Master Circular on Disclosure Norms for FIs (2009)
No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-2010/49 · issued 01 Jul 2008 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI consolidated disclosure norms for all-India term-lending and refinancing institutions (Exim Bank, NABARD, NHB, SIDBI) into a single master circular effective July 1, 2009. It mandates uniform 'Notes to Accounts' disclosures covering capital adequacy, asset quality, credit concentration, liquidity, derivatives, and restructured accounts to enhance transparency.
What changed
RBI issued a master circular replacing the July 2008 version, consolidating all instructions on disclosure norms for financial institutions up to June 30, 2009. The circular updates and streamlines previous guidelines into one document, with no new substantive requirements introduced.
What it means for you
Banks and lenders dealing with these FIs can expect more standardized and transparent financial statements, aiding credit assessment and risk monitoring. The circular reinforces RBI's push for uniformity in disclosures, which helps in comparing FI performance and ensuring compliance with prudential norms.
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
Review the master circular to ensure your FI's 'Notes to Accounts' comply with all updated disclosure requirements.
Update internal reporting templates to include mandatory disclosures on capital, asset quality, credit concentration, and derivatives.
Train finance and compliance teams on the new consolidated format to avoid gaps in annual financial statements.
Coordinate with auditors to verify that all disclosures are authenticated as part of the 'Notes to Accounts'.
Who it affects
Exim Bank, NABARD, NHB, SIDBI, Auditors of these financial institutions, RBI supervision teams
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2009-2010/49
DBOD. No. FID. FIC.2 /01.02.00/2009-10
01 July, 2009
09 Aashadha 1931(Saka)
The CEOs of the All-India Term-lending and Refinancing Institutions
(Exim Bank, NABARD, NHB and SIDBI)
Dear Sir,
Master Circular - Disclosure Norms for Financial Institutions
Please refer to the Master Circular DBOD No.FID.FIC.2 /01.02.00/2008-09 dated July 01, 2008 on the above subject. The enclosed Master Circular consolidates and updates all the instructions/ guidelines on the subject up to June 30, 2009. The Master Circular has also been placed on the web-site of RBI ( http:// www.rbi.org.in ).
2. It may be noted that the instructions contained in the Annex 3 have been consolidated in this master circular.
Yours faithfully,
(Vinay Baijal)
Chief General Manager
Encls : As above
Master Circular – Disclosures in Financial Statements of
Financial Institutions – Notes to Accounts
Purpose
To provide a detailed guidance to all-India term-lending and refinancing institutions in the matter of disclosures in the ‘Notes to Accounts’ to the Financial Statements.
Previous instructions
This master circular consolidates and updates the instructions on the above subject contained in the circulars listed in the Annex 3.
Application
To all the all India Financial Institutions viz. Exim Bank, NABARD, NHB and SIDBI.
1.
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-2010/49 · issued 01 Jul 2008. 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=5153&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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