No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/346 · issued 29 Oct 2013 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI reduced the Bank Rate by 25 bps to 8.75% effective October 29, 2013. This lowers penal interest rates on reserve shortfalls and SSI refinance rate for Primary Urban Co-operative Banks.
What changed
The Bank Rate was reduced from 9.0% to 8.75%, a 25 basis point cut, effective October 29, 2013. Consequently, penal interest rates on reserve requirement shortfalls, which are linked to the Bank Rate, were revised downward: the rate of Bank Rate plus 3 percentage points fell from 12.00% to 11.75%, and Bank Rate plus 5 percentage points fell from 14.00% to 13.75%. The interest rate on refinance for SSI under Section 17(2)(bb) read with Section 17(4)(c) of the RBI Act was also reduced to 8.75%.
What it means for you
For Primary Urban Co-operative Banks, this reduction in the Bank Rate directly lowers the cost of penalties for failing to maintain required reserves. It also makes SSI refinance cheaper, potentially encouraging lending to small-scale industries. Banks should update their systems to reflect the new penal rates and refinance rate immediately.
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 systems to apply the revised penal interest rates of 11.75% and 13.75% for reserve shortfalls effective October 29, 2013.
Adjust the interest rate on SSI refinance to 8.75% per annum for all new and outstanding refinance under Section 17(2)(bb) read with Section 17(4)(c).
Communicate the changes to relevant departments and ensure compliance in reporting and customer dealings.
Who it affects
Primary Urban Co-operative Banks, Borrowers availing SSI refinance under Section 17(2)(bb) of RBI Act, Banks facing penal charges for reserve shortfalls
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Stated effective dateeffective October 29, 2013
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-18 12:02 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 new Bank Rate effective from October 29, 2013?
The Bank Rate has been reduced by 25 basis points from 9.0% to 8.75%.
How are penal interest rates on reserve shortfalls affected?
Penal rates linked to the Bank Rate are reduced: the rate of Bank Rate plus 3 percentage points is now 11.75% (down from 12.00%), and Bank Rate plus 5 percentage points is now 13.75% (down from 14.00%).
Does this circular affect SSI refinance rates?
Yes, the interest rate on refinance for SSI under Section 17(2)(bb) read with Section 17(4)(c) of the RBI Act has been revised to 8.75% with effect from October 29, 2013.
📜 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)
RBI’s words: “Official withdrawal register entry #1000: UBD.BPD.(PCB).Cir.No.33/16.11.00/2013-14 — "Revision in Bank Rate" dated October 29, 2013”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/346 · issued 29 Oct 2013. 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=8540&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.