RBI Master Circular on Financial Statement Disclosures (2011)
No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/55 · issued 01 Jul 2011 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI updated its Master Circular on disclosures in 'Notes to Accounts' for scheduled commercial banks (excluding RRBs), consolidating instructions issued up to June 30, 2011. This replaces the 2010 circular and adds new disclosure requirements, including those from the New Capital Adequacy Framework.
What changed
The 2011 Master Circular updates the previous 2010 version by incorporating all operative instructions issued up to June 30, 2011. It consolidates disclosure requirements from various circulars listed in the annex and also mandates compliance with disclosure requirements from the 'Master Circular – Prudential Guidelines on Capital Adequacy and Market Discipline - Implementation of the New Capital Adequacy Framework (NCAF)'.
What it means for you
Banks must ensure their financial statement notes include all updated disclosures as per this circular, covering areas like capital, investments, derivatives, asset quality, exposures, and accounting standards. Non-compliance could lead to regulatory scrutiny or penalties, as the circular is issued under Section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
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 and update your bank's 'Notes to Accounts' template to align with the 2011 Master Circular's requirements.
Ensure all disclosures from the NCAF Master Circular are also incorporated into financial statements.
Train finance and compliance teams on the new disclosure items, especially for derivatives, asset quality, and exposures.
Cross-check that all circulars listed in the annex are reflected in your reporting processes.
Who it affects
All scheduled commercial banks (excluding RRBs), Bank finance and accounting departments, Bank compliance and audit teams, External auditors reviewing financial statements
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-19 00:36 IST
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).
Does this circular apply to Regional Rural Banks (RRBs)?
No, the circular explicitly excludes RRBs from its scope.
What happens if a bank does not follow these disclosure requirements?
Since the circular is issued under Section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, non-compliance may attract regulatory action, including penalties.
Are there any new disclosure items compared to the 2010 circular?
The circular updates instructions up to June 30, 2011, and adds disclosure requirements from the NCAF Master Circular. Specific new items are not detailed in the source, but banks should review the full circular for additions.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2011-12/55
DBOD.BP.BC No. 16 /21.04.018/2011-12
July 1, 2011
The Chairmen/Chief Executives of
All Scheduled Commercial Banks
(excluding RRBs)
Dear Sir,
Master Circular - Disclosure in Financial Statements - Notes to Accounts
Please refer to the Master Circular DBOD.BP.BC.No.3/21.04.018/2010-11 dated July 1, 2010 consolidating all operative instructions issued to banks till June 30, 2010 on matters relating to disclosures in the ‘Notes to Accounts’ to the Financial Statements. The Master Circular has now been suitably updated by incorporating instructions issued upto June 30, 2011. The Master Circular has also been placed on the RBI web-site ( http://www.rbi.org.in ).
2. It may be noted that all relevant instructions on the above subject contained in the circulars listed in the Annex have been consolidated. In addition, disclosure requirements contained in "Master Circular – Prudential Guidelines on Capital Adequacy and Market Discipline - Implementation of the New Capital Adequacy Framework (NCAF)" will be applicable.
Yours faithfully,
(P. R. Ravi Mohan)
Chief General Manager
Purpose
To provide a detailed guidance to banks in the matter of disclosures in the ‘Notes to Accounts’ to the Financial Statements.
Classification
A statutory guideline issued by the Reserve Bank of India under Section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act 1949.
Previous Guidelines superseded
Master Circular on ‘Disclosure in Financial Statements – Notes to Accounts’ issued vide DBOD.BP.BC No.3/21.04.018/2010-11 dated July 1, 2010.
Scope of application
To all scheduled commercial banks (excluding RRBs).
Structure
1
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/55 · issued 01 Jul 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=6542&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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