Risk Weight on Housing Loans Reduced to 50% for UCBs
No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2006-2007/373 · issued 04 May 2007 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI temporarily cuts risk weight on individual housing loans from 75% to 50% for UCBs, applicable to loans up to Rs 20 lakh. This eases capital requirements for lenders, effective from May 2007, with a review after one year.
What changed
RBI reduced the risk weight on residential housing loans to individuals from 75% to 50% for primary urban co-operative banks. This temporary measure applies only to loans up to Rs 20 lakh and will be reviewed after one year based on default experience.
What it means for you
UCBs can now hold less capital against qualifying housing loans, freeing up capital for more lending. This is a temporary relief aimed at boosting housing credit, but banks must monitor defaults closely as the dispensation may be reversed.
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
Update capital adequacy calculations to apply 50% risk weight for housing loans up to Rs 20 lakh.
Ensure loans are fully secured by mortgage of residential property to qualify for the reduced risk weight.
Track default experience on these loans for the one-year review period.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your regional RBI office.
Who it affects
Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, Borrowers seeking residential housing loans up to Rs 20 lakh
repealed_by — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)
Status change: withdrawn05 Aug 2026, 04:00 IST
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
What is the new risk weight for housing loans under this circular?
The risk weight is reduced from 75% to 50% for residential housing loans to individuals, but only for loans up to Rs 20 lakh and as a temporary measure.
How long will this reduced risk weight be applicable?
It is a temporary dispensation that will be reviewed after one year, based on default experience and other factors.
Does this apply to all housing loans or only specific ones?
It applies only to loans up to Rs 20 lakh that are fully secured by mortgage of residential housing properties.
📜 This document’s life story (2 recorded events, each backed by RBI’s own words)
Repealed byRBI/2025-26/100 — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)
RBI’s words: “Official withdrawal register entry #2444: UBD.PCB.Cir No.40/13.05.000/2006-07 — "Annual Policy Statement for the Year 2007-08 Residential Housing Loans : Reduction of Risk Weight-UCBs" dated May 4, 20”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2006-2007/373
UBD. PCB.Cir No. 40/ 13.05.000/ 2006-07
May 4, 2007
The Chief Executive Officers of
All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks
Dear Sir/Madam
Annual Policy Statement for the Year 2007-08
Residential Housing Loans: Reduction of Risk Weight-UCBs
Please refer to para 184 of the Annual Policy Statement for the year 2007-08 (copy enclosed).
2. In terms of our circular UBD.PCB.Cir.33/09.116.00/04-05 dated January 5, 2005 the risk weights on housing loans to individuals, which were fully secured by mortgage of residential housing properties, was increased from 50 per cent to 75 per cent for capital adequacy purposes.
3. It has now been decided to reduce the risk weight on the residential housing loans to individuals from the existing 75 per cent to 50 per cent as a temporary measure. This dispensation will be applicable for loans up to Rs.20 lakh and will be reviewed after one year, keeping in view the default experience and other relevant factors.
4. Please acknowledge receipt to our Regional Office concerned.
Yours faithfully,
(N.S.Vishwanathan)
Chief General Manager-in-Charge
Annual Policy Statement for the Year 2007-08
Residential Housing Loans: Reduction of Risk Weight
184. Under the standardised approach for credit risk under Basel II which is being implemented as per the schedule already indicated, the risk weight on residential property fully secured by mortgages is prescribed at 35 per cent, subject to fulfillment of strict prudential criteria. Keeping this in view and the fact that banks have been advised to tighten their credit administration in this area in particular, from time to time, it is proposed:
• to reduce the risk weight on the residential housing loans to individuals from the existing 75 per cent to 50 per cent as a temporary measure. This dispensation will be applicable for loans up to Rs.20 lakh and will be reviewed after one year, keeping in view the default experience and other relevant factors
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2006-2007/373 · issued 04 May 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=3481&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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