HomeCirculars › RBI/2006-2007/290

RBI Bans UCB Loans for Kisan Vikas Patra Purchases

No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2006-2007/290 · issued 16 Mar 2007 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI has prohibited Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks from sanctioning loans for acquiring Kisan Vikas Patras (KVPs) or other small savings instruments, as such lending undermines the schemes' objective of promoting genuine small savings and thrift.

What changed

RBI observed that some UCBs were lending to high net worth individuals (HNIs) to buy KVPs, with a 10% margin and 90% loan, then pledging the KVPs as collateral. The circular explicitly bans all loans for acquiring or investing in KVPs and other small savings instruments, effective immediately.

What it means for you

UCBs must immediately stop any lending product designed to fund purchases of KVPs or similar small savings instruments. This closes a loophole where bank credit was used to shift existing savings from deposits to small savings, rather than generating new savings. Non-compliance could invite regulatory action.

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 Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs), Branches and credit departments of UCBs, High Net Worth Individuals (HNIs) who previously accessed such loans

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

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

Does this circular apply to loans for other small savings instruments besides KVPs?

Yes, the circular explicitly states that banks must ensure no loans are sanctioned for acquisition of or investing in 'Small Savings Instruments including Kisan Vikas Patras'.

What was the typical loan structure that RBI found problematic?

RBI found that some UCBs required borrowers to bring in 10% of the KVP face value as margin, then treated the remaining 90% as a loan, with the KVP pledged as collateral.

What should we do if we have existing KVP loans on our books?

The circular does not explicitly address existing loans, but you should review them for compliance and consult your Regional Office for guidance on any remedial actions.

📜 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 #2489: UBD.(PCB).BPD.Cir. No.33/13.05.000/2006-07 — "Grant of Loans for Acquisition of Kisan Vikas Patras (KVPs) - UCBs" dated March 16, 2007”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2006-2007/290 UBD. (PCB). BPD.Cir No: 33 /13.05.000/2006 March 16, 2007 The Chief Executive Officers of All Primary (urban) Co-operative Banks Dear Sir/Madam, Grant of Loans for acquisition of Kisan Vikas Patras (KVPs) - UCBs We have recently come across certain instances where banks had sanctioned loans to individuals (mostly High Networth Individuals-HNIs) for acquisition of Kisan Vikas Patras (KVPs).  The HNIs were first required to bring in 10% of the total face value of the proposed investment in the KVPs as margin and the remaining 90% of the investment was treated as loan and funded by the bank for acquisition of the KVPs. Once the KVPs were acquired in the borrower’s name, the same were pledged thereafter to the bank.  2. The sanction of loans as described above is not in conformity with the objectives of small savings schemes.  As banks may be aware, the basic objective of small savings schemes is to provide a secure avenue of savings for small savers and promote savings, as well as to inculcate the habit of thrift among the people.  The grant of loans for acquiring/investing in KVPs does not promote fresh savings and, rather, channelises the existing savings in the form of bank deposits to small savings instruments and thereby defeats the very purpose of such schemes. Banks may therefore ensure that no loans are sanctioned for acquisition of/investing in Small Savings Instruments including Kisan Vikas Patras. 3. Please acknowledge receipt to the Regional Office concerned. Yours faithfully, (N.S.Vishwanathan) Chief General Manager in-Charge
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2006-2007/290 · issued 16 Mar 2007. 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=3349&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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