HomeCirculars › RBI/2006-07/287

RBI Clarifies Extraordinary Circumstances for Floating Provisions Use

No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2006-07/287 · issued 13 Mar 2007 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI clarifies that floating provisions can only be used for specific provisions in extraordinary, non-recurring losses—not normal business risks. Banks need board-approved policies and prior RBI permission for such use.

What changed

RBI clarified the definition of 'extra-ordinary circumstances' under which banks can use floating provisions for specific provisions. These circumstances are now categorized into General (e.g., civil unrest, natural calamities, pandemics), Market (e.g., systemic market meltdown), and Credit (only exceptional credit losses). Banks must have board-approved policies aligned with these parameters.

What it means for you

Banks cannot dip into floating provisions for routine credit losses or standard business fluctuations. This ensures floating provisions remain a buffer for truly rare, systemic shocks. Lenders must tighten internal policies to distinguish between ordinary and extraordinary losses, and seek RBI approval before using these provisions.

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 Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs), Bank boards and risk management committees, Credit and provisioning teams

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).

Can we use floating provisions for a spike in NPAs due to a sector downturn?

No, unless the downturn qualifies as an extraordinary, non-recurring event like a systemic market meltdown. Routine sectoral stress is not covered.

Do we need RBI approval every time we want to use floating provisions?

Yes, prior permission from RBI is mandatory, along with board approval, even if the loss falls under the defined extraordinary categories.

📜 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Repealed by RBI/2025-26/100 — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)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 #2491: DBOD.NO.BP.BC.68/21.04.048/2006-07 — "Prudential Norms on Creation and Utilisation of Floating Provisions" dated March 13, 2007”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2006-07/287 DBOD.NO.BP.BC.68/21.04.048/2006-07 March 13, 2007 All Scheduled Commercial Banks (Excluding RRBs) Dear Sir, Prudential norms on creation and utilisation of floating provisions Please refer to Para 2(i) of Circular  DBOD.No.BP.BC.89/21.04.048/2005-06 dated June 22, 2006  on the captioned subject in terms of which banks can use the floating provisions only for contingencies under extra-ordinary circumstances for making specific provisions in impaired accounts after obtaining board's approval and with prior permission of RBI.  2. To facilitate banks' boards to evolve suitable policies in this regard, it is clarified that the extra-ordinary circumstances mentioned in our above circular refer to losses which do not arise in the normal course of business and are exceptional and non-recurring in nature.  These extra-ordinary circumstances could broadly fall under three categories viz. General, Market and Credit.  Under general category, there can be situations where bank is put unexpectedly to loss due to events such as civil unrest or collapse of currency in a country.  Natural calamities and pandemics may also be included in the general category. Market category would include events such as a general melt down in the markets, which affects the entire financial system.  Among the credit category, only exceptional credit losses would be considered as an extra-ordinary circumstance.  3. The boards of banks may lay down appropriate policies based on the above parameters. 4. Please acknowledge receipt. Yours faithfully, (Prashant Saran) Chief General Manager-in-Charge
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2006-07/287 · issued 13 Mar 2007. 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=3334&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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