HomeCirculars › RBI/2005-06/82

RBI Flood Relief: Higher Consumption Loans for Maharashtra

No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2005-06/82 · issued 29 Jul 2005 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI directs banks to raise consumption loan limits to Rs 5,000 (branch manager can go up to Rs 10,000) without collateral for flood-hit Maharashtra borrowers, and to expedite restoration of banking services.

What changed

RBI issued a circular on July 29, 2005, allowing banks to increase the general consumption loan limit from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 without collateral for eligible persons in flood-affected areas of Maharashtra, with branch managers permitted to enhance it further to Rs 10,000 based on repayment capacity. Banks were also asked to consider financial assistance for repairs/reconstruction of dwelling units and for small road transport operators affected by the calamity.

What it means for you

Banks can now offer higher unsecured consumption loans to flood victims, easing immediate liquidity stress. This increases credit risk slightly but aligns with RBI's disaster relief framework; lenders must assess repayment capacity for amounts above Rs 5,000. The directive also pushes banks to restore branch operations quickly, which may require logistical and staffing adjustments.

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 commercial banks operating in Maharashtra, Branch managers in flood-affected areas, Borrowers (artisans, self-employed, traders, tiny and small scale industrial units, small road transport operators) in affected regions

❓ 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 maximum consumption loan amount without collateral under this circular?

The standard limit is Rs 5,000 without collateral, but branch managers can increase it to Rs 10,000 based on the borrower's repayment capacity.

Does this circular apply only to Maharashtra?

Yes, it specifically addresses the unprecedented rains and floods in Maharashtra, though similar principles may apply to other states under the master circular.

Are banks required to restore services immediately?

RBI has requested banks to take necessary action expeditiously to restore banking services in affected areas, though no specific deadline is given.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2005-06/82 RPCD. PLFS. BC. No. 23/05.04.02/ 2005-06 July 29, 2005 The Chairman/Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer All scheduled commercial banks Dear Sir, Guidelines for relief measures by banks in areas affected by unprecedented rains and floods in Maharashtra As you are aware, the State of Maharashtra has been affected by unprecedented rains and floods, resulting in heavy damage to life and property. The convenor bank of the State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) of the state has been advised to assess the situation and take immediate measures to provide appropriate relief to the affected people in terms of our standing guidelines,vide our Master Circular RPCD.No.PS.BC.6 /05.04.02-2005-06 dated July 1,2005 . In particular, we draw attention of banks to paragraph 26 to 30 of the said circular regarding financial assistance to artisan, self-employed, traders, tiny and small scale industrial units affected by the unprecedented calamity. 2. In terms of paragraph 25 of the above circular, banks may extend general consumption loans upto Rs.1000 to eligible persons in the areas affected by natural calamity in the states where the state governments have constituted risk funds for such lendings by commercial banks. In view of the situation prevailing in the state of Maharashtra, banks may consider increasing the limit of consumption loan to be provided to the affected persons in the state upto Rs. 5,000 without any collateral. This limit may be enhanced to Rs.10,000 at the discretion of the branch manager, depending on the repaying capacity of the borrower. 3. Banks may also consider provision of financial assistance for the purpose of repairs/reconstruction of dwelling units and also to small road transport operators including taxi, auto rickshaw operators affected by the calamity, keeping in view the viability of the proposals. 4. Banks are, therefore, requested to take immediate action in this regard and advise their controlling offices/ branches to provide appropriate relief to the affected persons. 5. Banks are also requested to take necessary action to expeditiously restore banking services in the affected areas. 6. Please acknowledge receipt. Yours faithfully, ( G. Srinivasan ) Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2005-06/82 · issued 29 Jul 2005. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=2400&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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