HomeCirculars › RBI/2008-09/125

RBI Tightens NPA Norms for Derivative Exposures

No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2008-09/125 · issued 08 Aug 2008 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI now treats overdue receivables from derivative contracts as NPAs if unpaid for 90 days, impacting borrower-wise asset classification. Restructured contracts must be cash-settled at mark-to-market value. Banks must reverse unrealised income to suspense account after 90 days.

What changed

Overdue positive mark-to-market receivables from derivatives are now classified as NPAs after 90 days, triggering borrower-wise NPA classification for all funded facilities. Restructured derivative contracts require cash settlement of mark-to-market value on restructuring date. Unrealised income booked on accrual basis must be reversed to a suspense account after 90 days overdue.

What it means for you

Banks must closely monitor derivative receivables to avoid cascading NPA classifications across borrower relationships. Cash settlement on restructuring adds liquidity pressure on clients. Reversal of accrued income impacts profit and loss statements, requiring tighter provisioning and income recognition discipline.

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

Commercial banks (excluding Local Area Banks and RRBs), Foreign branches of Indian banks, Borrowers with derivative contracts and cash credit/overdraft facilities

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

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

What happens if a derivative receivable is unpaid for 90 days?

It becomes an NPA, and all other funded facilities to that borrower also become NPAs under borrower-wise classification.

How should restructured derivative contracts be treated?

The mark-to-market value on restructuring date must be cash settled. Any change in contract parameters counts as restructuring.

What should banks do with income already booked on overdue derivative receivables?

After 90 days overdue, reverse the income from profit and loss to a suspense account, similar to overdue advances.

📜 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 #2081: DBOD.No.BP.BC.57/21.04.157/2008-09 — "Prudential Norms for Off-balance Sheet Exposures of Banks" dated October 13, 2008”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI /2008-09 / 218 DBOD.No.BP.BC.57 / 21.04.157 / 2008 – 09 October 13, 2008 All the Commercial Banks (Excluding Local Area Banks and Regional Rural Banks) Dear Sirs, Prudential Norms for Off-balance Sheet Exposures of Banks Please refer to our circular  RBI/2008-09/125. DBOD.No.BP.BC.31/21.04.157/ 2008-09 dated August 8, 2008  on the captioned subject. 2. The issues regarding asset classification status of overdue payments in respect of derivative transactions and re-structuring of derivative contracts have been examined, and it is advised as under: 2.1 Asset Classification i) The overdue receivables representing positive mark-to-market value of a derivative contract will be treated as a non-performing asset, if these remain unpaid for 90 days or more. In that case all other funded facilities granted to the client shall also be classified as non-performing asset following the principle of borrower-wise classification as per the existing asset classification norms. ii) If the client concerned is also a borrower of the bank enjoying a Cash Credit or Overdraft facility from the bank, the receivables mentioned at item (i) above may be debited to that account on due date and the impact of its non-payment would be reflected in the cash credit/overdraft facility account.  The principle of borrower-wise asset classification would be applicable here also, as per extant norms. iii) In cases where the contract provides for settlement of the current mark-to-market value of a derivative contract before its maturity, only the current credit exposure (not the potential future exposure) will be classified as a non-performing asset after an overdue period of 90 days. iv) As the overdue receivables mentioned above would represent unrealised income already booked by the bank on accrual basis, after 90 days of overdue period, the amount already taken to 'Profit and Loss a/c' should be reversed and held in a 'Suspense a/c'  in the same manner as is done in the case of overdue advances. 2.2 Re-structuring of derivative contracts In cases where a derivative contract is restructured, the mark-to-market value of the contract on the date of restructuring should be cash settled. For this purpose, any change in any of the parameters of the original contract would be treated as a restructuring. 3. These instructions will also be applicable to the foreign branches of Indian banks. Yours faithfully, ( Prashant Saran ) Chief General Manager-In-Charge
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2008-09/125 · issued 08 Aug 2008. 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=4532&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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