Rajya Sabha passed the Bankers’ Books Evidence Bill 2026 by voice vote after an Opposition walkout, replacing the 135-year-old 1891 Act and giving digital banking records formal legal recognition.
New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha on Monday passed the Bankers’ Books Evidence Bill, 2026, paving the way for digital and electronic banking records to receive formal recognition as evidence in legal proceedings. The legislation seeks to replace the 135-year-old Bankers’ Books Evidence Act, 1891, bringing the legal framework governing bank records in line with the country’s rapidly evolving digital banking system.
The Bill was passed by voice vote after Opposition members walked out of the House amid protests. The legislation had already been passed by the Lok Sabha on August 6, and its passage by the Rajya Sabha completes parliamentary approval of the measure.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman moved the Bill for consideration in the Rajya Sabha after multiple adjournments earlier in the day. The proceedings were disrupted by Opposition slogans, and a detailed discussion on the legislation could not take place after Opposition members staged a walkout.
The new legislation is intended to address the significant changes that have taken place in the banking sector since the original law was enacted in 1891. At that time, banking records were primarily maintained in physical form, including paper ledgers and other printed documents. The existing framework was designed to allow certified copies of such records to be presented as evidence in court without requiring bank officials to produce the original books personally.
However, banking operations have undergone a major transformation over the past several decades. Banks now generate, maintain and store large volumes of financial information electronically, including transaction records, account statements and other banking data. The new legislation seeks to ensure that the law governing evidentiary records reflects these technological developments.
The Bankers’ Books Evidence Bill, 2026 provides a modern framework for dealing with banking records maintained in electronic and digital formats. By formally recognising such records within the legal evidence framework, the legislation is expected to reduce uncertainty surrounding the use and presentation of digitally maintained banking information during judicial proceedings.
The proposed changes are particularly significant as India’s financial system has increasingly shifted towards digital transactions. Online banking, mobile banking, electronic payments and automated financial systems have substantially reduced dependence on traditional paper-based banking records. The new legal framework is intended to accommodate this transition and make the process of producing banking evidence more efficient.
During the Rajya Sabha proceedings, Sitharaman explained that the original 1891 legislation was created primarily to enable certified copies of bank records to be used as evidence, thereby preventing bank officials from having to bring original ledgers and documents before courts. With banking records now predominantly generated and stored through digital systems, the government argued that the law needed to be updated.
The passage of the Bill comes amid continued disruptions in Parliament during the ongoing Monsoon Session, with Opposition parties raising slogans and staging protests over several issues. The proceedings surrounding the legislation also witnessed a heated exchange between Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh and Opposition members.
The Vice-Chairman told Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge that he would be allowed to speak on the legislation provided his remarks remained confined to the subject of the Bill. The proceedings subsequently became disorderly amid Opposition protests, following which several members walked out of the House.
Despite the disruption, the Bill was taken up and passed by voice vote. With both Houses of Parliament having approved the legislation, the new framework will replace the colonial-era Bankers’ Books Evidence Act once the remaining constitutional process is completed.
The formal recognition of electronic banking records is expected to make it easier for courts and financial institutions to deal with digital evidence while reducing dependence on physical documentation. The move is also expected to benefit banks by reducing the administrative burden associated with producing physical records and bank officials in judicial proceedings.
The passage of the Bankers’ Books Evidence Bill, 2026 therefore marks a significant transition from a paper-based evidentiary framework established in the 19th century to one designed for the realities of modern digital banking.
Also read: Lok Sabha Passes Supreme Court Judges Amendment Bill 2026 to Expand Apex Court Strength
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