No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/68 · issued 02 Jul 2012 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI consolidated all exposure norms for scheduled commercial banks (excluding RRBs) into a single master circular, updating limits for individual/group borrowers, industry sectors, and capital market exposure. Banks must align their credit policies with these updated ceilings and exemptions.
What changed
RBI replaced the July 2011 master circular with a new version incorporating all instructions issued up to June 30, 2012. The circular consolidates existing guidelines on credit exposure limits for individual/group borrowers, industry/sector exposures, and capital market exposure without introducing new policy changes.
What it means for you
Banks now have a single reference document for all exposure norms, reducing ambiguity and ensuring compliance with the latest RBI directives. The circular reinforces existing ceilings and exemptions, requiring banks to review their internal policies and reporting systems to match the consolidated framework.
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
Update internal credit policy manuals to reference the July 2012 master circular as the governing document.
Verify that current exposure levels for individual/group borrowers and capital markets are within the prescribed ceilings.
Ensure risk management and audit committees review the updated norms and adjust monitoring processes accordingly.
Train credit and compliance teams on the consolidated exposure limits and exemptions.
Who it affects
All scheduled commercial banks (excluding RRBs), Credit risk management teams, Compliance and audit departments, Board-level investment and risk committees
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-18 19:15 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).
Does this master circular introduce new exposure limits?
No, it consolidates existing instructions issued up to June 30, 2012, without changing the substantive limits or exemptions.
Which banks are covered under this circular?
All scheduled commercial banks are covered, except Regional Rural Banks (RRBs).
What should banks do if their current exposures exceed the prescribed limits?
Banks must immediately review and bring exposures within the ceilings specified in the circular, and report any deviations to RBI as per existing guidelines.
📜 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/2012-13/68
DBOD. No.Dir.BC.3/13.03.00/2012-13
July 2, 2012
Ashadha 11, 1934, (Saka)
All Scheduled Commercial Banks
(excluding RRBs)
Dear Sir / Madam
Master Circular – Exposure Norms
Please refer to the Master Circular DBOD No. Dir. BC. 7/13.03.00/2011-12 dated July 1, 2011 consolidating the instructions / guidelines issued to banks till that date relating to Exposure Norms. The Master Circular has been suitably updated by incorporating the instructions issued up to June 30, 2012 and has also been placed on the RBI website ( http://www.rbi.org.in ). A copy of the Master Circular is enclosed.
Yours faithfully
(Sudha Damodar)
Chief General Manager
Encl: as above
Master Circular on Exposure Norms
CONTENTS
Para No.
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/68 · issued 02 Jul 2012. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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=7373&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.
Help us keep this accurate
Found an inaccuracy or have an improvement? Tell us. Every report is reviewed by our team before any change is made — nothing goes live unverified.
Public beta — plain-English informational summaries. Always verify against the official RBI source (circular number cited on every page) before making compliance, credit, treasury, audit, or operational decisions. · Join our WhatsApp channel ↗
BANKPULSE · FREE DAILY BRIEF
Get RBI updates for your role
Every important RBI update, decoded in plain English — for your career, exams & financial awareness.
We collect only your email, name and role, used solely to send your brief — never sold or shared. Withdraw anytime via the unsubscribe link in any email. Independent platform, not affiliated with the RBI. Information, not legal advice.
REPORT AN ERROR · BETA
Spotted an error? Earn 500 BankPulse Credits
Help us stay accurate. If your correction is verified true and approved by our founder, you earn 500 BankPulse Credits — redeemable when the platform monetises.
Reviewed by a human before any credit is awarded. We never change the site from crowd input without verification.
WANT A NEW FEATURE · BETA
What would make BankPulse more useful for you?
Tell us what to build next — a tool, a data view, a role page, anything. We read every suggestion.
Thank you — your ideas directly shape what we build.