New Delhi, August 10, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said the Bankers’ Books Evidence Bill, 2026 will modernise the legal framework governing banking records by recognising electronic and digital records and making their use as evidence in legal proceedings more streamlined.
Responding to the debate in the Rajya Sabha, Sitharaman said the proposed legislation would establish a technology-neutral framework by expanding the definition of bankers’ books to cover records maintained in physical, electronic and digital formats.
“The Bill recognises electronic and digital banking records, standardises the certification process and facilitates the admissibility of electronic banking records,” she said.
The Bill also permits authentication through manual, digital and electronic signatures. According to the Finance Minister, this would strengthen statutory protection available to bank officers in proceedings where the bank itself is not a party.
Sitharaman said the expanded definition would cover records maintained in written or physical form as well as those stored electronically or digitally at on-site and off-site locations. This would include virtual and cloud-based storage systems, backup facilities and disaster recovery sites.
The legislation will prescribe conditions governing the admissibility, validity and enforceability of electronic and digital bankers’ books as evidence. It also enables the Central Government to notify additional conditions where required.
The Finance Minister said certification procedures for certified copies of bankers’ books would be standardised regardless of whether the underlying records are maintained physically or electronically.
Defending the replacement of the existing legislation, Sitharaman said Parliament has the constitutional authority to repeal and re-enact laws concerning banking under Entry 45 of the Union List in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution.
The proposed legislation is aimed at aligning the legal treatment of banking records with the increasingly digital nature of banking operations while providing greater clarity for their use in courts and other legal proceedings.
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