The Central KYC Records Registry (CKYCRR) has issued a detailed notification to all registered reporting entities (REs), reiterating the mandatory data hygiene and quality parameters required while uploading KYC records to the central repository.
Although these norms are already published under the Operating Documents/Guidelines section on the CKYCRR website, the Registry has consolidated and re-communicated the requirements to address ongoing data-quality concerns.
CKYCRR emphasized that maintaining clean, accurate, validated, and standardized KYC data is essential for the efficiency and integrity of the national CKYC ecosystem.
1. Key Operating Guidelines and Technical Specifications
The notification reiterates that the CKYCRR Operating Guidelines and Technical Specifications issued by CERSAI constitute the primary reference for all data-quality requirements.
a. CKYCRR KYC Template Requirements
- Defines mandatory and optional fields in customer KYC records.
- Lists acceptable OVDs and e-document types.
b. Technical Specifications
These govern the upload process and system-level data hygiene requirements, including:
- File structure and validation rules for demographic fields, document numbers, identifiers.
- Document quality and size norms, such as:
- Scan resolution: 150–200 DPI
- Colour passport photo: 200×230 pixels, max 100 KB
- Max file size: 350 KB (individual), 5 MB (legal entities)
- Accepted formats: .tif, .tiff, .pdf, .jpeg, .jpg
- Upload of only scanned images of original documents—not photocopies or low-quality images.
- Prescribed file-naming conventions and folder structures.
- Error codes, rejection criteria, and PAN structure validations.
2. Data Standardization Measures by CKYCRR
The Registry continues to use automated tools and master data sets to ensure uniformity and prevent erroneous entries.
a. Master Lists for Standard Values
Regularly updated master lists include:
- Pin Codes
- Districts
- States
- Country Codes
b. Hygiene Validations to Prevent Junk Values
Automatic checks are applied for fields like:
- Mother’s Name
- Father/Spouse Name
- Maiden Name
- Mobile Number
- Email ID
These quality checks prevent incomplete, placeholder, or incorrect entries.
3. System-Level Validation Before Upload
CKYCRR clarified that the system accepts only those KYC uploads that pass all data-quality validations.
Records are rejected if:
- Mandatory fields are missing
- Invalid formats or corrupted documents are uploaded
- Resolution, size, or format rules are not met
Rejected records return system-generated error messages, requiring the RE to correct and re-upload.
4. Responsibilities of Reporting Entities Under PML Rules
The notification reiterates obligations under Rule 9 of the PML Rules, which mandate that REs ensure:
- Completeness, correctness, authenticity, and legibility of all uploaded KYC data and documents.
- Periodic updating of KYC records.
- Adherence to requirements for KYC refresh, re-validation, or enhanced due diligence.
CKYCRR also highlighted that it has repeatedly addressed these issues in its training sessions, webinars, and review meetings, stressing the impact of data quality on the overall CKYC ecosystem.
5. Guidance on KYC Identifier Retrieval and Re-KYC
As per the Gazette Notification dated 19 July 2024, and the prescriptions of sectoral regulators, REs must:
- Seek the CKYC Identifier from the client or
- Retrieve the CKYC Identifier from the system with explicit customer consent.
- Not request KYC documents again, except under conditions such as:
- Change in customer information or address
- Lapsed validity of downloaded documents
- Requirement for enhanced due diligence
This ensures customer convenience and avoids redundant documentation, while keeping the CKYC database accurate.
Conclusion
By reiterating and consolidating these data hygiene standards, CKYCRR aims to strengthen data accuracy, compliance, and uniformity across all reporting entities. The Registry emphasized that improved data integrity is critical for a secure, reliable, and efficient national KYC infrastructure.