HomeCirculars › RBI/2005-2006/424

CRR Floor Removed for StCBs and RRBs; Rate Unchanged at 5%

No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2005-2006/424 · issued 22 Jun 2006 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI has removed the statutory minimum CRR of 3% for StCBs and RRBs effective June 22, 2006. The CRR rate remains at 5% of demand and time liabilities, and no interest will be paid on CRR balances from the fortnight starting June 24, 2006.

What changed

The Reserve Bank of India (Amendment) Bill, 2006 removed the floor rate of 3% for CRR under Section 42(1) of the RBI Act, 1934, giving RBI full flexibility to set CRR without any statutory minimum. Consequently, the earlier statutory minimum CRR of 3% no longer applies to Scheduled State Co-operative Banks and Regional Rural Banks. Additionally, sub-section (1B) of Section 42 was omitted, meaning RBI will no longer pay interest on CRR balances maintained by these banks.

What it means for you

For StCBs and RRBs, the removal of the CRR floor gives RBI greater monetary policy flexibility, but the immediate CRR requirement remains unchanged at 5%. The cessation of interest on CRR balances will reduce the return on these reserves, effectively increasing the cost of maintaining CRR for these banks. Banks must adjust their liquidity management to account for the loss of interest income on CRR funds.

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

All Scheduled State Co-operative Banks (StCBs), All Regional Rural Banks (RRBs)

❓ 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 CRR requirement for StCBs and RRBs after this circular?

The CRR requirement remains unchanged at 5% of total demand and time liabilities. The only change is that the statutory minimum floor of 3% has been removed, giving RBI discretion to set any rate.

Will RBI pay interest on CRR balances maintained by StCBs and RRBs?

No. With the omission of sub-section (1B) of Section 42, RBI will not pay any interest on CRR balances from the fortnight beginning June 24, 2006.

Does this circular affect the exemptions previously available for CRR maintenance?

The circular states that the existing exemptions continue to apply, as detailed in the separate notification RPCD.RF.No.6107/07.02.01/2005-2006 dated June 22, 2006.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2005-2006/424 RPCD.RF.BC. 93/07.02.01/2005-2006   June 22, 2006 All Scheduled State Co-operative Banks (StCBs) and Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) Dear Sir, Section 42(1) of Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 – Maintenance of CRR Please refer to our Circular RPCD.RF.BC.No 32/07.02.05/2004-2005 dated September 11, 2004.  2. The Reserve Bank of India (Amendment) Bill, 2006 has been enacted and has come into force with effect from June 22, 2006, with its notification in the Gazette. Consequent upon the amendment to sub-section (1) of Section 42 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, the Reserve Bank having regard to the needs of securing the monetary stability in the country, can prescribe the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) for scheduled banks without any floor rate or ceiling rate. The statutory minimum CRR requirement of 3 per cent of total demand and time liabilities no longer exists with effect from June 22, 2006.  In exercise of the powers conferred on Reserve Bank of India, it has been decided to continue the status quo on the rate of CRR to be maintained by Scheduled State Co-operative Banks/Regional Rural Banks and the extant exemptions, which will be operative till further changes are notified. Accordingly, Scheduled State Co-operative Banks and Regional Rural Banks shall continue to maintain CRR of 5 per cent of their total demand and time liabilities, subject to the exemptions as indicated in our circular RPCD.RF.BC. 94/07.02.01/2005-2006 dated June 22, 2006. 3. Further, as part of the amendments carried out to Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, sub-section (1B) of Section 42 of the Act has been omitted. Accordingly, the Reserve Bank will not be paying any interest on the CRR balances maintained by Scheduled State Co-operative Banks/ Regional Rural Banks with effect from the fortnight beginning June 24, 2006. 4.  A copy of the relative notification RPCD.RF.No.  6106/07.02.01/2005-2006 dated June 22, 2006 is enclosed.  5. Please acknowledge receipt to our Regional Office concerned. Yours faithfully, (K.Bhattacharya) General Manager RPCD.RF.No.6106/07.02.01/2005-2006 June 22, 2006 NOTIFICATION Consequent upon the amendment carried out to sub-section (1) of Section 42 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934), the statutory minimum Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) requirement of 3 per cent of the total demand and time liabilities no longer exists in respect of Scheduled State Co-operative Banks and Regional Rural Banks with effect from June 22, 2006. Further, in exercise of the powers conferred under the amended sub-section (1) of Section 42 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 and having regard to the needs of securing monetary stability in the country, the Reserve Bank of India hereby notifies that every Scheduled State Co-operative Bank /Regional Rural Bank should continue to maintain a Cash Reserve Ratio of 5 per cent of its total demand and time liabilities subject to the exemptions as envisaged in Notification No.RPCD.RF.No.6107/07.02.01/2005-2006 dated June 22, 2006. This is in partial modification of the notification RPCD.No.172/07.02.05/2004-2005 dated September 11, 2004. (V.S.Das) Executive Director
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2005-2006/424 · issued 22 Jun 2006. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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