No longer current — replaced by Non-Banking Financial Companies Auditor's Report (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2016
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2005-06/33 · issued 01 Jul 2005 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI consolidated its 1998 directions for NBFC auditors into a master circular as of June 30, 2005. Auditors must separately report on registration status, public deposit compliance, credit rating validity and limit, prudential norms, capital adequacy, liquidity, returns, and branch/agent compliance for every financial year.
What changed
RBI issued a master circular consolidating the Non-Banking Financial Companies Auditor’s Report Directions, 1998, incorporating all amendments up to June 30, 2005. The original directions from January 2, 1998 remain in force with no new substantive changes; this is purely a compilation exercise.
What it means for you
NBFC auditors must submit a separate report to the board covering registration under Section 45IA, public deposit limits, credit rating validity and limit, prudential norms compliance, capital adequacy ratio, liquidity requirements, half-yearly and deposit returns, and any defaults. For lenders, this ensures consistent audit scrutiny of NBFC compliance, reducing regulatory risk in exposures.
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
Verify that your NBFC auditor includes the separate report mandated under these directions for each financial year, covering all items in paragraphs 3 and 4.
Ensure your NBFC has applied for or obtained RBI registration as per Section 45IA and that the auditor confirms this.
Monitor public deposit levels against permissible limits, credit rating conditions, prudential norms, capital adequacy, liquidity, and returns, and have auditors report any breaches.
Review your NBFC's compliance with the 1998 Directions and update internal audit checklists accordingly.
Who it affects
All Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) as defined in Section 45I(f) of the RBI Act, 1934, Auditors of NBFCs, Lenders and investors relying on NBFC audit reports
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
Does this master circular introduce new requirements for NBFC auditors?
No, it consolidates the existing 1998 directions with amendments up to June 30, 2005. No new requirements are added.
What must an NBFC auditor report specifically under these directions?
The auditor must report on registration status, whether public deposits are within permissible limits, credit rating validity, and any defaults in deposit repayment.
Are all NBFCs covered by these auditor directions?
Yes, the directions apply to every auditor of any NBFC as defined in Section 45I(f) of the RBI Act, 1934.
📜 This document’s life story (1 recorded event, each backed by RBI’s own words)
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2005-06/33
DNBS (PD) CC No. 54 / 02.01/ 2005-06
July 1, 2005
To
The Chairman/CEOs of all Non-Banking Financial Companies
(as defined in Section 45 I (f) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934)
Dear Sir,
Master Circular – 'Non-Banking Financial
Companies Auditor’s Report (Reserve Bank) Directions, 1998'
The directions to auditor of a Non-Banking Financial
Company were issued by Reserve Bank of India on January 2, 1998 , vide
Notification No.DFC. 117 /DG (SPT)-98. The said Notification duly updated
with amendments made from time to time, if any, as on June 30, 2005 is reproduced
below.
Yours faithfully,
(D.S. Nagi)
Chief General Manager
RESERVE BANK OF INDIA
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL COMPANIES
CENTRAL OFFICE
15, NETAJI SUBHAS ROAD
POST BOX NO.571
CALCUTTA 700 001
Non-Banking Financial Companies Auditor’s Report (Reserve Bank)
Directions, 1998
Notification No.DFC. 117 /DG(SPT)-98 dated the January 2, 1998.
In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1A) of
section 45MA of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934), Reserve Bank
of India, hereby, gives to every auditor the directions hereinafter specified.
1. Short title, application and commencement of the directions
(1) These directions shall be known as 'Non-Banking
Financial Companies Auditor’s Report (Reserve Bank) Directions, 1998.'
(2) These directions shall apply to every auditor of a non-banking
financial company as defined in Section 45I(f) of the Reserve Bank of India
Act, 1934 (2 of 1934).
(3) These directions shall come into force with effect from
January 2, 1998.
2. Auditor’s Report to contain matters specified
in paragraphs 3 and 4
In addition to every report made by the auditor under Section
227 of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) on the accounts of a non-banking
financial company examined by him for every financial year ending on any day
on or after the commencement of these directions, the auditor shall also make
a separate report to the Board of Directors of the Company on the matters specified
in paragraphs 3 and 4 below.
3. Matters to be included in the auditor’s report
The auditor’s report on the accounts of a non-banking financial
company shall include a statement on the following matters, namely, :
(A) In the case of all non-banking financial companies
whether the company has applied for registration as provided
in Section 45IA of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934), if it is
a company incorporated before January 9, 1997 and whether it has received any
communication from Reserve Bank of India about the grant of or refusal of certificate
of registration to it, and whether the company has obtained a certificate of
registration from the Reserve Bank of India if it is a company incorporated
on or after January 9, 1997.
