Regulatory timeline

How RBI built the SRO system — frameworks, recognitions, and what each SRO did about it.

2026

2026-09-10 UFF recognition

UFF recognised as India's second SRO-FT

RBI granted SRO-FT registration to Unified Fintech Forum (ex-DLAI) ahead of RBI's Global Fintech Fest address; second fintech SRO after FACE.

2026-08 FACE report

FACE Personal Loan Report 2026

Consumer-facing study of India's personal loan market: borrower profiles, pricing, top lenders, delinquency and origination trends.

2026-06-05 FIDC consultation

FIDC views on RBI monetary policy statement (June 2026)

FIDC publicly responded to the June 2026 monetary policy, representing NBFC sector interests on liquidity and rate transmission.

2026-01-14 FEDAI recognition

FEDAI recognised as SRO for all Authorised Dealers

RBI recognised FEDAI (est. 1958) as SRO for the foreign-exchange market under the Omnibus SRO framework, with a one-year transition (to Jan 2027) to align governance and extend membership to all AD categories.

2025

2025-11-11 SRPA recognition

SRPA becomes RBI-recognised SRO for payment system operators

Self-Regulated PSO Association (SRPA) recognised under the SRO-PSO framework; founded by Vishwas Patel (CCAvenue) and M N Srinivasu (BillDesk); 18 members.

2025-10-03 FIDC recognition

FIDC recognised as RBI's SRO for NBFCs

Finance Industry Development Council became the recognised self-regulatory organisation for NBFCs under the omnibus framework.

2025-08 FACE tool

DLA Validator — consumer tool for checking digital lending apps

FACE's consumer corner offers a DLA (digital lending application) validator so borrowers can check an app before taking a loan.

2025-04-16 UFF announcement

DLAI rebrands as Unified Fintech Forum (UFF); new leadership elected

DLAI became UFF with ~120 members: Manish Lunia (FlexiLoans) as President, Upasana Taku (MobiKwik) as Vice-President. Sought RBI SRO-FT recognition as a broad fintech body.

2025-04 UFF announcement

UFF executive committee and working-group chairs in place

UFF EC formed: Manish Lunia (President), Upasana Taku (VP & Events Chair), chairs for SRO, Knowledge, Policy/Product/Tech, Events, PR portfolios.

2024

2024-09 UFF announcement

DLAI among fintech bodies that applied to RBI for SRO-FT status

Three associations applied for SRO-FT recognition after the final framework; Digital Lenders Association of India's application was returned/kept pending.

2024-08-28 FACE recognition

FACE becomes India's first RBI-recognised fintech SRO (SRO-FT)

Fintech Association for Consumer Empowerment recognised as the first SRO-FT, effective from date of issue of certificate of registration.

2024-08-14 FACE consultation

FACE response to TRAI consultation on DLT-based transaction scrubbing

FACE filed detailed views (218 pages, 8 annexures) on TRAI's draft 'The Telecommunications (DLT-based Scrubbing) Regulations, 2025', from the digital-lending industry perspective.

2024-06-19 RBI announcement

RBI invites applications for recognition of SROs for NBFCs

RBI press release inviting SRO applications under the omnibus framework from NBFC industry associations.

2024-05-30 RBI framework

Final framework for recognising Self-Regulatory Organisations in the fintech sector (SRO-FT)

Final SRO-FT framework: recognised SRO-FTs to monitor fintech compliance with regulations and codes, support innovation, and protect consumers.

2024-03-21 RBI framework

Omnibus framework for recognising self-regulatory organisations in regulated financial entities

Generic framework applicable across RBI-regulated sectors (NBFCs, PSOs, etc.), each sector supervisor to invite/recognise SROs.

2024-01-15 RBI framework

Draft framework for recognising Self-Regulatory Organisations for the fintech sector (SRO-FT)

RBI's first fintech-specific SRO framework: eligibility, membership openness, governance, oversight of members' compliance and consumer protection.

2023

2023-09 FACE partnership

Google x FACE collaboration against predatory digital lending apps

Partnership to identify and act against predatory lending apps on Android; part of FACE's consumer-protection and app-fraud agenda.

2021

2021-08 FACE announcement

FACE applies to RBI for SRO recognition (digital lending)

FACE was among the first industry bodies to apply to RBI for SRO status in digital lending, months after the draft framework chatter began.

2020

2020-10-22 RBI framework

Framework for recognition of Self-Regulatory Organisation for Payment System Operators (SRO-PSO)

First SRO framework in payments: Recognised associations of PSOs to set standards, ensure compliance, and address grievances. Enabled payments SROs under Section 43A/43E PSS Act.

2020-10-22 RBI framework

Omnibus framework path: PSO + RBI SRO-FT + sector SROs

RBI's omnibus framework for recognising SROs across regulated entities set the template later used for NBFC (FIDC), PSO (SRPA) and FX (FEDAI) SRO recognition.

2015

2015-03-11 RBI recognition

Sa-Dhan recognised as SRO for NBFC-MFIs

RBI recognition made Sa-Dhan the second microfinance SRO, giving NBFC-MFIs a choice of SRO membership.

2014

2014-06-16 MFIN recognition

MFIN becomes India's first SRO for NBFC-MFIs

RBI letter dated 16 June 2014 accorded MFIN recognition as the first self-regulatory organisation of NBFC-MFIs, post-Andhra crisis (Malegam committee route).