Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/509 · issued 17 Apr 2012 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI raised the MSF borrowing limit for scheduled commercial banks from 1% to 2% of NDTL, effective April 17, 2012, to provide greater liquidity cushion. Banks can access overnight funds against excess SLR holdings.
The rule, in the simplest words
Banks can now borrow up to 2% of their NDTL (total deposits and other liabilities) overnight from RBI, instead of the old 1% limit.
This borrowed money is taken against extra SLR (government bonds banks must keep) that the bank already holds.
The new rule started on April 17, 2012, and applies to all scheduled commercial banks except Regional Rural Banks.
Banks must use their NDTL from the end of the second previous fortnight to calculate how much they can borrow.
How it plays out — a real example
A treasury officer in Indore, Priya, notices her bank has a sudden cash shortage because many customers withdrew deposits. She checks the new MSF limit: her bank's NDTL is ₹10,000 crore, so they can now borrow up to ₹200 crore (2%) overnight from RBI using their extra SLR bonds. She quickly arranges the collateral, and the treasury team gets the funds by evening, keeping the bank's liquidity smooth without selling other assets.
What changed
The borrowing limit under the Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) for scheduled commercial banks was increased from 1% to 2% of their net demand and time liabilities (NDTL). This change was announced in the Annual Monetary Policy Statement 2012-13 and took immediate effect from April 17, 2012.
What it means for you
Banks now have access to a larger liquidity buffer through the MSF, allowing them to borrow more overnight funds against their excess SLR holdings. This provides greater flexibility in managing short-term liquidity mismatches without dipping into other reserves.
What you must do
Update internal liquidity management policies to reflect the new 2% MSF borrowing limit.
Ensure SLR portfolio is structured to support potential MSF borrowing up to 2% of NDTL.
Train treasury and risk teams on the revised MSF access rules and collateral requirements.
Monitor fortnightly NDTL data to accurately calculate the available MSF borrowing capacity.
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
What is the effective date of this MSF limit increase?
The increase from 1% to 2% of NDTL took immediate effect from April 17, 2012, as announced in the Annual Monetary Policy Statement.
Can banks still use excess SLR holdings as collateral for MSF?
Yes, banks can continue to access overnight funds under the MSF against their excess SLR holdings, as per the earlier circular dated December 21, 2011.
Does this change apply to Regional Rural Banks?
No, this circular applies to all Scheduled Commercial Banks excluding Regional Rural Banks.
📜 This document’s life story (1 recorded event, each backed by RBI’s own words)
RBI’s words: “the earlier Notification DBOD.No.Ret.BC.94 /12.02.001/2011-12 dated April 17, 2012, stands modified as under”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2011-12/509
Ref: DBOD.No.Ret.BC.95/12.02.001/2011-12
April 17, 2012
All Scheduled Commercial Banks
(Excluding Regional Rural Banks)
Dear Sir,
Section 24 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 – Maintenance of Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) – Marginal Standing Facility (MSF)
Please refer to our circular DBOD.No.Ret.BC.No.92/12.02.001/2010-11 dated May 09, 2011 wherein it was advised that Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) may borrow overnight up to 1 per cent of their respective Net Demand and Time Liabilities (NDTL) under the Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) Scheme.
2. As announced in the Reserve Bank of India's Annual Monetary Policy Statement 2012-13 on April 17, 2012 , in order to provide greater liquidity cushion, it has been decided to raise the borrowing limit of SCBs under the MSF from 1 per cent to 2 per cent of their NDTL outstanding at the end of the second preceding fortnight with immediate effect.
3. Banks can continue to access overnight funds under the MSF against their excess SLR holding as advised in our circular FMD.No.65/01.18.001/11-12 dated December 21, 2011 .
4. A copy of the relative notification DBOD No. Ret. BC.94 /12.02.001/2011-12 dated April 17, 2012 is enclosed .
5. Please acknowledge receipt.
Yours faithfully
(Murli Radhakrishnan)
Chief General Manager
Ref. DBOD. No.Ret.BC.94/12.02.001/2011-12
April 17, 2012
NOTIFICATION
In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2A) of Section 24 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (10 of 1949) as amended from time to time the Reserve Bank of India hereby notifies that para 2(ii) of the earlier Notification DBOD.No.Ret.BC.91/ 12.02.001/2010-11 dated May 09, 2011 , stands modified as under:
“Securities offered as collateral to the Reserve Bank of India for availing liquidity assistance from Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) up to two per cent of the total net demand and time liabilities in India carved out of the required SLR portfolio of the bank concerned”.
(B. Mahapatra)
Executive Director
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/509 · issued 17 Apr 2012. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Train treasury and risk teams on the revised MSF access rules and collateral requirements.
📜 Compliance
Update internal liquidity management policies to reflect the new 2% MSF borrowing limit.
Ensure SLR portfolio is structured to support potential MSF borrowing up to 2% of NDTL.
Monitor fortnightly NDTL data to accurately calculate the available MSF borrowing capacity.
Grouped from the action items above — a single circular may involve more than one team.
Worked example & action-note template
Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding Regional Rural Banks), Treasury departments, Risk management teams, Liquidity planners), your first concrete step on “MSF borrowing limit raised to 2% of NDTL” is: “Update internal liquidity management policies to reflect the new 2% MSF borrowing limit.” (RBI issued this 17 Apr 2012).
Circular: RBI/2011-12/509 -- MSF borrowing limit raised to 2% of NDTL
Issued: 17 Apr 2012
Action required: Update internal liquidity management policies to reflect the new 2% MSF borrowing limit.
Action required: Ensure SLR portfolio is structured to support potential MSF borrowing up to 2% of NDTL.
Action required: Train treasury and risk teams on the revised MSF access rules and collateral requirements.
Action required: Monitor fortnightly NDTL data to accurately calculate the available MSF borrowing capacity.
Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
Evidence filed in compliance register on: ____________
Built only from this circular’s own published fields — not legal advice; always confirm against the official RBI source.
💬 Banker Discussion
Discuss this circular with fellow bankers — reply, upvote what helps, report what doesn’t belong. Be professional; no client data. Views are the commenter’s own, not BankPulse’s.
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=7143&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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