(B) In the case of a non-banking financial company accepting/holding
public deposits
Apart from the matters enumerated in (A) above, the auditor
shall include a statement on the following matters, namely, :-
(i) whether the public deposits accepted by the company
together with other borrowings indicated below viz.,
(a) from public by issue of unsecured non-convertible
debentures/bonds;
[(ia) whether the public deposit held by the company
in excess of the quantum of such deposit permissible to it under the provisions
of Non-Banking Financial Companies Acceptance of Public Deposits (Reserve Bank)
Directions, 1998 are regularised in the manner provided in the directions;]
(b) from its shareholders by a public limited company
and
(c) any other type of deposit which has not been excluded
from the definition of ‘public deposit’ in the Non-Banking Financial Companies
(Reserve Bank) Directions, 1998 are within the limits admissible to the company
as per the provisions of the Non-Banking Financial Companies (Reserve Bank)
Directions, 1998;
(ii) whether the credit rating for fixed deposits of_________(mention
the rating) assigned by the Credit Rating Agency viz.,____________ (Name of
the agency) on ___________ (the date) is in force and the aggregate amount of
deposits outstanding as at any point during the year has exceeded the limit
specified by the Rating Agency;
(iii) whether the company has defaulted in paying to its
depositors the interest and /or principal amount of the deposits after such
interest and/or principal became due;
(iv) whether the company has complied with the prudential
norms on income recognition, accounting standards, asset classification, provisioning
for bad and doubtful debts, and concentration of credit/investments as specified
in the directions issued by the Reserve Bank of India in terms of the Non-Banking
Financial Companies Prudential Norms(Reserve Bank) Directions, 1998.
(v) whether the capital adequacy ratio as disclosed in the
return submitted to the Reserve Bank of India in terms of the Non-Banking Financial
Companies Prudential Norms (Reserve Bank) Directions, 1998 has been correctly
determined and whether such ratio is in compliance with the minimum Capital
to Risk Asset Ratio prescribed by Reserve Bank of India;
(vi) Whether the company has complied with the prescribed liquidity
requirement and kept the approved securities with a designated bank.
(vii) whether the company has furnished to the Reserve Bank
of India within the stipulated period the half-yearly return on prudential norms
as specified in the Non-Banking Financial Companies Prudential Norms (Reserve
Bank) Directions, 1998; and
(viii) whether the company has furnished to the Reserve
Bank of India within the stipulated period the return on deposits as specified
in the First Schedule to the Non-Banking Financial Companies (Reserve Bank)
Directions, 1998.
[(ix) In case of opening of new branches or offices
to collect deposits or closure thereof and in the case of appointment of agent,
whether the company has complied with the requirements contained in the Non-Banking
Financial Companies Acceptance of Public Deposits (Reserve Bank) Directions,
1998 contained in Notification No. DFC. 118/DG (SPT)-98 dated January 31, 1998] .
(C) In the case of a non-banking financial company not
accepting public deposits
Apart from the aspects enumerated in (A) above, the auditor
shall include a statement on the following matters, namely, :
(i) whether the Board of Directors has passed a resolution
for the non- acceptance of any public deposits.
(ii) whether the company has accepted any public deposits
during the relevant period/year; and
(iii) whether the company has complied with the prudential
norms relating to income recognition, accounting standards, asset classification
and provisioning for bad and doubtful debts as applicable to it.
(D) In the case of a non-banking financial company which
is an investment company not accepting public deposits and which has invested
not less than 90 percent of its assets in the securities of its group/holding/subsidiary
companies as long term investments
Apart from the matters enumerated in (A) above, the auditor
shall include a statement on the following matters, namely, :
(i) whether the Board of Directors has passed a resolution
for the non- acceptance of public deposits;
(ii) whether the company has accepted any public deposits
during the relevant period/year;
(iii) whether the company has through a Board resolution
identified the group/holding/subsidiary companies;
(iv) whether the cost of investments made in group or holding
or subsidiary companies is not less than 90 percent of the cost of the total
assets of the company at any point of time throughout the accounting period/year.
(v) whether the company has continued to hold securities
of group or holding or subsidiary companies as long term investments and has
not traded in those investments during the accounting year/period.
4. Reasons to be stated for unfavourable or qualified
statements
Where, in the auditor’s report, the statement regarding
any of the items referred to in paragraph 3 above is unfavourable or qualified,
the auditor’s report shall also state the reasons for such unfavourable or qualified
statement, as the case may be. Where the auditor is unable to express any opinion
on any of the items referred to in paragraph 3 above his report shall indicate
such fact together with reasons therefor.
5. Obligation of auditor to report to Reserve Bank of
India
Where, in the case of a Non-Banking Financial Company,
the statement regarding any of the items referred to in paragraph 3 above is
unfavourable or qualified, or in the opinion of the auditor the company has
not complied with the provisions of the Non-Banking Financial Companies (Reserve
Bank) Directions, 1998 or the Non-Banking Financial Companies Prudential Norms
(Reserve Bank) Directions, 1998 to the extent applicable to the said company
or the provisions of the Chapter IIIB of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934
(2 of 1934), it shall be the obligation of the auditor to make a report containing
the details of such unfavourable or qualified statements and/or about the non-compliance,
as the case may be, in respect of the company to the concerned Regional Office
of the Department of Non-Banking Supervision of the Reserve Bank of India under
whose jurisdiction the registered office of the company is located as per Second
Schedule to the Non-Banking Financial Companies (Reserve Bank) Directions, 1998.
6. Applicability of Non-Banking Financial Companies
(Reserve Bank) Directions 1998
For the purposes of this Order, reference to the Non-Banking
Financial Companies (Reserve Bank) Directions 1998 shall include the Non-Banking
Financial Companies (Reserve Bank) Directions 1977 as in force for the relevant
period.
(S. P. TALWAR)
DEPUTYY. GOVERNOR
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2005-06/33 · issued 01 Jul 2005. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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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=2326&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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