No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/5 · issued 01 Jul 2009 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI issued Master Circular DNBS (PD) CC No.147/03. 02.01/ 2009-10 consolidating all instructions on NBFC returns specifications as of June 30, 2009. It requires quarterly returns in Forms NBS-3 or NBS-3A within 15 days of the month succeeding the quarter, certified and signed by an authorized official as true and correct, and submitted to the Regional Office of Department of Supervision (Financial Companies Wing) of RBI under whose jurisdiction the registered office is situated.
What changed
RBI updated the Master Circular on NBFC Returns Specifications to include all instructions up to June 30, 2009, updating the earlier Master Circular No. 119. The circular reaffirms that NBFCs (excluding residuary non-banking companies) must file quarterly returns in Form NBS-3, while residuary non-banking companies use Form NBS-3A. It also specifies that residuary non-banking companies must maintain assets equal to 10% of deposits outstanding at the close of business on the last working day of the second preceding quarter.
What it means for you
NBFCs must ensure timely and accurate quarterly return filing to avoid compliance gaps. The 10% asset maintenance requirement for residuary non-banking companies remains unchanged, impacting their liquidity planning. Banks lending to or dealing with NBFCs should verify their counterparties' compliance with these reporting norms to assess regulatory health.
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
Ensure your NBFC clients submit quarterly returns in Form NBS-3 or NBS-3A within 15 days of the month succeeding the quarter.
Verify that returns are certified and signed by an authorized official of the company as true and correct.
Confirm that residuary non-banking companies maintain assets at 10% of deposits from the second preceding quarter.
Check that returns are filed with the Regional Office of Department of Supervision (Financial Companies Wing) of RBI based on the registered office location.
Who it affects
All Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) accepting public deposits, Residuary Non-Banking Companies (RNBCs), RBI Department of Non-Banking Supervision, Banks with exposure to NBFCs
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-19 09:45 IST
repealed_by — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)
Status change: withdrawn03 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 deadline for submitting the quarterly return?
The quarterly return must be submitted within 15 days of the month succeeding the quarter to which it relates.
Which forms are used for the quarterly return?
NBFCs (other than residuary non-banking companies) use Form NBS-3, while residuary non-banking companies use Form NBS-3A.
What is the asset maintenance requirement for residuary non-banking companies?
Residuary non-banking companies must maintain assets equal to 10% of deposits outstanding at the close of business on the last working day of the second preceding quarter.
📜 This document’s life story (1 recorded event, 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 #1883: DNBS.(PD).CC.No.147/03.02.01/2009-10 — "Master Circular – 'Reserve Bank of India (Non-Banking Financial Companies) Returns Specifications 1997'" dated July 1,”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2009-10/5
DNBS (PD) CC No.147/03. 02.01/ 2009-10
July 1, 2009
To
The Chairman/CEOs of all Non-Banking Financial Companies (accepting public deposits)
and Residuary Non-Banking Companies
Dear Sir,
Master Circular – “Reserve Bank of India (Non-Banking Financial Companies) Returns Specifications 1997”
As you are aware, in order to have all current instructions on the subject at one place, the Reserve Bank of India had issued a Master Circular No. 119 on the captioned subject, which is now updated up to 30th June 2009. It may be noted that the Master Circular consolidates and updates all the instructions contained in the notifications listed in the footnotes, in so far they relate to the topic. The Master Circular has also been placed on the RBI web-site ( http://www.rbi.org.in ). A copy of the revised Master Circular is enclosed.
Yours sincerely,
(P. Krishnamurthy)
Chief General Manager- in-Charge
RESERVE BANK OF INDIA
DEPARTMENT OF NON-BANKING SUPERVISION
CENTRAL OFFICE
CENTRE I, WORLD TRADE CENTRE,
CUFFE PARADE, COLABA,
MUMBAI 400 005.
Notification DFC(COC) No.108.ED(JRP)/97 dated April 30, 1997
In exercise of the powers conferred under the sub-section (2) of section 45IB of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, (2 of 1934) for the purpose of ensuring the compliance with the maintenance of percentage of assets by non-banking financial companies, the Reserve Bank specifies the forms, the manner and the period of submission of the return as under -
1.These specifications are called Reserve Bank of India (Non-Banking Financial Companies) Returns Specifications 1997.
1 [2 (a) every residuary non-banking company governed by the provisions of Residuary Non-Banking Companies (Reserve Bank) Directions, 1987 contained in Notification No. DFC.55/ DG (O)-87 dated 15th May 1987 shall submit a return every quarter as per Form of [NBS-3A] 2 and
(b) every non-banking financial company, other than a residuary non-banking company as stated in clause (a) above, shall submit a return every quarter as per the Form of [ NBS-3.] 3 ]
3.The Quarterly Return shall be submitted in duplicate within a period of fifteen days of the month succeeding the quarter to which it relates.
