching a common customer identification system, Central Know-Your-Customer 2.0 (CKYC), in August.
  • The system enables banks and insurers to fetch customer data from a central registry upon user consent, eliminating the need for repeated document submission.
  • The project is a joint initiative by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), and the insurance regulator.
  • Capital markets firms, such as mutual funds and brokerages, are expected to integrate with the system later this year.
  • The initiative aims to improve financial inclusion in sectors like mutual funds, insurance, and pensions, where penetration remains low despite 89% of adults owning bank accounts as of 2024.
  • The system is designed to enhance fraud monitoring and address data quality issues, such as duplication and missing details, present in the existing central registry of 1.2 billion records.
  • The framework draws inspiration from digital identity models used in Singapore and several European nations.

Questions

  1. Discuss the significance of the Central Know-Your-Customer (CKYC) 2.0 system in enhancing financial inclusion and streamlining regulatory compliance in India's financial sector. 150 words
    Attempt this — 150 words in 8 min
    0 / 150 words 8:00
  2. The integration of digital identity frameworks is crucial for the evolution of India's financial ecosystem. Elaborate on how a common customer identification system can mitigate operational inefficiencies and improve the security of financial transactions. 250 words
    Attempt this — 250 words in 11 min
    0 / 250 words 11:00

Prelims

  1. Which of the following best describes the primary objective of the Central Know-Your-Customer (CKYC) 2.0 system?