Govt introduces Bill to replace 1891 law, recognise digital bank records as court evidenceThe government introduced the Bankers' Books Evidence Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha to replace the 1891 law, recognising digital and virtual banking records as admissible evidence, expanding the definition of bankers' books, and modernising the legal framework for technology-driven bankingBy PTI Published Date - 3 August 2026, 02:34 PMNew Delhi: The government on Monday introduced a Bill to replace British era legislation with the objective to include digital and virtual records as admissible evidence in the court of law in sync with digital dependence of the banking system. The new law to be called the Bankers’ Books Evidence Act, 2026 is going to repeal or replace the Bankers’ Books Evidence Act, 1891. “With the advancement of technology and growth of digital banking, bank records are increasingly created, stored and maintained using contemporary technology (instead of physical record). The Bankers’ Books Evidence Act, 1891 was enacted during pre-independence era to facilitate the use of certified copies of bank records as evidence in legal proceedings without requiring production of the original records. The Act was enacted at a time when banking records were predominantly maintained in physical form.