What is AEPS in Banking & How does it Work?

In India’s journey toward financial inclusion, the Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AEPS) has emerged as a game-changer. Developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), AEPS allows basic banking transactions using just an Aadhaar number and biometric authentication. For banking exam aspirants, understanding AEPS is crucial, not just as a current affairs topic but also as a core concept in digital banking and financial inclusion. Let’s understand more about AEPS system and solve MCQs based on this topic as given in this blog.

What is AEPS?

AEPS (Aadhaar Enabled Payment System) is a secure, bank-led model that enables customers to perform banking transactions through Micro ATMs using their Aadhaar number and fingerprint/iris scan. It eliminates the need for physical debit cards or signatures, making banking accessible in remote areas.

AEPS is governed under RBI’s Payment and Settlement Systems Act and NPCI guidelines.

RBI/NPCI have set per-transaction and daily limits (often ₹10,000 per transaction, though banks may set lower caps).

Key Features:

• Operated by NPCI
• Requires Aadhaar-linked bank account
• Uses biometric authentication
• Works through Business Correspondents (BCs) or Bank Mitras
• Supports interoperability across banks

How Does AEPS Work?

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the AEPS mechanism:

1. Customer visits a BC/Micro ATM with an Aadhaar number.
2. BC enters Aadhaar number and selects the bank.
3. Biometric authentication (fingerprint/iris) is performed.
4. Transaction request is sent to NPCI and routed to the bank.
5. The bank verifies details and approves/rejects the transaction.
6. Confirmation message is sent to BC and the customer.

Supported Transactions:

Check what transaction types are supported by AePS given below:

Transaction Type	Description
Cash Withdrawal	Withdraw money from Aadhaar-linked account
Cash Deposit	Deposit money into Aadhaar-linked account
Balance Inquiry	Check account balance
Mini Statement	View last few transactions
Aadhaar to Aadhaar Fund Transfer	Transfer funds between Aadhaar-linked accounts

Benefits of AEPS

The benefits of AEPS is given below:

• Promotes financial inclusion in rural and semi-urban areas
• Secure and paperless transactions
• No need for debit card or PIN
• Interoperable across banks
• Real-time processing via NPCI

AEPS in Banking Exams: Why it Matters

AEPS is frequently asked in:

• Current Affairs
• Banking Awareness
• Digital Banking & Financial Inclusion
• Government Schemes (e.g., PMJDY)

AEPS Based MCQs for Banking Exams

Q1. AEPS is operated by which organization?

1. RBI
2. NPCI
3. NABARD
4. UIDAI

Answer: B) NPCI
Explanation: AEPS is developed and managed by the National Payments Corporation of India.

Q2. Which of the following is NOT a service provided under AEPS?

1. Cash Withdrawal
2. Balance Inquiry
3. Aadhaar to Aadhaar Fund Transfer
4. Issuing Credit Cards

Answer: D) Issuing Credit Cards
Explanation: AEPS supports basic banking services only, not credit card issuance.

Q3. What is the minimum requirement for a customer to use AEPS?

1. Debit card and PIN
2. Aadhaar number linked with bank account
3. Internet banking credentials
4. Cheque book

Answer: B) Aadhaar number linked with bank account
Explanation: AEPS transactions are authenticated using Aadhaar and biometrics.

Q4. Which device is commonly used by Business Correspondents (BCs) to facilitate AEPS transactions?

1. POS Machine
2. Micro ATM
3. Smartphone only
4. ATM Kiosk

Answer: B) Micro ATM
Explanation: Micro ATMs with biometric scanners are used for AEPS transactions.

Q5. AEPS transactions are authenticated primarily through:

1. OTP sent to mobile
2. Biometric verification (fingerprint/iris)
3. Debit card PIN
4. Security questions

Answer: B) Biometric verification (fingerprint/iris)
Explanation: AEPS relies on Aadhaar-based biometric authentication.

Q6. Which of the following is a key benefit of AEPS?

