🔹 NOVEMBER 2025
1. Trade Relief Measures, 2025 – For Exporters
Circular: RBI/2025-26/96 (14 Nov 2025) Short Note on RBI’s Latest Circ…
| Item | Key Point |
|---|---|
| Who? | Exporters with export credit outstanding on 31-08-2025 and Standard account |
| Period of relief | Dues between 1 Sept 2025 – 31 Dec 2025 |
| Term loans | Moratorium on principal + interest in this period |
| CC/OD | Interest recovery may be deferred; interest on simple interest basis |
| FITL | Deferred interest can be converted to FITL, repayable up to 30-09-2026 |
| Export credit tenor | Pre / post-shipment credit may be extended up to 450 days |
| Packing credit | Can be repaid from domestic sales / other legitimate sources |
| Asset classification | No downgrade; moratorium not treated as restructuring |
| Provision | Bank (RE) must make 5% general provision on eligible standard accounts by 31-12-2025 |
| Credit history | CICs to ensure no adverse impact on borrower’s credit history |
| Reporting | Banks to keep MIS and send fortnightly report via DAKSH |
🔹 OCTOBER 2025
2. Nomination Facility Directions, 2025
Circular: RBI/2025-26/95 (28 Oct 2025) – Effective 1 Nov 2025 Short Note on RBI’s Latest Circ…
| Item | Key Point |
|---|---|
| Scope | All banks; applies to deposit accounts, lockers, safe custody articles |
| Offer of nomination | Bank must offer nomination facility |
| Refusal | Customer may refuse, but bank must take written declaration; service cannot be denied |
| Acknowledgement | Bank must acknowledge nomination / change / cancellation within 3 working days |
| Printing | Passbook/Statement/TDR to show “Nomination Registered” + nominee name |
| If nominee dies before claim | Treat as no nominee for that share; follow RBI Deceased Claim Directions |
🔹 SEPTEMBER 2025
3. PDIs in AT1 Capital – Revised Limit
Circular: RBI/2025-26/85 (29 Sept 2025) Short Note on RBI’s Latest Circ…
| Item | Key Point |
|---|---|
| Instrument | PDIs (Perpetual Debt Instruments) issued in foreign currency / overseas Rupee bonds |
| Capital | Form part of Additional Tier 1 (AT1) |
| Applicability | Scheduled Commercial Banks, excluding SFBs, PBs, RRBs |
| New cap | Such PDIs allowed in AT1 up to 1.5% of RWA |
4. Lending Against Gold & Silver – Prohibited Loans
Circular: RBI/2025-26/84 Short Note on RBI’s Latest Circ…
Banks cannot grant:
- Loans for purchase of gold/silver (primary gold, jewellery, coins)
- Loans against:
- Primary gold / silver
- Financial assets backed by them – e.g. Gold ETF units, Gold Mutual Fund units
5. Deceased Claim Settlement Directions, 2025
Circular: RBI/2025-26/82 (26 Sept 2025) – Implement by 31 March 2026 Short Note on RBI’s Latest Circ…
Applicability: All commercial and co-operative banks (not PPF/SCSS/Govt schemes)
5.1 Threshold for Simplified Procedure
| Bank type | Threshold |
|---|---|
| Commercial banks | ₹15 lakh |
| Co-operative banks | ₹5 lakh |
5.2 Accounts with Nominee / Survivor
- Payment to nominee / survivor = full discharge of bank
- Required: identity, death certificate, check no court order
- No need for: Succession certificate / Probate / Indemnity (for any amount)
- Nominee is trustee for legal heirs
5.3 Accounts without Nominee / Survivorship
A. Claim ≤ Threshold (Simplified)
- Documents:
- Claim form
- Death certificate
- KYC of claimant
- Indemnity bond
- NOC from other legal heirs (if any)
- Legal heir certificate OR declaration by independent person
- No surety to be taken
B. Claim > Threshold
- Succession certificate OR
- Legal heir certificate / notarised affidavit
- Bank may take indemnity + surety
🔹 AUGUST 2025
6. Continuous Clearing & Settlement – CTS
Circular: RBI/2025-26/73 (13 Aug 2025) Short Note on RBI’s Latest Circ…
| Item | Key Point |
|---|---|
| Objective | Move from batch clearing to continuous clearing with settlement on realisation |
| Phase 1 | 4 Oct 2025 – 2 Jan 2026 |
| Phase 2 | From 3 Jan 2026 |
Sessions
| Session | Time | Main activity |
|---|---|---|
| Presentation | 10 AM – 4 PM | Banks scan & send cheques continuously |
| Confirmation | 10 AM – 7 PM | Drawee banks continuously confirm honour / dishonour |
Item Expiry Time
| Phase | Expiry |
|---|---|
| Phase 1 | End of confirmation session (7 PM) |
| Phase 2 | T+3 hours from cheque receipt time |
- If not confirmed within time → deemed approved for settlement
Settlement & Customer Payment
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Start | Settlement from 11 AM, hourly based on approvals |
| Dishonoured cheques | No settlement for them |
| Customer credit | Presenting bank to credit customer within 1 hour of successful settlement |
🔹 JULY 2025
7. New Districts – Lead Bank Responsibility
Circular: RBI/2025-26/68 (18 July 2025) Short Note on RBI’s Latest Circ…
| New District | State | Lead Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Keyi Panyor | Arunachal Pradesh | SBI |
| Bichom | Arunachal Pradesh | SBI |
8. Voluntary Pledge of Gold & Silver – Agri & MSME Loans
Circular: RBI/2025-26/66 (11 July 2025) Short Note on RBI’s Latest Circ…
- Loans where borrower voluntarily pledges gold/silver
- Up to the collateral-free limit under:
- Agricultural loans guidelines
- MSME lending guidelines
- Such loans do not violate collateral-free norms.
