The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has ordered all banks to remove dark patterns from their websites and apps. RBI has ordered to remove deceptive design tricks in apps and websites—by July 2026, aiming to protect consumers from misleading or manipulative practices.
What is Dark Pattern?
A dark pattern is a design trick used on websites or apps to confuse or mislead people into doing something they may not really want to do. For example, some apps keep extra services already selected, hide important charges in small letters, make the “Accept” button big and bright while the “Decline” button is small, or show fake messages like “Offer ending soon” to create pressure.
These tricks can lead customers to make wrong financial decisions. RBI wants banks to be clear, honest, and transparent so that customers can make proper choices without being misled.
Announcement by RBI
This announcement by RBI has been made following nationwide survey by LocalCircles, which received over 161,000 responses from 388 districts. This surgery revealed that dark patterns are widespread across online banking platforms. The survey found that most banks deploy 4-7 dark patterns on average, with basket sneaking, forced action, drip pricing, and nagging among the most common.
- Basket sneaking: 57% of users reported hidden charges added during checkout without clear consent.
- Forced action: 51% said they were required to sign up for unrelated services or provide extra personal data.
- Drip pricing: 64% experienced fees that were not disclosed upfront.
- Nagging: 46% faced repeated prompts to activate additional services despite previously declining them.
Other issues included subscription traps, bait & switch, interface interference, and trick questioning, with at least 4 in 10 users affected in each category. Consumers reported difficulties cancelling subscriptions, misleading offers, and confusing prompts while navigating banking apps.
The RBI’s draft “Responsible Business Conduct Amendment Directions, 2026” also prohibits bundling financial products and mandates explicit customer consent for all services. LocalCircles had escalated concerns over dark patterns to the RBI in September 2025 and again in January 2026 and now RBI has ordered Banks to remove dark patterns from their websites and apps.
