Jyothi, M NM NJyothiRashmi, K SK SRashmiReddy, B SB SReddy2025-08-202025-08-202025https://gnanaganga.alliance.edu.in/handle/123456789/8527This thesis presents an in-depth legal study of the evolving electronic banking (e-banking) landscape in India, with special reference to data protection and cyber security frameworks. Grounded in doctrinal methodology, the research critically examines the interplay between technological innovation in banking services and the adequacy of the legal and regulatory mechanisms that govern this transformation. Beginning with a historical overview, the study traces the evolution of India‟s banking system from informal indigenous credit systems and colonial banking institutions to the modern technology-driven financial ecosystem shaped by the 1991 LPG reforms. The research highlights how liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation catalysed the shift toward digitized financial services, enabling the emergence of core banking solutions, ATMs, internet banking, mobile applications and real-time payment systems such as UPI. These advancements brought accessibility, convenience and inclusivity but also introduced substantial legal and operational challenges, including data breaches, cyber fraud, identity theft and digital consumer vulnerability. Through detailed examination of legislative instruments such as the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, alongside regulatory initiatives of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the study explores the scope, efficiency and limitations of India‟s legal framework. This thesis also investigates international instruments like the Budapest Convention, OECD Guidelines and APEC Privacy Framework to provide a comparative legal perspective. It emphasizes that cyber security and data protection are not merely technical issues but integral legal imperatives for consumer trust, institutional accountability and economic stability. Further, the thesis analyses judicial interpretations and regulatory developments to evaluate how courts and agencies respond to emerging threats in digital banking. By evaluating the Indian legal framework‟s efficiency to safeguard consumers in an increasingly digitised financial environment, the study identifies gaps in enforcement, institutional infrastructure and public awareness. It recommends comprehensive legal reforms, centralized enforcement mechanisms and enhanced regulatory coordination. Ultimately, the thesis asserts that the sustainability of India‟s digital banking ecosystem depends on embedding robust legal protections for data and cyber security within a rights-based and institutionally vigilant framework.enLawCyber SecurityElectronic BankingData ProtectionIndiatext::thesis::doctoral thesis