9. Basel III – New ECAI: CareEdge Global IFSC Ltd.
Circular: RBI/2025-26/65 (10 July 2025) Short Note on RBI’s Latest Circ…
| Item | Key Point |
|---|---|
| New ECAI | CareEdge Global IFSC Ltd. added |
| Use | Ratings can be used for non-resident corporates at IFSC |
| Applicability | Scheduled Commercial Banks & SFBs (not LABs, PBs, RRBs) |
Rating → Risk Weight
| Rating | RW |
|---|---|
| AAA | 20% |
| AA | 30% |
| A | 50% |
| BBB | 100% |
| BB & below | 150% |
10. Pre-payment Charges on Loans – Directions, 2025
Circular: RBI/2025-26/64 (2 July 2025) – Effective for loans sanctioned/renewed on or after 1 Jan 2026 Short Note on RBI’s Latest Circ…
10.1 Main Rules
| Category | Rule |
|---|---|
| Individuals – non-business loans | No pre-payment charges |
| Business loans to individuals & MSEs – Large banks, Tier-4 co-op, NBFC-UL, AIFIs | No charges |
| Same loans by SFBs, RRBs, Tier-3 co-op, State/Central co-op, NBFC-ML | No charges if loan ≤ ₹50 lakh |
| CC/OD closure before due date | Bank may levy charges as per policy, up to sanctioned limit |
| Pre-payment at bank’s instance | No charge allowed |
| Dual / special rate | Treatment as per floating-rate component policy |
| Disclosures | Charges must be clearly given in sanction letter, loan agreement, KFS |
| Retrospective | Charges already waived cannot be collected later |
🔹 JUNE 2025
11. DEA (Depositor Education and Awareness) Fund Scheme – Revised Operational Guidelines
Circular: RBI/2025-26/62 (25 June 2025) – Effective 1 Oct 2025 Short Note on RBI’s Latest Circ…
| Area | Rule |
|---|---|
| Registration | Banks to register in e-Kuber (DEA module); non-members via sponsor bank; give two email IDs |
| Authorised signatories | Bank to nominate officers; send resolution + specimen signatures |
| Transfer of unclaimed amounts | For inoperative accounts ≥ 10 years + interest; transfer in last 5 working days of next month |
| Claims | First 10 working days of month; one consolidated claim per month |
| Process | Bank pays customer first → then claims from DEA Fund (Form II auto-generated) |
| Returns & Certificates | Form I monthly; Rectification Form; Form III half-yearly recon; Annual Certificate by 30 Sept |
| Audit | Customer-wise records; checked by internal / concurrent and statutory auditors |
| Disclosure | Show as “Contingent Liability – Others” in Notes to Accounts; disclose closing balance |
12. Agency Commission for Government Business
Circular: RBI/2025-26/57 (16 June 2025) Short Note on RBI’s Latest Circ…
Revised rates from 1 April 2025
| Type of transaction | Unit | Commission |
|---|---|---|
| Govt receipts – physical | Per transaction | ₹40 |
| Govt receipts – e-mode | Per transaction | ₹12 |
| Pension payments | Per transaction | ₹80 |
| Other payments | Per ₹100 turnover | 7 paise per ₹100 |
13. Credit Facilities to SCs / STs – Master Circular
Circular: RBI/2025-26/56 (16 June 2025) Short Note on RBI’s Latest Circ…
Purpose: Increase credit to SC/ST borrowers, especially for self-employment / income generation.
