HomeCirculars › RBI/2010-11/348

Basel II Parallel Run Extended to March 2013 with 80% Floor

No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/348 · issued 31 Dec 2010 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI extends Basel II parallel run for all scheduled commercial banks (excluding local area and rural banks) until March 31, 2013. Banks must ensure Basel II minimum capital stays above 80% of Basel I requirement for credit and market risks.

What changed

The parallel run period for Basel II implementation, originally set to end March 31, 2010, is now extended to March 31, 2013, subject to review. The prudential floor requiring Basel II capital to exceed 80% of Basel I capital for credit and market risks remains in force during this extended period.

What it means for you

Banks must continue running both Basel I and Basel II capital calculations in parallel for three more years, ensuring the new framework's capital requirement stays above the old floor. This gives banks more time to adjust to Basel II while maintaining a safety net, but also adds compliance burden. The extension aligns with global Basel III preparations, signaling RBI's cautious approach to capital reforms.

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 scheduled commercial banks (excluding Local Area Banks and Regional Rural Banks), Foreign banks operating in India, Indian banks with operational presence outside India

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

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

What is the prudential floor mentioned in this circular?

The prudential floor requires that the Basel II minimum capital requirement for credit and market risks must be higher than 80% of the minimum capital requirement computed under the Basel I framework. This ensures a safety margin during the transition.

Why is the parallel run being extended to March 2013?

The extension, announced in the Second Quarter Review of Monetary Policy 2010-11, gives banks more time to align with Basel II while the global banking system prepares for Basel III. It allows RBI to review progress and ensure smooth transition without disrupting capital adequacy.

Does this circular affect all banks in India?

No, it applies to all scheduled commercial banks except Local Area Banks and Regional Rural Banks. Foreign banks operating in India and Indian banks with overseas operations are specifically mentioned as required to continue the parallel run.

📜 This document’s life story (2 recorded events, each backed by RBI’s own words)
Withdrawn by RBI withdraws Basel II parallel run and prudential floor
RBI’s words: “the parallel run and prudential floor for implementation of Basel II vis-à-vis Basel I is hereby withdrawn.”
Repealed by RBI/2025-26/100 — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)
RBI’s words: “Official withdrawal register entry #1571: DBOD.BP.BC.No.71/21.06.001/2010-11 — "Prudential Guidelines on Capital Adequacy and Market Discipline - New Capital Adequacy Framework (NCAF) - Parallel Run a”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2010-11/348 DBOD.BP.BC.No.71 /21.06.001/2010-11 December 31, 2010 All Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding Local Area Banks and Regional Rural Banks) Dear Sir, Prudential Guidelines on Capital Adequacy and Market Discipline - New Capital Adequacy Framework (NCAF) - Parallel Run and Prudential Floor Please refer to our circular DBOD.BP.BC.No.87/21.06.001/2009-10 dated April 7, 2010 on the captioned subject and paragraph 4.1.2 of Master Circular No. DBOD.No.BP.BC.15 / 21.06.001 / 2010-11 dated July 1, 2010 on Prudential Guidelines on Capital Adequacy and Market Discipline - New Capital Adequacy Framework (NCAF), in terms of which foreign banks operating in India and Indian banks having operational presence outside India are required to have parallel run beyond the specified date (i.e., March 31, 2010) and ensure that their Basel II minimum capital requirement continues to be higher than 80% of the minimum capital requirement computed as per Basel I framework for credit and market risks until further advice. 2. In the Second Quarter Review of Monetary Policy 2010-11 announced on November 2, 2010, banks were advised vide paragraph 102 on ‘Regulatory and Supervisory Measures for Commercial Banks - Strengthening the Resilience of the Banking Sector’ ( copy of extract enclosed ) to continue with the parallel run for a period of three years, i.e. till March 31, 2013, subject to review. Accordingly, all the banks in India would continue to have the parallel run till March 31, 2013, subject to review, and ensure that their Basel II minimum capital requirement continues to be higher than the prudential floor of 80% of the minimum capital requirement computed as per Basel I framework for credit and market risks. 3.    All other guidelines on ‘Parallel Run’ contained in paragraph 2.4 of the aforesaid Master Circular should be adhered to by all the banks. Yours faithfully, (B. Mahapatra) Chief General Manager-in-Charge Extract from Second Quarter Review of Monetary Policy 2010-11 announced on November 2, 2010. V.  Regulatory and Supervisory Measures for Commercial Banks Strengthening the Resilience of the Banking Sector 100. The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS), in response to the financial crisis, submitted a report to the G-20 in October 2010. The report contained the measures taken by the BCBS and its governing body - the Group of Central Bank Governors and Heads of Supervision (GHOS) - to strengthen the resilience of banks and the global banking system. The new global standards to address both bank-specific and broader systemic risks have been referred to as Basel III. Measures suggested under Basel III, among others, include revisions to the definition of regulatory capital, capital conservation buffer, counter-cyclical buffer, the treatment of counterparty credit risk, the leverage ratio, and the global liquidity standards. 101. It may be recalled that the BCBS had issued in December 2009 two consultative documents for public comments. It also undertook a comprehensive quantitative impact study (QIS) and top-down calibration of minimum capital requirement. At its July and September 2010 meetings, the GHOS broadly agreed on the overall design of the capital and liquidity reform package, based on the comments received, the QIS and top-down calibration. The fully calibrated Basel III rules will be published by the BCBS by end-December 2010. 102.  The Reserve Bank has been adopting the international best regulatory practices as appropriate to banks in India. Banks are, therefore, advised : *    to study the new developments and be in preparedness to meet the requirements; and *    to continue with the parallel run beyond March 31, 2010, as advised to them in April 2010, to ensure that their Basel II minimum capital requirement continues to be higher than the prudential floor of 80 per cent of the minimum capital requirement as per Basel I framework for credit and market risks. The parallel run should continue for a period of three years, i.e., till March 31, 2013, subject to review.
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/348 · issued 31 Dec 2010. 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=6186&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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