RBI Mandates 0.25% Standard Asset Provision for NBFCs
No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/370 · issued 17 Jan 2011 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI now requires all NBFCs to set aside 0.25% of standard assets as a general provision. This buffer aims to counter cyclical risks and must be shown separately as 'Contingent Provisions against Standard Assets' in the balance sheet, not netted from NPAs.
What changed
RBI introduced a mandatory general provision of 0.25% on outstanding standard assets for all NBFCs, effective January 17, 2011. This provision cannot be used to reduce net NPAs and must be disclosed separately in the balance sheet. Additionally, these provisions can be included in Tier II capital, but only up to 1.25% of total risk-weighted assets.
What it means for you
NBFCs must now build a financial buffer against potential future losses even on performing loans, enhancing resilience during economic downturns. This increases provisioning costs slightly but strengthens capital adequacy. Lenders need to adjust their balance sheet presentation and capital planning to accommodate this new requirement.
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
Calculate and set aside 0.25% provision on all outstanding standard assets immediately.
Show this provision as 'Contingent Provisions against Standard Assets' in the balance sheet, separate from gross advances.
Ensure these provisions are not netted from gross advances or used to arrive at net NPAs.
Include general provisions on standard assets in Tier II capital, but cap total general provisions/loss reserves at 1.25% of risk-weighted assets.
Who it affects
All NBFCs (deposit accepting and non-deposit accepting), NBFC compliance and finance teams, RBI's Department of Non-Banking Supervision
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Stated effective dateeffective January 17, 2011
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-19 02:56 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 provisioning rate for standard assets under this circular?
NBFCs must make a general provision of 0.25% on the outstanding amount of all standard assets.
Can this standard asset provision be used to reduce net NPAs?
No, the circular explicitly states that provisions on standard assets should not be reckoned for arriving at net NPAs.
How should NBFCs treat these provisions in their balance sheet?
The provisions need not be netted from gross advances but must be shown separately as 'Contingent Provisions against Standard Assets'.
📜 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)
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2010-11/370
DNBS.PD.CC.No.207/ 03.02.002/2010-11
January 17, 2011
All NBFCs
Dear sir,
Provision of 0.25% for standard assets of NBFCs
In terms of Non-Banking Financial (Deposit Accepting or Holding) Companies Prudential Norms (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2007, and Non-Banking Financial (Non- Deposit Accepting or Holding) Companies Prudential Norms (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2007, all NBFCs are required to make necessary provisions for non performing assets. In the interests of counter cyclicality and so as to ensure that NBFCs create a financial buffer to protect them from the effect of economic downturns, it has been decided to introduce provisioning for standard assets also.
2. Accordingly
(i) NBFCs should make a general provision at 0.25 per cent of the outstanding standard assets.
(ii) The provisions on standard assets should not be reckoned for arriving at net NPAs.
(iii) The provisions towards Standard Assets need not be netted from gross advances but shown separately as 'Contingent Provisions against Standard Assets' in the balance sheet.
(iv) NBFCs are allowed to include the ‘General Provisions on Standard Assets’ in Tier II capital which together with other ‘general provisions/ loss reserves’ will be admitted as Tier II capital only up to a maximum of 1.25 per cent of the total risk-weighted assets.
3. Accompanying Notifications No. DNBS. 222 CGM(US)2011 and No. DNBS. 223 CGM (US) 2011 both dated January 17, 2011 are enclosed for meticulous compliance.
Yours sincerely,
(Uma Subramaniam)
Chief General Manager-in-Charge
Encl: as above
RESERVE BANK OF INDIA
DEPARTMENT OF NON-BANKING SUPERVISION
CENTRAL OFFICE
CENTRE I, WORLD TRADE CENTRE,
CUFFE PARADE, COLABA,
MUMBAI 400 005.
Notification No. DNBS.222/ CGM(US)-2011 dated January 17, 2011
The Reserve Bank of India, having considered it necessary in public interest and being satisfied that, for the purpose of enabling the Bank to regulate the credit system to the advantage of the country, it is necessary to amend the Non-Banking Financial (Deposit Accepting or Holding) Companies Prudential Norms (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2007 contained in Notification No. DNBS. 192/DG(VL)-2007 dated February 22, 2007 in exercise of the powers conferred by section 45JA of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934) and of all the powers enabling it in this behalf, hereby directs that the said directions shall be amended with immediate effect as follows, namely -
i) The following paragraph may be added after Para 9 of the directions as Para 9A.
“9A. Every Non Banking Financial Company shall make provision for standard assets at 0.25 percent of the outstanding, which shall not be reckoned for arriving at net NPAs. The provision towards standard assets need not be netted from gross advances but shall be shown separately as ‘Contingent Provisions against Standard Assets’ in the balance sheet.”
ii) The para (2)(xx)(c) of the above Directions may be modified to read as follows:
"General Provisions (including that for standard assets) and loss reserves to the extent these are not attributable to actual diminution in value or identifiable potential loss in any specific asset and are available to meet unexpected losses, to the extent of one and one fourth percent of risk weighted assets;"
(Uma Subramaniam)
Chief General Manager
RESERVE BANK OF INDIA
DEPARTMENT OF NON-BANKING SUPERVISION
CENTRAL OFFICE
CENTRE 1, WORLD TRADE CENTRE
CUFFE PARADE, COLABA
MUMBAI - 400 005.
Notification No. DNBS.223/ CGM(US)-2011 dated January 17, 2011
The Reserve Bank of India, having considered it necessary in public interest and being satisfied that, for the purpose of enabling the Bank to regulate the credit system to the advantage of the country, it is necessary to amend the Non-Banking Financial (Non- Deposit Accepting or Holding) Companies Prudential Norms (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2007 contained in Notification No. DNBS. 193/DG(VL)-2007 dated February 22, 2007 in exercise of the powers conferred by section 45JA of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934) and of all the powers enabling it in this behalf, hereby directs that the said directions shall be amended with immediate effect as follows, namely -
i) The following paragraph may be added after Para 9 of the directions as Para 9A.
“9A. Every Non Banking Financial Company shall make provision for standard assets at 0.25 percent of the outstanding, which shall not be reckoned for arriving at net NPAs. The provision towards standard assets need not be netted from gross advances but shall be shown separately as ‘Contingent Provisions against Standard Assets’ in the balance sheet.”
ii) The para (2)(xxi)(c) of the above Directions may be modified to read as follows:
"General Provisions (including that for Standard Assets) and loss reserves to the extent these are not attributable to actual diminution in value or identifiable potential loss in any specific asset and are available to meet unexpected losses, to the extent of one and one fourth percent of risk weighted assets;"
(Uma Subramaniam)
Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/370 · issued 17 Jan 2011. 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=6217&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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