HomeCirculars › RBI/2006-2007/297

RBI bans loans for Kisan Vikas Patra purchases

No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2006-2007/297 · issued 29 Mar 2007 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI has directed all Regional Rural Banks to stop lending for buying Kisan Vikas Patras (KVPs) and other small savings instruments, as such loans defeat the purpose of promoting fresh savings among small savers.

What changed

RBI observed that some banks were sanctioning loans to high net worth individuals for acquiring KVPs, with a 10% margin from the borrower and 90% funded by the bank, followed by pledging the KVPs. The circular explicitly prohibits banks from granting any loans for acquiring or investing in small savings instruments, including KVPs.

What it means for you

Banks must immediately cease all lending for KVP purchases, as these loans merely shift existing bank deposits into small savings instruments rather than generating new savings. This directive reinforces the original intent of small savings schemes to encourage thrift among small savers, not to facilitate leveraged investments by wealthy individuals.

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

Regional Rural Banks, High Net Worth Individuals seeking leveraged investments in small savings instruments, Bank lending and credit departments

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

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

Does this ban apply to all small savings instruments or only KVPs?

The circular explicitly prohibits loans for acquisition of or investment in all Small Savings Instruments, including Kisan Vikas Patras.

What was the typical loan structure that RBI found problematic?

Borrowers brought in 10% of the face value as margin, and banks funded the remaining 90% as a loan, with the KVPs pledged as collateral.

Why did RBI consider these loans problematic?

Such loans do not promote fresh savings; they merely shift existing bank deposits into small savings instruments, undermining the objective of encouraging thrift among small savers.

📜 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 #2487: RPCD.CO.RRB.No.BC.61/03.05.33(E)/2006-2007 — "Grant of Loans for Acquisition of Kisan Vikas Patras (KVPs)" dated March 29, 2007”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2006-2007/297 RPCD . CO.RRB. No. BC. 61/03.05.33(E)/2006-2007 March 29, 2007 All Regional Rural Banks Dear Sir Grant of Loans for acquisition of Kisan Vikas Patras (KVPs) We have recently come across certain instances where banks had sanctioned loans to individuals (mostly High Net worth 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 our Regional Office concerned. Yours faithfully, (C.S.Murthy) Chief General Manager-in-Charge
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2006-2007/297 · issued 29 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=3378&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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