HomeCirculars › RBI/2009-10/384

Internal Models Approach for Market Risk: RBI Guidelines

No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/384 · issued FY 2009-10 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI allows banks to use internal Value-at-Risk models for market risk capital, replacing the standardised method. This aligns capital charges with actual risk, but banks must first pass RBI's preliminary assessment and formal approval process.

What changed

RBI issued guidelines for banks to adopt the Internal Models Approach (IMA) for market risk under Basel II, effective from April 1, 2010. Banks can now use their own VaR-based models for general market risk, while continuing the Standardised Measurement Method for specific risk. RBI will assess banks' preparedness before approving migration.

What it means for you

Banks can reduce capital charges by using more risk-sensitive internal models, but must invest in robust risk management systems. The approval process is rigorous, requiring a notice of intention, preliminary assessment, and detailed model analysis. This shift encourages better risk measurement but adds compliance complexity.

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

All commercial banks (excluding RRBs and LABs), Risk management departments, Capital adequacy and treasury teams

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

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

Can banks use IMA for specific risk immediately?

No, initially banks can only model general market risk under IMA. Specific risk must still use the Standardised Measurement Method until capabilities are developed.

What is the first step to migrate to IMA?

Banks must send a notice of intention to RBI's Chief General Manager at the Mumbai central office. RBI will then conduct a preliminary assessment of the bank's risk management and modelling process.

Does adopting IMA for market risk require using advanced approaches for credit or operational risk?

No, banks have discretion to adopt IMA for market risk alone while continuing simpler approaches for credit and operational risk capital computation.

📜 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 #1733: DBOD.No.BP.BC.86/21.06.001(A)/2009-10 — "Prudential Guidelines on Capital Adequacy - Implementation of Internal Models Approach for Market Risk" dated April 7”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2009-10/384 DBOD.No.BP.BC.86 /21.06.001 (A)/2009-10 April 7 , 2010 The Chairmen and Managing Directors/ Chief Executive Officers of All Commercial Banks (Excluding  Regional Rural Banks and Local Area Banks) Dear Sir, Prudential Guidelines on Capital Adequacy - Implementation of  Internal Models Approach for Market Risk Please refer to our circular DBOD BP. BC. 23/21.06.001/2009-10 dated July 7, 2009, inter alia advising banks desirous of moving to advanced approaches under Basel II that they can apply for migrating to Internal Models Approach for market risk from April 1, 2010 onwards, provided they are adequately prepared. 2. Basel II Framework offers a choice between two broad methodologies in measuring market risks for the purpose of capital adequacy. One methodology is to measure market risks in a standardised manner as per the Standardised Measurement Method (SMM) which is being used by banks in India since March 31, 2005. The alternative methodology known as Internal Models Approach (IMA) is also available which allows banks to use risk measures derived from their own internal market risk management models. The permissible models under IMA are the ones which calculate a value-at-risk (VaR) - based measure of exposure to market risk. VaR-based models could be used to calculate measures of both general market risk and specific risk. As compared to the SMM, IMA is considered to be more risk sensitive and aligns the capital charge for market risk more closely to the actual losses likely to be faced by banks due to movements in the market risk factors. 3. The guidelines governing use of internal models for measuring the capital charge for market risk are annexed . To begin with banks in India may model general market risk and continue to use SMM for specific risk. However, banks should endeavour to develop capabilities to model specific risk including Incremental Risk. 4.  Banks interested in migrating to IMA for computing capital charge for market risk are advised to assess their preparedness with reference to these guidelines. As and when they are ready for introduction of IMA, they may first give Reserve Bank of India (RBI) (Chief General Manager-in-Charge, Reserve Bank of India, Department of Banking Operations & Development, Central Office, 12th Floor, Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, Mumbai - 400001), a notice of intention for the same. RBI will first make a preliminary assessment of the bank’s risk management system and its modelling process. If the result of this preliminary assessment is satisfactory, then RBI will allow the bank to make a formal application for migrating to IMA in a prescribed format, which would be made available to banks in due course. RBI will then perform a detailed analysis of its model with a view to approving the same. 5 . It may be reiterated that banks would have the discretion to adopt IMA for market risk, while continuing with simpler approaches for computation of capital charge for credit and operational risks. Yours faithfully, (B. Mahapatra)  Chief General Manager Encls: as above
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/384 · issued FY 2009-10. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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BankPulse Compliance Evidence Pack — generated 03 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=5574&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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