Ahmedabad: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched the Digital Payments Awareness Week (DPAW) 2026 under the national initiative ‘Har Payment Digital’. The payment awareness week will be observed between March 09 and March 15, 2026 across India. Aligned with International Women’s Day, RBI Ahmedabad office commenced the event with a women-centric outreach program for 400 participants from Self-Help Groups (SHGs), RSETI trainees, and bank employees at the Gujarat State Cooperative Bank, Naranpura, Ahmedabad.
The program was inaugurated by Shri Amresh Ranjan, Regional Director, RBI Gujarat, and graced by Kalpana More, RBI Ombudsman (Gujarat), Pramod Kumar Sharma, Chief General Manager, Bank of Baroda and Pradip M. Vora, CEO, Gujarat State Cooperative Bank among other senior bankers.
During his keynote address at the sixth annual Digital Payments Awareness Week (DPAW), the Regional Director, RBI emphasized the theme ‘Thoda Dhyan Se’ (A Little Caution) and outlined four critical safety measures for secure digital payments.
Never share OTPs, PINs, or passwords with anyone.
Avoid scanning QR codes or entering PINs to receive payments.
Do not fall for “too good to be true” offers.
Verify amount and beneficiary name twice before initiating transactions.
Regional Director, RBI noted that while India processes nearly half of global digital payments, significant gaps persist in public awareness, contributing to rising fraud complaints. He stressed that digital payments are pivotal for expanding market access, empowering women entrepreneurs, and fostering financial inclusion.
The event featured success stories by two entrepreneurs from RSETI Ahmedabad who shared their journeys in leveraging RSETI training and digital payments in achieving self-reliance. The event also featured two informative sessions on electronic banking and cyber security practices followed by a quiz on safe banking practices. Participants from banks and SHGs actively engaged in the sessions.
The Reserve Bank outlined its strategy to hold a weeklong district-wide awareness drive in collaboration with SLBC, banks, and other stakeholders to ensure a secure and inclusive digital payment ecosystem.
