RBI Ombudsman Called As “रिज़र्वबैंक ओम्बड्समैन योजना 2021”

The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 mandates the establishment of Lokpal at the Union level and Lokayuktas at the State level to investigate allegations of corruption against public officials. The term “Lokpal” is exclusively designated for the body created under this Act and came into force on January 16, 2024, under Section 3 of the Act. However, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had introduced the Reserve Bank-Integrated Ombudsman Scheme (RB-IOS), 2021, which was erroneously translated into Hindi as “रिज़र्वबैंक-एकीकृत लोकपाल योजना, 2021.” Since “Lokpal” is legally reserved for the anti-corruption body under the 2013 Act, corrective measures were needed.

To ensure compliance, the RBI has officially renamed its scheme in Hindi to “रिज़र्वबैंक-एकीकृत ओम्बड्समैन योजना, 2021”, replacing “लोकपाल” with “ओम्बड्समैन” across all official documents.

Key Highlights

Lokpal and Lokayuktaas Act, 2013

• Establishes Lokpal at the Union level and Lokayuktas at the State level to investigate corruption cases.
• The term “Lokpal” is reserved for the body created under Section 3 of the Act.
• Came into force on January 16, 2024.

RBI”s Ombudsman Scheme & Translation Issue

• RBI launched Reserve Bank-Integrated Ombudsman Scheme (RB-IOS), 2021 for cost-free customer complaint resolution against RBI-regulated entities.
• Initially translated into Hindi as “रिज़र्वबैंक-एकीकृत लोकपाल योजना, 2021”, which conflicted with the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013.

Corrective Action Taken by RBI

• After intervention, RBI renamed its scheme in Hindi to “रिज़र्वबैंक-एकीकृत ओम्बड्समैन योजना, 2021”.
• The term “लोकपाल” was replaced with “ओम्बड्समैन” in all official documents.
• The correction aligns RBI’s scheme with legal provisions to avoid misinterpretation.

Impact of the Change

• Ensures compliance with the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013.
• Prevents legal and administrative confusion.
• Strengthens RBI’s commitment to clear and precise regulatory communication.