Home › Circulars › RBI/2005-06/420

RRBs Advised to Consider National Building Code for Loan Policies

No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet

Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2005-06/420 · issued 22 Jun 2006 · ~1 min read

Quick answerRBI advises Regional Rural Banks to consider incorporating National Building Code (NBC) of India 2005 specifications into their loan policies for building safety, especially against natural disasters. Boards may consider this for adoption.

What changed

RBI advised RRBs to consider adherence to the National Building Code (NBC) of India 2005, formulated by BIS, covering safety, structural design, fire safety, and building services. This is a recommendation for loan policy consideration.

What it means for you

RRBs may factor NBC compliance into lending decisions, potentially affecting loan approvals for construction projects. This enhances risk management by reducing exposure to unsafe buildings, especially in disaster-prone areas.

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

Review current loan policies to consider including NBC of India 2005 specifications for building construction loans.
Train credit officers on NBC requirements for structural safety and fire safety.
Access further information from BIS website (www.bis.org.in).
Acknowledge receipt to the respective RBI Regional Office.

Who it affects

Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Borrowers seeking construction loans from RRBs, RBI supervisory teams monitoring RRB compliance

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

Decoded by BankPulse 2026-06-19 18:24 IST
repealed_by — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)
Status change: withdrawn 05 Aug 2026, 04:00 IST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 National Building Code of India 2005?

It is a comprehensive code by BIS providing guidelines for building construction safety, including structural design, fire safety, and disaster resilience.

Is adherence to NBC mandatory for RRBs?

The circular advises adherence and recommends Boards consider it for loan policies, but it is not mandatory; it is strongly advised for safety.

How does this affect existing loans?

The circular focuses on future loan policies; existing loans are not directly impacted.

📜 This document’s life story (1 recorded event, each backed by RBI’s own words)

Repealed by RBI/2025-26/100 — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)

RBI’s words: “Official withdrawal register entry #2639: RPCD.CO.No.RRB.BC.92/03.05.33/2005-06 — "Adherence to National Building Code (NBC) Specifications Necessary for Lending Institutions" dated June 22, 2006”

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI

RBI/2005-06/420
 RPCD.CO.No.RRB.BC.92/03.05.33/2005-06 
 June 22, 2006 
 The Chairman
 All Regional Rural Banks 
 Dear Sir, 
 Adherence to National Building Code (NBC) specifications necessary for lending Institutions 
 Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has formulated a comprehensive building Code namely National Building Code (NBC) of India 2005, providing guidelines for regulating the building construction activities across the country. The Code contains all the important aspects relevant to safe and orderly building development such as administrative regulations, development control rules and general building requirements; fire safety requirements; stipulations regarding materials, structural design and construction (including safety); and building and plumbing services. 

 2. Adherence to NBC will be advisable in view of the importance of safety of buildings especially against natural disasters. The Boards of RRBs may consider this aspect for incorporation in their loan policies. 

 3. Further information regarding the NBC can be accessed from the website of Bureau of Indian Standards ( www.bis.org.in ). 

 4. Please acknowledge receipt to our concerned Regional Office. 
 Yours faithfully, 
 (G.Srinivasan) 
 Chief General Manager

Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2005-06/420 · issued 22 Jun 2006. 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=2921&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.