
Aug 7, 2026
✦Business Today
Can banks lock your smartphone for missing an EMI? RBI says yes - but only in these cases
The RBI said banks can lock smartphones only if the loan was taken to buy that specific device. Banks must wait 30 days before imposing partial limits and 60 days for full restrictions. Essential services like emergency calls must stay active. Banks must pay ₹250 per hour for wrongful locks.