Lok Sabha Passes New Bankers' Books Evidence Bill, Replacing 135-Year-Old Law
The Lok Sabha on 5 August 2026 passed the Bankers' Books Evidence Bill, 2026, replacing the Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 1891. The new legislation modernises the legal framework governing the evidentiary value of banking records to reflect contemporary digital banking practices and electronic record-keeping.
The Bill expands the definition of "bankers' books" to include records maintained in physical, electronic, digital, cloud-based and other data storage formats. It recognises certified copies of both physical and electronic banking records, with separate certification requirements for each. Digital record certificates may be signed manually or authenticated using digital signatures under the Information Technology Act, 2000.
The legislation provides that electronic and digital copies of banking records cannot be denied admissibility solely because they are in digital form. Detailed conditions for admissibility include requirements relating to system integrity, authorised access, data accuracy, cybersecurity safeguards and absence of tampering.
