KCC Scheme Expanded to Cover Term Loans for Allied Activities
Current & verified — this is the latest version
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2004-05/204 · issued 04 Oct 2004 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI has revised the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme to include term loans for agriculture and allied activities, moving beyond short-term crop loans. This single-window approach covers investment credit, working capital, and a consumption component, reducing farmers' need for separate loan applications.
The rule, in the simplest words
Farmers can now get term loans (loans for things like buying cows or fishing boats that you pay back over a long time) for farming and related work through their Kisan Credit Card (KCC), not just short-term crop loans.
The KCC passbook is split into three parts: one for short-term crop loans, one for working capital (money for day-to-day costs), and one for term credit (longer loans for big purchases).
Banks must check the farmer's whole income from the farm and all their existing loans before deciding how much total credit to give under the KCC.
How it plays out — a real example
An agri & priority-sector lending officer in Indore, Priya, is helping a farmer named Ravi who already has a KCC for his wheat crop. Under the new rule, Priya can now add a term loan to Ravi's same KCC to buy a dairy cow, so Ravi doesn't have to fill out separate paperwork. She checks Ravi's total farm income and his existing loan payments to make sure he can afford the new loan, then updates his passbook with a new section for the term credit.
What changed
Previously, KCC only covered short-term crop loans; farmers had to approach banks separately for investment credit. Now, the revised scheme allows term loans for agriculture and allied activities (e.g., livestock, fisheries) and working capital to be provided through the same KCC. The passbook is split into three sections for short-term, working capital, and term credit records.
What it means for you
Banks can now offer a comprehensive credit package under KCC, simplifying farmer access and reducing their transaction costs. This expands banks' agricultural lending portfolio by bundling term loans with existing crop loans, potentially increasing credit uptake. However, banks must assess repayment capacity more holistically, considering total loan burden including existing obligations.
What you must do
Update internal KCC product guidelines to include term loans for agriculture and allied activities as per NABARD's revised model scheme.
Train branch staff on the new single-window approach, including passbook segmentation for short-term, working capital, and term credit.
Revise credit assessment processes to evaluate whole-farm income and repayment capacity for combined limits.
Report monthly progress on KCC term loan implementation to RBI in the prescribed format.
Who it affects
All Scheduled Commercial Banks, Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), State Co-operative Banks/DCCBs/PACS, Scheduled Primary Cooperative Banks, Farmers and agricultural borrowers
❓ Common questions
What new facilities are covered under the revised KCC scheme?
The revised KCC now covers term loans for agriculture and allied activities (e.g., livestock, fisheries) and working capital, in addition to existing short-term crop loans. A consumption credit component may also be included.
How should banks manage the different credit facilities under one KCC?
Banks must divide the passbook into three separate sections for short-term credit, working capital, and term credit. Transaction records for each facility must be kept distinct to ensure clarity.
What is the basis for fixing the credit limit under the revised scheme?
The limit is based on the unit cost of assets, existing allied activities, and the farmer's repayment capacity considering total loan burden. It includes initial investment and recurring expenditure, with a revolving cash credit for working capital.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2004-05/204
RPCD. PLFS.BC. NO. 38 /05.05.09/2004-05
October 4, 2004
The Chairman and Managing Director
All Scheduled commercial Banks
Dear Sir,
KCC Scheme Revised
Please refer to our circular RPCD.PLFS.BC.NO 20/05.05.09/98-99 dated August
5,1998 advising you to introduce Kisan Credit Card Scheme on the lines of the
Model Scheme prepared by NABARD.
2.The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Scheme introduced in August 1998, has since stabilised,
with major share of crop loans being routed through it. At the inception of
the Scheme, it was envisaged that in due course of time, investment credit requirements
of farmers viz. allied and non-farm activities may also be covered under the
Scheme. Since these activities are currently outside the ambit of the KCC Scheme,
farmers have to approach the banks separately for their additional requirements
every time, entailing additional time and cost, and observing banks’ procedural
formalities including documentation.
3.Keeping the above in view NABARD has revised the Model KCC Scheme which is
enclosed for your information and necessary action.
