HomeCirculars › RBI/2004-05/243

CP Minimum Maturity Cut to 7 Days

No longer current — replaced by Master Direction - Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Paper and Non-Convertible Debentures of original or initi
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2004-05/243 · issued 26 Oct 2004 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI reduced the minimum maturity of commercial paper from 15 to 7 days, effective October 26, 2004. This gives issuers more flexibility for short-term funding and offers investors access to quality short-term instruments.

What changed

The minimum maturity period for commercial paper was reduced from 15 days to 7 days, effective immediately. Additionally, issuing and paying agents are now required to report CP issuances on the NDS platform by end of day, with the start date to be finalized later.

What it means for you

Banks and lenders can now issue CP for as short as 7 days, enabling finer tuning of short-term liquidity management. Investors get a new avenue for deploying surplus funds in high-quality paper with very short tenors. The move aims to deepen the CP market and improve transparency through NDS reporting.

Historical instruction — do not use for current compliance. This is what was required at the time; it no longer reflects current RBI requirements. If no replacement rule is linked above, that only means none is recorded on our register yet — it does not prove no later applicable rule exists. Confirm on the official RBI source below.

What banks were required to do at the time

Who it affects

Scheduled banks issuing or investing in CP, Primary dealers, All-India financial institutions, Issuing and paying agents (IPAs)

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).

What is the new minimum maturity for CP?

The minimum maturity has been reduced from 15 days to 7 days, effective October 26, 2004.

Do I need to report CP issuances differently now?

Yes, IPAs must report CP issuances on the NDS platform by end of day. The exact start date for this reporting will be announced later.

Does the maximum maturity of one year change?

No, the maximum maturity remains up to one year from the date of issue, as long as it does not exceed the validity of the issuer's credit rating.

📜 This document’s life story (1 recorded event, each backed by RBI’s own words)
Superseded by Master Direction - Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Paper and Non-Convertible D
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2004-05/243 Ref.No. MPD. 258/07.01.279/2004-05 October 26, 2004 Kartika 4, 1926 (S) The Chairmen/Chief Executives of All Scheduled Banks, Primary Dealers and All-India Financial Institutions Dear Sirs, Guidelines for Issue of Commercial Paper Please refer to paragraph 100 of the Mid-term Review of Annual Policy Statement for the Year 2004-05 dated October 26, 2004 (copy of the paragraph enclosed), indicating certain modifications to earlier guidelines relating to maturity period and reporting of the issuance of commercial paper (CP). The relevant guidelines are modified as under. 2. In terms of para 5 of the Master Circular No. MPD 251/07.01.279/2004-05 dated July 1, 2004, "CP can be issued for maturities between a minimum of 15 days and a maximum up to one year from the date of issue". On review, it has been decided to reduce the minimum maturity period of CP from 15 days to 7 days with immediate effect. This would give an option to issuers to raise short-term resources through CP as also to investors an avenue to invest in quality short-term papers. 3. A copy of the Notification MPD. No. 257/07.01.279/2004-05 dated October 26, 2004 , amending the earlier issued notifications, is enclosed. Yours faithfully, (Deepak Mohanty) Adviser-in-Charge Mid-term Review of the Annual Policy Statement for the Year 2004-05 Commercial Paper 100. With a view to developing the commercial paper (CP) market further, a status paper was placed on RBI website which was discussed with market participants as well as in the Technical Advisory Committee on money, foreign exchange and government securities markets (TAC). Taking into account the suggestions and market response, the following measures are proposed: In order to provide an option to issuers to raise short-term resources through CP as also an avenue to investors to invest in quality short-term papers, the minimum maturity period of CP is reduced from 15 days to 7 days with immediate effect. In order to provide transparency and also facilitate benchmarking of CP issues, issuing and paying agents (IPAs) would report issuance of CP on the negotiated dealing system (NDS) platform by the end of the day. The date of commencement of reporting would be finalised in consultation with market participants. With a view to moving towards settlement on T+1 basis, a Group comprising market participants would be constituted to suggest rationalisation and standardisation in respect of processing, settlement and documentation of CP issuance. Monetary Policy Department Central Office Mumbai – 400 001 Notification MPD. No. 257/07.01.279/2004-05 Dated October 26, 2004 In exercise of the powers conferred by Sections 45J, 45K and 45L of Reserve Bank of India Act 1934 (2 of 1934) and all the powers enabling it in this behalf, the Reserve Bank of India being satisfied that it is necessary in the public interest to do so, hereby directs that the "Guidelines for Issue of Commercial Paper (CP)" issued vide Master Circular No. MPD.251/07.01.279/2004-05 dated July 1, 2004 shall be further amended in the following manner with effect from October 26, 2004. Paragraph 5 may be substituted by the following paragraph Maturity CP can be issued for maturities between a minimum of 7 days and a maximum up to one year from the date of issue. The maturity date of the CP should not go beyond the date up to which the credit rating of the issuer is valid. (Rakesh Mohan) Deputy Governor
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2004-05/243 · issued 26 Oct 2004. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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