HomeCirculars › RBI/2009-10/368

Capital Instruments Balance Sheet Classification

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Issued by RBI: 30 Mar 2010  ·  Decoded by BankPulse: 20 Jun 2026, 16:18 IST
⏱ ~1 min read
📄 Official RBI source ↗
Quick answerRBI mandates uniform classification of capital instruments in balance sheets from FY ending March 31, 2010: PNCPS under Schedule 1-Capital; IPDI, hybrid debt, PCPS, RNCPS, RCPS, and subordinated debt under Schedule 4-Borrowings.

What changed

RBI observed non-uniform accounting practices across banks for classifying regulatory capital instruments. It has now prescribed specific balance sheet schedules for each instrument type, effective from the financial year ending March 31, 2010.

What it means for you

Banks must reclassify their capital instruments to ensure consistency in financial reporting. This enhances transparency and comparability for regulators and stakeholders. Non-compliance could lead to reporting discrepancies.

What you must do

Who it affects

All commercial banks (excluding RRBs), Finance and accounting departments, Regulatory compliance teams

Which instruments go under Schedule 1-Capital?

Only Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preference Shares (PNCPS) are to be classified under Schedule 1-Capital.

What instruments are classified under Schedule 4-Borrowings?

Innovative Perpetual Debt Instruments (IPDI), hybrid debt capital instruments, Perpetual Cumulative Preference Shares (PCPS), Redeemable Non-Cumulative Preference Shares (RNCPS), Redeemable Cumulative Preference Shares (RCPS), and Subordinated Debt.

When does this classification become effective?

It is effective from the financial year ending March 31, 2010.

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AI-drafted · 3-model AI consensus fact-check · under the editorial review of Vikram Jain · decoded & published by BankPulse · 20 Jun 2026, 16:18 IST
Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=5554&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by Vikram Jain. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; never reproduces RBI text verbatim.