Connect 2 Regulate

The Master Direction – Reserve Bank of India (Credit Information Reporting) Directions, 2025 outlines the framework for submission of credit information by credit institutions (CIs) to credit information companies (CICs), at fortnightly or shorter intervals. On a review, it is proposed to amend the extant instructions and transition to weekly incremental credit information submission by CIs to CICs along with measures to facilitate faster data submission and error rectification. Further, to facilitate aggregation of credit information by CICs, it is proposed to capture Central Know Your Customer (CKYC) number in a separate field in the reporting format of consumer segment. Accordingly, the Reserve Bank has released today, the draft Directions for public consultation.

Circulars on Large Exposures Framework (LEF) dated June 3, 2019, Large Exposures Framework – Credit Risk Mitigation (CRM) for offsetting – non-centrally cleared derivative transactions of foreign bank branches in India with their Head Office (LEF-CRM) dated September 9, 2021, and Guidelines on Management of Intra-Group Transactions and Exposures (ITE) dated February 11, 2014 prescribe prudential norms on a bank’s exposures to its counterparties as also those to its group entities.

The Gold Metal Loan (GML) scheme was introduced in 1998 to facilitate working capital finance to jewellery exporters in the form of raw gold imported by banks. The scheme has been liberalised over the years by, inter alia, allowing banks to extend GML to domestic jewellery manufacturers and also from the gold deposits mobilised under the Gold Monetization Scheme.

Extant instructions on capital adequacy for banks prescribe the Current Exposure Method (CEM) for computation of Counterparty Credit Risk (CCR). The Reserve Bank has reviewed these instructions to (i) clarify that banks acting as clearing members of SEBI recognised stock exchanges in the equity derivatives and commodity derivatives segments are required to maintain capital charge for CCR; and (ii) largely align the add-on factors for calculation of Potential Future Exposure (PFE) in the CEM for ‘Interest Rate Contracts’ and ‘Exchange Rate Contracts and Gold’ with the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) guidelines, reflecting the development and depth of the respective market segments since the guidelines were last revised in August 2008.

Reserve Bank of India has been reviewing and rationalising the regulations issued under FEMA, 1999 with an intent to promote ease of doing business. On a review, it has been decided to rationalise regulations pertaining to guarantees issued under FEMA, 1999. Salient features of proposed regulations are as under:

Under the provisions of Banking Regulation Act, 1949, nomination facility is available in respect of deposit accounts, articles kept in safe custody or safe deposit lockers. This is intended to facilitate expeditious settlement of claims or return of articles or release of contents of safe deposit locker upon death of a customer and to minimise hardship caused to family members. The extant instructions require banks to adopt a simplified procedure to facilitate expeditious and hassle-free settlement of claims made by survivors/ nominees/ legal heirs in case of deposit accounts up to a threshold limit, however, the procedures vary across banks. With a view to enhance customer service standards, it has been decided to streamline the procedures and standardise the documentation to be submitted to the banks. Accordingly, Reserve Bank has released today the draft circular in this regard for public consultation.

The Reserve Bank of India has, from time to time, issued several instructions/ guidelines to co-operative banks, i.e., Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs), State Co-operative banks (StCBs) and District Central Co-operative banks (DCCBs), related to permission for place of business, change of name and scheduling, etc.

The Reserve Bank has issued guidelines / instructions / directives from time-to-time governing internet and mobile banking services offered by various categories of banks. These services have evolved significantly since issue of the initial guidelines in 2001 as new and innovative digital channels / platforms have come into use. To facilitate sustainable growth of digital banking services, it has been decided to consolidate, strengthen, and update the existing instructions on use of digital channels for providing banking services including internet and mobile banking services by banks.  The draft Master Directions in this regard are being issued today for stakeholder feedback.

Reserve Bank of India introduced the EDPMS to monitor the realisation of funds against exports in February, 2014. In due course, the flow of shipping bills from the Customs Authority has been automated through ICEGATE and from January, 2022, data from ECCS (Express Cargo Clearance System) also started flowing into EDPMS. Further, postal exports bill data also started flowing into EDPMS from January, 2025.

Please refer to instructions at paragraph 6.1 of the circular captioned Inoperative Accounts/ Unclaimed Deposits in Banks - Revised Instructions, dated January 1, 2024. Reserve Bank has released today the draft circular on Inoperative Accounts/ Unclaimed Deposits in Banks – Revised Instructions (Amendment) 2025 which modifies the aforementioned instructions.