EKYC

e-KYC — Electronic Know Your Customer: Complete 101 Guide Last updated: March 2026 What is e-KYC? e-KYC (electronic Know Your Customer) uses Aadhaar-based authentication to instantly verify an individual’s identity for financial services without physical document submission. How e-KYC Differs from Traditional KYC Aspect Traditional KYC e-KYC Time 3-7 days Instant Documents Physical copies Digital Visit Branch required Anywhere Cost Higher Lower How e-KYC Works Process Flow 1 User Consent → Aadhaar Number → UIDAI Auth → Identity Match → Data Fetch → Account Opening Authentication Methods Method Security Level Biometric High OTP Medium PIN Basic Legal Framework Governing Regulations Aadhaar Act 2016: Legal basis for authentication RBI KYC Directions: Banking sector compliance PMLA: Anti-money laundering DPDP Act 2023: Data protection Use Cases Financial Services Service Example Banking Account opening, loans Insurance Policy purchase Telecom SIM activation Government Direct benefit transfers Privacy Concerns Risks Identity theft potential Location tracking via transactions Data breach exposure Consent manipulation Safeguards Explicit consent mandatory Data minimization principle Encryption requirements Right to opt-out Consumer Rights Consent-based authentication Right to know authentication purpose Data access and correction Grievance via UIDAI/RBI