Important Schemes
14. CRR – Phased Reduction
Circular: RBI/2025-26/46 (6 June 2025) Short Note on RBI’s Latest Circ…
RBI to reduce CRR by 100 bps to reach 3% of NDTL.
| Reporting fortnight starting | CRR |
|---|---|
| 6 Sept 2025 | 3.75% |
| 4 Oct 2025 | 3.50% |
| 1 Nov 2025 | 3.25% |
| 29 Nov 2025 | 3.00% |
🔹 MAY 2025
15. Exim Bank – LOC to Govt. of Mongolia
Circular: RBI/2025-26/37 (16 May 2025) Short Note on RBI’s Latest Circ…
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Amount | USD 700 million |
| Borrower | Government of Mongolia |
| Purpose | Crude Oil Refinery Plant |
| Agreement date | 16 Jan 2025 |
| Effective from | 6 May 2025 |
16. Digital Lending Directions, 2025
Circular: RBI/2025-26/36 (8 May 2025) Short Note on RBI’s Latest Circ…
Key Exam Points (simple):
| Area | Key Rules |
|---|---|
| Scope | Digital lending via apps/platforms (DLAs) by REs (Regulated Entities) or LSPs (Lending Service Providers) |
| RE–LSP (Regulated Entity – Lending Service Provider) | Must have written agreement; RE fully responsible for LSP actions |
| Disbursal | Funds must go directly to borrower’s bank account (no pass-through, except allowed cases) |
| Cooling-off | Borrower can exit by paying principal + proportionate interest within look-up / cooling period |
| KFS | Key Fact Statement and full loan details to be given digitally |
| Data access | Only need-based data; no access to contacts/call logs/gallery without specific consent |
| Data location | Store in India; if processed abroad, delete within 24 hours |
| Reporting | All DLA loans must be reported to CICs; DLAs to be reported via RBI CIMS portal by 15 June 2025 |
| DLG cap | Default Loss Guarantee cover max 5% of disbursed portfolio; invoking DLG does not reduce borrower liability; once invoked, cannot be reinstated |
🔹 APRIL 2025
17. PRAVAAH – Regulatory Approvals Portal
Circular: RBI/2025-26/34 (28 Apr 2025) Short Note on RBI’s Latest Circ…
| Item | Key Point |
|---|---|
| Meaning | Platform for Regulatory Application, Validation And Authorisation |
| Launched | 28 May 2024 |
| Direction | From 1 May 2025, all authorisation / licence / approval requests from REs to be made only via PRAVAAH |
| Features | User manual, FAQs, videos, application tracking; URL – pravaah.rbi.org.in |
18. Dispensation of ₹100 / ₹200 Notes through ATMs
Circular: RBI/2025-26/33 (28 Apr 2025) Short Note on RBI’s Latest Circ…
| Target date | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 30 Sept 2025 | At least 75% of ATMs to dispense ₹100 or ₹200 from at least one cassette |
| 31 March 2026 | At least 90% of ATMs to do so |
Applies to all banks and WLAOs.
19. Migration to “.bank.in” Domain
Circular: RBI/2025-26/28 (22 Apr 2025) Short Note on RBI’s Latest Circ…
| Item | Key Point |
|---|---|
| Objective | Improve trust & cybersecurity in digital banking |
| Domain | Exclusive “.bank.in” domain |
| Operator | IDRBT, authorised by NIXI/MeitY |
| Deadline | Banks to complete migration by 31 Oct 2025 |
20. Deposit Accounts of Minors
Circular: RBI/2025-26/26 (21 Apr 2025) Short Note on RBI’s Latest Circ…
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Opening | Savings/Term deposits for minors of any age via natural/legal guardian (mother permitted as guardian) |
| Self-operated | Bank may allow minors ≥10 years to open & operate accounts independently (limits as per RMP) |
| On becoming major | Take fresh signature, KYC, operating instructions; if guardian-operated, obtain balance confirmation from new major |
| Facilities | ATM/Debit, internet banking, cheque book etc. as per bank’s RMP |
| Overdraft | Not allowed; minor accounts must always be in credit |
| KYC | Follow KYC Master Directions, 2016 – CDD & monitoring |
| Policy update | Banks to update internal policies by 1 July 2025 |
21. Housing Finance – Master Circular, 2025
Circular: RBI/2025-26/16 (1 Apr 2025) Short Note on RBI’s Latest Circ…
21.1 Key Allowable Loans
- Purchase / construction of one dwelling unit per family
- Second house for self-occupation
- House to be rented due to posting / official accommodation
- Purchase of old house by tenant
- Slum improvement schemes
- Repairs / additions / alterations (supplementary finance)
- Top-up loans with pari-passu / second charge
21.2 Not Allowed
- Office buildings of Govt / Semi-Govt
- Public sector entities not registered as companies
- Projects funded mainly from Govt budget
21.3 Land & Intermediaries
- Land purchase loans only if borrower undertakes to build within time fixed by bank
- Land acquisition finance only to public agencies
- Term loans allowed to HFIs / Housing Boards / private builders for projects (not land purchase)
21.4 LTV & Risk Weight – Individual Housing Loans
| Loan amount | LTV (Loan-to-Value Ratio %) | RW (Risk Weight %) |
|---|---|---|
| Up to ₹30 lakh | ≤80 | 35 |
| >80 & ≤90 | 50 | |
| Above ₹30 lakh to ₹75 lakh | ≤80 | 35 |
| Above ₹75 lakh | ≤75 | 50 |
| CRE–RH (Commercial Real Estate – Residential Housing) | NA | 75 |
- Stamp duty / registration excluded from property cost (except houses ≤ ₹10 lakh).