4.The progress in this regard may be reported to us, on a monthly basis, in
the format enclosed.
Yours faithfully
(Hauzel Thangzamuan)
General Manager
Annexure
Scheme to cover term loans for agriculture & allied activities
under KCC
1. The Scheme
The Scheme shall be referred to as the 'Scheme to cover
term loans for agriculture and allied activities under Kisan Credit Card Scheme'.
2. Objectives
The Scheme aims at providing adequate and timely credit
for the comprehensive credit requirements of farmers under single window, with
flexible and simplified procedure, adopting whole farm approach, including the
short-term credit needs and a reasonable component for consumption needs, through
Kisan Credit Card.
3. Participating banks
The Scheme will be implemented by all Commercial Banks,
RRBs, State Co-operative Banks/DCCBs/PACS and Scheduled Primary Cooperative
Banks.
4. Nature of financial accommodation
The credit facility extended under the Scheme will be in
the nature of term loan and revolving cash credit for agriculture and allied
activities.
5. Quantum of limit
5.1 The Scheme will cover term credit as also
working capital for agriculture and allied activities, in addition to short
term credit limit presently available for crop/s according to extant instructions.
The banks may fix the quantum of credit for term and working capital limit
for agricultural and allied activities etc., based on the unit cost of the
asset/s proposed to be acquired by the farmer, the allied activities already
being undertaken on the farm, the bank’s judgement on his repayment capacity
vis-a-vis total loan burden devolving on the farmer, including his existing
loan obligations.
5.2 The initial investment in fixed assets and/or
working capital requirement/ recurring expenditure of the borrower may be
taken as the basis for fixing the limit. The working capital/recurring expenditure
limit may be in the form of a revolving cash credit. Banks may, at their discretion,
build in a component of consumption credit, keeping in view the family labour,
while fixing the overall ceiling amount that could be drawn under the Kisan
Credit Card. The total limit would have a relationship with the projected
net earning and the repayment capacity of the borrower.
6. Facilities thru' same card :
It is intended that both term as well as short term/working
capital credit facilities could be provided thru' single Kisan Credit Card.
The passbook currently provided to KCC holders may be divided into three separate
portions for maintaining the records of :-
short term credit/crop loans,
working capital credit for activities allied to agriculture, and
term credit.
Banks, however, may ensure that transaction records of different
loan facilities are kept distinct.
7. Flexibility in use of credit :
The borrowers would be eligible to avail of any or all credit
facilities given under KCC, as per their requirement. Term credit limit provided
under the card may be allowed to be utilized by the card holder for acquiring
one or more assets at his convenience as also need. Similarly, card holder may
also be given flexibility to utilize the term credit limit in one or more instalments
as per asset acquirement plan/phasing of the scheme. Banks may monitor proper
end use of credit.
8 . Security/Margin/Rate of Interest/Prudential
Norms :
Security, Margin, Rate of Interest and Prudential Norms will
be applicable as per RBI/NABARD stipulations. Further, banks may ensure :-
impairment of any loan facility is automatically detected;
automatic stoppage of withdrawal under different loan facilities even if
any one of the loan facility is impaired; and
proper system is in place to avoid misuse/mix-up of any one/different facilities
to take advantage in terms of security, margin, rate of interest and applicable
prudential norms.
9. Repayment Period :
Short term credit/crop loans as well as working capital for
agriculture and allied activities would continue to be provided as revolving
cash credit limit, repayable in 12 months. The term loan component will be repayable
within a maximum period of 5 years, depending on the type of activity/investment,
as per existing guidelines.
10. Renewal of working capital limit :
No change is envisaged in the existing guidelines for the crop
loan component. In respect of working capital credit limit for agriculture and
allied activities, Banks, on satisfactory operations on the limit, may enhance
the limit, where necessary, at the time of renewal, keeping in view the increase
in costs and additional activities, if any, undertaken by the borrower. Similarly,
banks may also sanction additional term credit limit to the borrower, at the
time of annual review/renewal of credit limits under the card.