4.The contents of the Quarterly Return shall be certified and signed by the authorised official of the company to be true and correct.
5.The Quarterly Return shall be submitted to the Regional Office of Department of Supervision (Financial Companies Wing) of Reserve Bank of India under whose jurisdiction the Registered Office of the non-banking financial company is situated.
(J. R. PRABHU)
Executive Director
RESERVE BANK OF INDIA
DEPARTMENT OF NON-BANKING SUPERVISION
CENTRAL OFFICE
CENTRE I, WORLD TRADE CENTRE,
CUFFE PARADE, COLABA,
MUMBAI 400 005.
Notification No. DFC.120/ED(G)-98 dated January 31, 1998
In exercise of the powers conferred under sub-section (1) of section 45IB of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934), and in supersession of the Notificaion No.DFC(COC).107.ED(JRP)/97 dated April 30, 1997 the Reserve Bank of India hereby specifies that from this day, the percentage of assets to be maintained by a residuary non-banking company governed by the provisions of Residuary Non-Banking Companies (Reserve Bank) Directions, 1987 contained in notification No. DFC.55/DG(O)-87 dated the 15th May 1987, shall be ten percent of the deposits outstanding at the close of business on the last working day of the second preceding quarter.
(S.Gurumurthy)
Executive Director
RESERVE BANK OF INDIA
DEPARTMENT OF NON-BANKING SUPERVISION
CENTRAL OFFICE
CENTRE I, WORLD TRADE CENTRE,
CUFFE PARADE, COLABA,
MUMBAI 400 005.
Notification No.DFC.121/ED(G)-98 dated January 31, 1998
In exercise of the powers conferred under Section 45NC read with sub-section (1) of Section 45IB of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934) and in supersession of the Notification No.DFC..116/DG(SPT)-98 dated January 2, 1998, the Reserve Bank of India having considered and being satisfied that it is necessary so to do, hereby declares that all the non-banking financial companies other than residuary non-banking companies governed by the provisions of Residuary Non-Banking Companies (Reserve Bank) Directions, 1987 contained in Notification No.DFC.55/DG(O)-87 dated 15th May 1987 are exempt from the requirement to invest in unencumbered approved securities an amount, which at the close of business on any day, shall be not less than 5 per cent of deposits outstanding at the close of business on the last working day of the second preceding quarter as contemplated under sub-section (1) of Section 45IB of the said Act, subject to the conditions that -
(1) every non-banking financial company, other than a residuary non-banking company governed by the provisions of Residuary Non-Banking Companies (Reserve Bank) Directions, 1987 contained in Notification No.DFC.55/DG(O)-87 dated 15th May, 1987 shall invest and continue to invest in India in unencumbered approved securities valued at the price not exceeding the current market price of such securities an amount which shall, at the close of business on any day -
4 [(iii) 5 On and from February 13, 2009 be not less than fifteen per cent
of the “public deposit”, as defined under paragraph 2(1) (xii) of the Non- Banking Financial Companies Acceptance of Public Deposits (Reserve Bank) Directions, 1998, outstanding at the close of business on the last working day of second preceding quarter; and]
(2) all other provisions of Section 45IB shall mutatis-mutandis be applicable to the above requirement as if the expression “public deposit” is the same as the expression “deposit” as contemplated under the said provision.
6 “Provided howsoever that such Non-Banking Financial Companies shall be entitled to invest an amount equal to or in excess of ten percent of public deposits, in unencumbered approved securities and the remaining in unencumbered (a) term deposits in any scheduled commercial bank, Small Industries Bank (SIDBI) or National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) or (b) bonds issued by SIDBI or NABARD. Provided further that, the aggregate of the amount invested in unencumbered approved securities, term deposits and the bonds as aforesaid shall not be less than 15 per cent of public deposits. ”
(S. Gurumurthy)
Executive Director
1 Substituted, vide notification No. 122 dated January 31, 1998
2 Amended, vide notification No. 144 dated June 30, 2000
3 Amended, vide notification No. 144 dated June 30, 2000
4 Deleted vide Notification No. DNBS (PD).205 / CGM (PK)-2009 dated February 13, 2009
5 Substituted vide Notification No. DNBS (PD).205 / CGM (PK)-2009 dated February 13, 2009
6 Inserted vide Notification No. DNBS (PD).205 / CGM (PK)-2009 dated February 13, 2009
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/5 · issued 01 Jul 2009. 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=5087&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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