🔹 MASTER CIRCULARS – APRIL 2025
22. Bank Finance to NBFCs
Circular: RBI/2025-26/15 (1 Apr 2025) Short Note on RBI’s Latest Circ…
22.1 Banks CAN
- Give working capital / term loans to RBI-registered NBFCs
- Finance second-hand assets financed by NBFCs
- Finance factoring companies (NBFC-Factors, NBFC-ICCs) meeting norms
22.2 Banks CANNOT
- Finance:
- Bills discounted by NBFCs
- NBFC investment in shares/debentures
- NBFC unsecured loans / ICDs
- NBFC loans to subsidiaries / group companies
- IPO or share purchase by NBFCs
- No bridge / interim loans to NBFCs
- No lending to NBFCs against shares as collateral
- Restrictions on guarantees for placing funds with NBFCs
22.3 Exposure Limits
| Type | Limit (of bank’s Tier I capital) |
|---|---|
| Single NBFC | 20% |
| Group of NBFCs | 25% |
| Gold-loan NBFCs | 7.5%, extendable to 12.5% if on-lent to infrastructure |
NBFCs not requiring registration may be financed based on purpose / risk / repayment capacity.
23. Lead Bank Scheme – Master Circular
Circular: RBI/2025-26/04 (1 Apr 2025) Short Note on RBI’s Latest Circ…
23.1 Origin & Aim
- Started Dec 1969 (Gadgil Group + Nariman Committee)
- Aim: Area approach – one bank as Lead Bank per district to improve rural credit, priority sector & development.
- Covers all districts, including metros.
23.2 Three-Tier Committees
| Level | Committee | Chair | Key role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Block | BLBC | LDM | Prepare/review Block Credit Plan |
| District | DCC | District Collector | Review FI, DCP, PSL |
| District | DLRC | District Collector | With MPs/MLAs; review implementation & grievances |
| State | SLBC | CMD/ED of convenor bank | Apex forum – ACP, CD Ratio, FI, DBT, digital payments |
23.3 Credit Planning Flow
- PLP by NABARD (district)
- Branch Credit Plan (BCP)
- Block Credit Plan (sum of BCPs)
- District Credit Plan (DCP) by LDM (approved by DCC)
- Annual Credit Plan (ACP) – State level, by SLBC, launched by 1 April
23.4 Important Focus Areas
| Topic | Imp Point |
|---|---|
| Banking penetration | Unbanked villages >5000 pop; NSFI 2019–24 – access within 5 km / hamlet of 500+ (hills) |
| CD Ratio | Target 60%; districts <40% need Special Sub-Committee (SSC) & Monitorable Action Plan (MAP) |
| DBT | Regular item in SLBC; Aadhar seeding; district-level grievance redressal |
| SAA | 2004 – restrictive parts removed; customer can approach any branch; No Due Certificate replaced by CIC + self-declaration |
| Farmers’ income | Plans aligned to goal of doubling income; regular item in SLBC/DCC |
| Digital payments | SLBC to pick pilot districts for 100% digital enablement |
23.5 Data (as on 31 March 2025)
| Item | Number |
|---|---|
| Districts under LBS (Lead Bank Scheme) | 782 |
| Lead banks | 12 PSBs + 2 Pvt banks (J&K Bank, ICICI Bank) |
| SLBC/UTLBC Convenors (State Level Bankers’ Committee Convenor) | 11 PSBs + 1 Pvt bank for 28 States + 8 UTs |
You may also refer to the RBI Master Circular and RBI Circular no. dor.cre.rec.23/21.08.008/2022-23 dated 19.04.2022 for more insights and the latest updates on current developments at the RBI.