11. Validity Period of KCC :
Coinciding with the introduction of term loan facility under
KCC, the validity of the KC Card may be extended from 3 years as at present
to 5 years.
12. NABARD Refinance
NABARD refinance for Short Term credit would be made available to cooperative
banks and RRBs covering the working capital component included in KCC.
NABARD refinance for term loan component would be available to Cooperative
banks, RRBs, Commercial banks and Scheduled Primary Cooperative Banks, as
per the terms and conditions applicable to investment credit window under
Automatic Refinance (ARF) Scheme.
NABARD refinance would, however, not be available for consumption credit
component.
KCC Scheme - Progress Report for the month of :
Agency :Public Sector/Private Sector Bank :
(A) Crop Loans :
Name of the Bank
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2004-05/204 · issued 04 Oct 2004. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Train branch staff on the new single-window approach, including passbook segmentation for short-term, working capital, and term credit.
📜 Compliance
Update internal KCC product guidelines to include term loans for agriculture and allied activities as per NABARD's revised model scheme.
Revise credit assessment processes to evaluate whole-farm income and repayment capacity for combined limits.
Report monthly progress on KCC term loan implementation to RBI in the prescribed format.
Grouped from the action items above — a single circular may involve more than one team.
Worked example & action-note template
Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (All Scheduled Commercial Banks, Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), State Co-operative Banks/DCCBs/PACS, Scheduled Primary Cooperative Banks, Farmers and agricultural borrowers), your first concrete step on “KCC Scheme Expanded to Cover Term Loans for Allied Activities” is: “Update internal KCC product guidelines to include term loans for agriculture and allied activities as per NABARD's revised model scheme.” (RBI issued this 04 Oct 2004).
Circular: RBI/2004-05/204 -- KCC Scheme Expanded to Cover Term Loans for Allied Activities
Issued: 04 Oct 2004
Action required: Update internal KCC product guidelines to include term loans for agriculture and allied activities as per NABARD's revised model scheme.
Action required: Train branch staff on the new single-window approach, including passbook segmentation for short-term, working capital, and term credit.
Action required: Revise credit assessment processes to evaluate whole-farm income and repayment capacity for combined limits.
Action required: Report monthly progress on KCC term loan implementation to RBI in the prescribed format.
Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
Evidence filed in compliance register on: ____________
Built only from this circular’s own published fields — not legal advice; always confirm against the official RBI source.
💬 Banker Discussion
Discuss this circular with fellow bankers — reply, upvote what helps, report what doesn’t belong. Be professional; no client data. Views are the commenter’s own, not BankPulse’s.
BankPulse Compliance Evidence Pack — generated 05 Aug 2026 · status cross-checked against RBI’s official withdrawal register (refreshed weekly). Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=1962&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by our expert reviewer, CA Amit Jain. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; is our own plain-English paraphrase, not RBI’s original wording.
Help us keep this accurate
Found an inaccuracy or have an improvement? Tell us. Every report is reviewed by our team before any change is made — nothing goes live unverified.
Public beta — plain-English informational summaries. Always verify against the official RBI source (circular number cited on every page) before making compliance, credit, treasury, audit, or operational decisions. · Join our WhatsApp channel ↗
BANKPULSE · FREE DAILY BRIEF
Get RBI updates for your role
Every important RBI update, decoded in plain English — for your career, exams & financial awareness.
We collect only your email, name and role, used solely to send your brief — never sold or shared. Withdraw anytime via the unsubscribe link in any email. Independent platform, not affiliated with the RBI. Information, not legal advice.
REPORT AN ERROR · BETA
Spotted an error? Earn 500 BankPulse Credits
Help us stay accurate. If your correction is verified true and approved by our founder, you earn 500 BankPulse Credits — redeemable when the platform monetises.
Reviewed by a human before any credit is awarded. We never change the site from crowd input without verification.
WANT A NEW FEATURE · BETA
What would make BankPulse more useful for you?
Tell us what to build next — a tool, a data view, a role page, anything. We read every suggestion.
Thank you — your ideas directly shape what we build.