Revised Special Return III for Priority Sector Disbursal Data
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2007-08/357 · issued 04 Jun 2008 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI revised the format for Special Return III, requiring scheduled commercial banks to report priority sector disbursal data as on the last reporting Friday of June, starting June 2008, within two months.
The rule, in the simplest words
RBI changed the form (how the data is written) for Special Return III, which tracks how much money banks give to priority sectors (important areas like agriculture, small businesses, etc.)
Banks must fill out this new form for the last Friday of June each year and send it to RBI within two months (about 60 days) after that Friday
The forms for Special Return I (agriculture loans) and II (recovery of those loans) stay the same, so only the III form needs updating
Banks need to change their internal reporting systems (the bank’s own software and processes) so they can collect and send the data in the new format
How it plays out — a real example
A gold‑loan officer named Ramesh in Indore checks the new Special Return III form each June. He updates his office’s software to match the new format, then submits the priority sector disbursal data to RBI within the two‑month deadline, feeling confident that the bank stays compliant.
What changed
The format of Special Return III, which captures disbursal of advances to priority sectors, has been revised. Formats for Special Returns I and II remain unchanged. Banks must now use the new format for reporting data as on the last reporting Friday of June 2008 and onwards.
What it means for you
Banks need to update their internal reporting systems to align with the revised Special Return III format. This ensures RBI receives consistent and accurate data on priority sector lending disbursements, which is critical for monitoring compliance with priority sector lending targets.
What you must do
Obtain the revised format for Special Return III from the enclosed circular.
Update internal data collection and reporting processes to capture priority sector disbursal data in the new format.
Ensure data for the last reporting Friday of June 2008 is submitted within two months of the reference date.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to the RBI.
Who it affects
All scheduled commercial banks (excluding Regional Rural Banks), Priority sector lending monitoring teams, Bank compliance and reporting departments
❓ Common questions
What is the deadline for submitting the revised Special Return III?
Data must be submitted within two months from the reference date, which is the last reporting Friday of June each year, starting with June 2008.
Are there any changes to Special Returns I and II?
No, the formats for Special Returns I and II remain unchanged as per the circular.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2007-08/357
RPCD. Stat. BC. No.75 /11.01.04/2007-08
June 04, 2008
The Chairman/Managing Director
All Scheduled Commercial Banks
(excluding Regional Rural Banks)
Dear Sir
Monitoring bank advances to priority sectors - Special Return III – Disbursal of advances to priority sectors as on the last reporting Friday of June (Annual)
Please refer to our circular RPCD. Stat. BC. No. 18/11.01.04/2007-08 dated August 9, 2007 requesting you to furnish the data in the existing formats of Special Return I, II and III as on the last reporting Friday of June 2007.
2. The scheduled commercial banks are required to furnish data in Special Returns I – Direct finance to agriculture and allied activities (outstanding as well as disbursement), II – Recovery of agricultural advances and III – Disbursal of advances to priority sectors on a yearly basis as on the last reporting Friday of June of a particular year within two months from the reference date. On the basis of the revised guidelines on lending to priority sector, while there is no change in the existing formats of Special Returns I and II, the format of Special Return III stands revised. Accordingly, the revised format for reporting data for Special Return III is enclosed.
3. The banks are, therefore, requested to furnish data on priority sector advances, as mentioned above, in the required format for the year ending June 2008 (i.e. last reporting Friday of June) and thereafter.
4. Please acknowledge receipt
Yours faithfully
(G.Srinivasan)
Chief General Manager-in-Charge
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2007-08/357 · issued 04 Jun 2008. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Update internal data collection and reporting processes to capture priority sector disbursal data in the new format.
📜 Compliance
Obtain the revised format for Special Return III from the enclosed circular.
Ensure data for the last reporting Friday of June 2008 is submitted within two months of the reference date.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to the RBI.
Grouped from the action items above — a single circular may involve more than one team.
Worked example & action-note template
Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (All scheduled commercial banks (excluding Regional Rural Banks), Priority sector lending monitoring teams, Bank compliance and reporting departments), your first concrete step on “Revised Special Return III for Priority Sector Disbursal Data” is: “Obtain the revised format for Special Return III from the enclosed circular.” (RBI issued this 04 Jun 2008).
Circular: RBI/2007-08/357 -- Revised Special Return III for Priority Sector Disbursal Data
Issued: 04 Jun 2008
Action required: Obtain the revised format for Special Return III from the enclosed circular.
Action required: Update internal data collection and reporting processes to capture priority sector disbursal data in the new format.
Action required: Ensure data for the last reporting Friday of June 2008 is submitted within two months of the reference date.
Action required: Acknowledge receipt of this circular to the RBI.
Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
Evidence filed in compliance register on: ____________
Built only from this circular’s own published fields — not legal advice; always confirm against the official RBI source.
💬 Banker Discussion
Discuss this circular with fellow bankers — reply, upvote what helps, report what doesn’t belong. Be professional; no client data. Views are the commenter’s own, not BankPulse’s.
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=4225&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.
Help us keep this accurate
Found an inaccuracy or have an improvement? Tell us. Every report is reviewed by our team before any change is made — nothing goes live unverified.
Public beta — plain-English informational summaries. Always verify against the official RBI source (circular number cited on every page) before making compliance, credit, treasury, audit, or operational decisions. · Join our WhatsApp channel ↗
BANKPULSE · FREE DAILY BRIEF
Get RBI updates for your role
Every important RBI update, decoded in plain English — for your career, exams & financial awareness.
We collect only your email, name and role, used solely to send your brief — never sold or shared. Withdraw anytime via the unsubscribe link in any email. Independent platform, not affiliated with the RBI. Information, not legal advice.
REPORT AN ERROR · BETA
Spotted an error? Earn 500 BankPulse Credits
Help us stay accurate. If your correction is verified true and approved by our founder, you earn 500 BankPulse Credits — redeemable when the platform monetises.
Reviewed by a human before any credit is awarded. We never change the site from crowd input without verification.
WANT A NEW FEATURE · BETA
What would make BankPulse more useful for you?
Tell us what to build next — a tool, a data view, a role page, anything. We read every suggestion.
Thank you — your ideas directly shape what we build.