PCI SSC Releases First Annual Report, Boosts India Engagement Amidst Digital Payments Boom

• PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) releases its first-ever annual report, highlighting increased focus on India and South Asia due to rapid digital payments growth.
• The report details broader governance representation with a 64-member global Board of Advisors and the launch of the India-South Asia Regional Engagement Board (REB) in August 2025.
• Indian and South Asian firms, including NPCI, HDFC Bank, Google, and Cred, now have a direct channel to influence future PCI standards through the REB.
• The report addresses the sharp rise in transaction volumes, speed, and complexity globally, with a specific focus on mobile payment security, e-commerce safeguards, and software security standards for India.
• PCI SSC introduced guidance on using artificial intelligence in payment environments and established an E-commerce Guidance Task Force to align security standards with real-world challenges.