Parliament has passed the Bankers’ Books Evidence Bill, 2026, with the Rajya Sabha approving it today. Lok Sabha has already passed the Bill. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman moved the Bill, which aims to modernise the legal framework to meet the requirements of the present banking system. The Bill seeks to provide a law relating to evidence with respect to bankers’ books and to align it with contemporary digital banking practices. The Bill also has a provision that an electronic or digital record of a banker’s book will be admissible, valid, and legally enforceable as evidence.
Replying to discussion on the bill, Finance Minister Sitharaman said that this bill is a very reformative step, which will help the country move forward at a faster pace. She highlighted that the Bankers’ Books Evidence Act was framed in 1891, when banking systems were entirely paper-based. Mrs Sitharaman said, today, India has demonstrated remarkable progress in digitising its economy. She said, banking and financial transactions are now largely driven by digital platforms, often accessible through a simple click on a mobile phone. The Minister said that in such a scenario, it is imperative that the country’s legal framework evolves to keep pace with these advancements. She noted that the existing 1891 Act relies heavily on certified copies of physical bank records as admissible evidence in legal proceedings. Mr Sitharaman said that the Bill establishes a technology-neutral legal framework for bankers’ records, which formally recognises electronic and digital banking records and ensures their admissibility in legal proceedings. It also standardises the certification process and allows authentication through manual, digital, and electronic signatures.
Earlier, participating in the discussion, Arun Singh of BJP said that new legislation has been brought to change old act framed in 1891 under British rule. Mr Singh said, this bill will further boost the banking system, which is considered as the backbone of the Indian economy. He said, a revolutionary transformation is being witnessed in the banking system under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Mr Singh said, the bill has the provision that evidences in the digital or computerised form will be accepted as part of evidence.
Manas Ranjan Mangaraj of BJD supported the objectives of the bill. He said, data security and privacy must be given the highest priority. He said, as the banking records contain sensitive personal and financial information, the government must ensure strong safeguards to prevent misuse, unauthorized access and cyber threats. Other members also spoke on the bill