1. Requires internet access for customers
2. Enables financial inclusion in rural areas
3. Works only in urban ATMs
4. Provides instant loans

Answer: B) Enables financial inclusion in rural areas
Explanation: AEPS allows banking access even in remote areas without ATMs.

Q7. If a customer wants to check account balance using AEPS, which of the following is mandatory?

1. Aadhaar number and biometric authentication
2. Debit card and PIN
3. Internet banking password
4. Cheque leaf

Answer: A) Aadhaar number and biometric authentication
Explanation: All AEPS services require Aadhaar-linked authentication.

Q8. Which of the following statements about AEPS is correct?

1. AEPS is available only during banking hours.
2. AEPS transactions can be done 24×7.
3. AEPS requires both Aadhaar and PAN card.
4. AEPS is managed by UIDAI.

Answer: B) AEPS transactions can be done 24×7.
Explanation: AEPS is interoperable and available round the clock.

Q9. Which of the following is mandatory for AEPS transactions?

1. Aadhaar number linked with bank account
2. PAN number
3. Debit card
4. Internet banking ID

Answer: A
Explanation: AEPS requires Aadhaar to be seeded with the bank account.

Q10. Who can act as a Business Correspondent (BC) for AEPS?

1. Only bank employees
2. Only RBI officials
3. Individuals/retail agents appointed by banks
4. Only government officers

Answer: C
Explanation: BCs are authorized retail agents appointed by banks to provide AEPS services.

Q11. Which of the following is NOT true about AEPS?

1. It allows cash withdrawal.
2. It requires biometric authentication.
3. It can be used without linking Aadhaar to a bank account.
4. It supports balance inquiry.

Answer: C
Explanation: Aadhaar must be linked to the bank account for AEPS to work.

Q12. AEPS transactions are processed through which switch?

1. RuPay Switch
2. NPCI Central Switch
3. UPI Switch
4. IMPS Switch

Answer: B
Explanation: AEPS transactions are routed through NPCI’s central switch.

Q13. Which of the following is a limitation of AEPS?

1. Works only with Aadhaar-linked accounts
2. Cannot be used for fund transfer
3. Requires debit card PIN
4. Available only in urban areas

Answer: A
Explanation: AEPS is Aadhaar-dependent; without Aadhaar seeding, it cannot be used.

Q14. Which of the following services is NOT available under AEPS?

1. Mini statement
2. Cash deposit
3. Aadhaar to Aadhaar fund transfer
4. Demand Draft issuance

Answer: D
Explanation: AEPS does not issue demand drafts.

Q15. Which of the following is the main objective of AEPS?

1. To promote credit card usage
2. To enable financial inclusion in rural areas
3. To replace internet banking
4. To promote foreign remittances

Answer: B
Explanation: AEPS was designed to provide banking access in rural/remote areas.

Q16. Which authentication factor is used in AEPS?

1. Two-factor authentication with OTP and PIN
2. Aadhaar number + biometric (fingerprint/iris)
3. Debit card + CVV
4. Username + password

Answer: B
Explanation: AEPS uses Aadhaar-based biometric authentication.

Q17. Which of the following is true about AEPS interoperability?

1. Works only within the same bank
2. Works across all Aadhaar-linked banks
3. Works only with government banks
4. Works only with private banks

Answer: B
Explanation: AEPS is interoperable across all Aadhaar-enabled banks.

Q18. Which of the following is the correct full form of AEPS?

1. Aadhaar Enabled Payment System
2. Aadhaar Electronic Payment Service
3. Aadhaar Enrolled Payment Setup
4. Aadhaar Enabled Processing System

Answer: A
Explanation: AEPS = Aadhaar Enabled Payment System.

Conclusion

AEPS is a cornerstone of India’s digital banking revolution. It empowers citizens, especially in underserved regions, to access banking services with ease. For banking aspirants, mastering AEPS means understanding both its technical framework and its socio-economic impact.

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