No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2005-06/302 · issued 17 Feb 2006 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI grants limited SLR exemption to non-scheduled UCBs with single branch or branches within one district and deposits up to Rs 100 crore, allowing them to park up to 15% of DTL in interest-bearing deposits with SBI, its subsidiaries, public sector banks, or IDBI instead of government securities.
What changed
RBI issued a circular on February 17, 2006, exempting certain small UCBs from maintaining SLR in prescribed assets. Eligible banks can now hold up to 15% of their DTL as interest-bearing deposits with specified banks instead of government securities. The exemption is effective immediately and valid until March 31, 2008.
What it means for you
Small UCBs facing difficulties accessing the government securities market or lacking expertise get temporary relief from full SLR compliance. They must use this period to build infrastructure, risk management, and human resources to handle market risks. This reduces immediate compliance burden but requires proactive preparation for eventual full SLR adherence.
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
Check eligibility: non-scheduled UCBs with single branch-cum-head-office or multiple branches within one district, and deposit base of Rs 100 crore or less based on fortnightly average DTL of previous financial year.
Place up to 15% of DTL in interest-bearing deposits with SBI, its subsidiaries, public sector banks, or IDBI to avail exemption.
Build adequate infrastructure, risk management practices, and upgrade human resources and technology to reduce market-related risks before March 31, 2008.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to the concerned Regional Office of RBI.
Who it affects
Non-scheduled Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, UCBs with single branch-cum-head-office, UCBs with multiple branches within a single district, UCBs with deposit base of Rs 100 crore or less
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-19 19:05 IST
repealed_by — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)
Status change: withdrawn05 Aug 2026, 04:00 IST
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
What is the deposit base threshold for eligibility?
The deposit base must be Rs 100 crore or less, determined based on the fortnightly average of DTL in the immediate preceding financial year.
How long is this exemption valid?
The exemption is effective from February 17, 2006, and will remain in force until March 31, 2008.
What should UCBs do during the exemption period?
UCBs should build adequate infrastructure, risk management practices, and upgrade human resources and technology to reduce market-related risks, preparing for full SLR compliance after the exemption ends.
📜 This document’s life story (1 recorded event, each backed by RBI’s own words)
Repealed byRBI/2025-26/100 — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)
RBI’s words: “Official withdrawal register entry #2700: UBD(PCB).Cir.No.31/16.26.00/2005-06 — "Banking Regulation Act 1949 (AACS) - Investments in Government and Other Approved Securities by UCBs - Exemption under ”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2005-06/302
UBD(PCB).Cir.No.31 /16.26.00/2005-06
February 17, 2006
The Chief Executive Officers of all Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks
Dear Sir /Madam
Banking Regulation Act 1949 (AACS)- Investments in Government and other approved securities by UCBs - Exemption under Section 24A
Please refer to our circular UBD.No.BR.Cir/42/16.26.00/200-01 dated April 19, 2001 on the above subject advising Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs) to maintain a certain percentage of assets under section 24 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (AACS) in the form of Government and other approved securities.
2. It has been represented by UCBs and their Federations that many UCBs are facing difficulties in making investments in government securities due to lack of access to the government securities market or necessary expertise in the matter. Taking this into consideration, it has been decided that limited exemption from the requirement could be granted to a class of UCBs. Accordingly, the non-scheduled primary (urban) co-operative banks, having single branch-cum-head-office or having multiple branches within a single district, having a deposit base of Rs.100 crore or less would be exempted from maintaining SLR in prescribed assets upto 15% of their DTL on keeping the required amount, in interest bearing deposits, with State Bank of India and its subsidiary banks and the public sector banks including Industrial Development Bank of India Ltd.
3. For the purpose of eligibility for exemption, deposit base of UCBs will be determined on the basis of fortnightly average of the DTL in the immediate preceding financial year.
4. The exemption will be applicable with immediate effect in respect of above categories of UCBs and shall be in force upto March 31, 2008. During this period UCBs should build up adequate infrastructure, risk management practices including human resource and technological up-gradation so as to reduce market related risk.
5. A copy of the notification UBD.PCB.6657/16.26.000/05-06 dated December 26, 2005 published in Part III Section 4 of the Gazette of India (Extraordinary) dated December 31, 2005 is enclosed.
6. Please acknowledge receipt to the concerned Regional Office of the Reserve Bank of India
Yours faithfully,
(N.S.Vishwanathan)
Chief General Manager in-Charge
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2005-06/302 · issued 17 Feb 2006. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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=2739&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.
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