HomeCirculars › RBI/2012-13/460

Basel III Implementation Start Date Shifted to April 1, 2013

No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/460 · issued 28 Mar 2013 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI rescheduled Basel III capital regulation start to April 1, 2013, with most rules effective from that date. Banks must disclose Basel III ratios from June 30, 2013 quarter. CVA risk charges for OTC derivatives deferred to January 1, 2014. Full implementation by March 31, 2018 remains unchanged.

What changed

The start date for Basel III capital regulations was moved from January 1, 2013 to April 1, 2013, following a December 2012 press release. Most instructions originally effective January 1, 2013 now apply from April 1, 2013, except Credit Valuation Adjustment (CVA) risk capital charges for OTC derivatives, which are deferred to January 1, 2014 due to pending issues with mandatory forex forward guaranteed settlement through a central counterparty.

What it means for you

Banks get a three-month reprieve to align systems and processes for Basel III compliance, but must be ready by April 1, 2013. The deferral of CVA risk charges gives banks more time to manage OTC derivative exposures without immediate capital impact. The unchanged full implementation deadline of March 31, 2018 means the overall transition timeline remains intact, requiring steady capital planning.

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), Bank treasury and risk management teams, Bank compliance and capital planning departments

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

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

Why was the Basel III start date shifted to April 1, 2013?

RBI rescheduled the start date from January 1, 2013 to April 1, 2013 via a press release on December 28, 2012, likely to give banks more preparation time.

When do CVA risk capital charges for OTC derivatives become effective?

CVA risk capital charges are deferred to January 1, 2014, because the mandatory forex forward guaranteed settlement through a central counterparty was postponed pending resolution of exposure norms and other issues.

Does the full implementation deadline of Basel III change?

No, the full implementation deadline remains March 31, 2018, with other transitional arrangements unchanged.

📜 This document’s life story (2 recorded events, each backed by RBI’s own words)
Clarified by CVA Risk Capital Charge on OTC Derivatives Deferred to April 2014
RBI’s words: “Please refer to circular DBOD.No.BP.BC.88/21.06.201/2012-13 dated March 28, 2013”
Repealed by RBI/2025-26/100 — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)
RBI’s words: “Official withdrawal register entry #1162: DBOD.No.BP.BC.88/21.06.201/2012-13 — "Guidelines on Implementation of Basel III Capital Regulations in India - Clarifications" dated March 28, 2013”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2012-13/460 DBOD.No.BP.BC.88/21.06.201/2012-13 March 28, 2013 The Chairman and Managing Directors/ Chief Executives Officers of All Scheduled Commercial Banks (Excluding Local Area Banks and Regional Rural Banks) Madam / Sir, Guidelines on Implementation of Basel III Capital Regulations in India - Clarifications Please refer to the ‘Guidelines on Basel III Capital Regulations’ issued vide circular DBOD.No.BP.BC.98/21.06.201/2011-12 dated May 2, 2012 on the implementation of Basel III guidelines in a phased manner and our press release No. 2012-2013/1092 dated December 28, 2012 rescheduling the start date of implementation of Basel III capital regulations to April 1, 2013 from January 1, 2013. 2. In view of the shift in the start date of Basel III implementation, all instructions applicable as on January 1, 2013, except those relating to Credit Valuation Adjustment (CVA) risk capital charge for OTC derivatives, would become effective from April 1, 2013 with banks disclosing Basel III capital ratios from the quarter ending June 30, 2013. As the introduction of mandatory forex forward guaranteed settlement through a central counterparty has been deferred pending resolution of certain issues such as exposure norms, etc., the CVA risk capital charges (as indicated in Annex 2 of the Guidelines on Basel III Capital Regulations) would become effective as on January 1, 2014. The other transitional arrangements would remain unchanged and Basel III will be fully implemented as on March 31, 2018. 3. In addition, banks may take note of certain clarifications / amendments in the guidelines as indicated in the Annex . There are no changes (with the exceptions to those indicated in the Annex) in the instructions relating to phasing-out of the non-Basel III compliant regulatory capital instruments as indicated in the Section E of Annex 1 of the Guidelines on Basel III Capital Regulations. Yours faithfully, (Rajesh Verma) Chief General Manager Encl: a/a
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/460 · issued 28 Mar 2013. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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