Move could streamline KYC processes and reduce paperwork for overseas Indians seeking financial services in India
The Centre is examining the introduction of digital notarisation as part of wider reforms aimed at simplifying document verification and making it easier for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and foreign nationals to access India’s financial system.
Harsha Bhowmik, Director in the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance, said the government is assessing whether existing laws and rules can be amended to allow digital notarisation, which could significantly reduce the complexity of onboarding overseas customers into banks and other financial institutions.
Speaking at an industry interaction on credible growth organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Bhowmik said the current absence of a legally recognised digital notarisation framework remains a key hurdle for individuals and enterprises dealing with cross-border financial transactions. Any such reform would require changes to the relevant legislation governing notarisation.
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The official noted that Aadhaar has become India’s primary Know Your Customer (KYC) document, but Aadhaar-based authentication faces limitations for users accessing services from outside the country because of IP restrictions
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As a result, many NRIs, despite possessing Aadhaar, encounter difficulties in completing digital KYC procedures remotely
Bhowmik added that while verified digital signature systems are emerging, interoperability with signatures issued in foreign jurisdictions remains a challenge. Addressing these issues would help improve access to financial products and services for overseas Indians, foreign investors and international businesses operating in India.
The proposal aligns with the government’s broader digital governance agenda. Earlier this year, the Ministry of Law and Justice expanded the online Notary Portal to provide paperless services, including digitally signed certificates for notaries and online applications for new appointments, reflecting a wider push towards modernising legal and administrative processes.
If implemented, digital notarisation could significantly reduce paperwork, speed up customer onboarding and strengthen India’s ambition to create a more accessible and globally integrated financial ecosystem.
