Settlement of Claims for Missing Persons in Uttarakhand Disaster
No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/347 · issued 29 Oct 2013 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI directs StCBs/CCBs to settle claims for missing persons in the 2013 Uttarakhand disaster using only the MHA-issued death certificate and a letter of indemnity, easing documentation requirements.
The rule, in the simplest words
Accept death certificates issued under the MHA circular as valid proof for claim settlement.
Require only the death certificate and a letter of indemnity from claimants.
Apply the May 14, 2008 circular for missing persons claims not covered by the MHA circular.
How it plays out — a real example
A co-operative bank branch officer in Indore simplifies claim settlement for a family affected by the Uttarakhand disaster by accepting the MHA-issued death certificate and a letter of indemnity, easing the documentation process and providing faster relief to the family. This allows the officer to focus on other tasks, such as verifying the claimant's identity and ensuring compliance with the RBI circular. By following the simplified process, the officer is able to settle the claim quickly and efficiently, bringing closure to the family.
What changed
RBI issued a circular on October 29, 2013, instructing cooperative banks to settle claims for missing persons from the June 2013 Uttarakhand disaster using only a death certificate from the designated officer under the MHA circular and a letter of indemnity. For cases not covered by the MHA circular, banks must follow the earlier May 14, 2008 circular on missing persons claims.
What it means for you
This simplifies claim settlement for affected families, reducing paperwork and delays. Banks must accept the MHA death certificate as sufficient proof without additional documentation, ensuring faster relief. The earlier circular remains applicable for other missing persons cases.
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
Accept death certificates issued under the MHA circular for Uttarakhand disaster missing persons as valid proof for claim settlement.
Require only the death certificate and a letter of indemnity from claimants; do not insist on other documents.
Apply the May 14, 2008 circular for missing persons claims not covered by the MHA circular.
Train staff on the simplified process to ensure quick and compliant claim settlements.
Who it affects
State and Central Cooperative Banks (StCBs/CCBs), Claimants of missing persons in the June 2013 Uttarakhand disaster
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-18 12:02 IST
Status change: withdrawn11 Jul 2026, 02:13 IST
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
What documents are needed to settle a claim for a missing person in the Uttarakhand disaster?
Only the death certificate issued by the designated officer under the MHA circular and a letter of indemnity are required.
Does this circular apply to missing persons from other disasters?
No, it applies only to missing persons from the June 2013 Uttarakhand disaster. For other cases, banks must follow the May 14, 2008 circular on missing persons.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2013-14/347
RPCD.CO.RCB.BC.No. 49/07.51.014/2013-14
October 29, 2013
The Chairmen / CEOs
All State and Central Cooperative Banks
Dear Sir / Madam,
Settlement of Claims in respect of Missing Persons in Uttarakhand Disaster
In the aftermath of Uttarakhand Natural Disaster during June 14-20, 2013 the Office of the Registrar General of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has devised a procedure for Registration of Death of Missing persons in Natural Calamities affected areas in Uttarakhand vide its circular F.No. 1/2/(Uttarakhand)/2011-VS-CRS dated August 16, 2013 (MHA Circular). A copy of MHA Circular is enclosed for reference. The MHA Circular has devised detailed procedure for registration and issue of ‘Death Certificate’ of a person reportedly missing since his/her visit to the site of disaster in Uttarakhand in June 2013.
2. In view of the above, State / Central Cooperative Banks are advised to settle the claims in respect of missing persons, covered by MHA Circular, without insisting on production of any documentation other than (i) the ‘Death Certificate’ issued by the Designated Officer under MHA Circular and (ii) letter of indemnity.
3. State / Central Cooperative Banks are further advised that the provisions of Circular RPCD.CO.RF.BC.No.70/07.38.01/2007-08 dated May 14, 2008 on ‘Settlement of claims in respect of missing persons’ would be applicable in other cases which are not covered by MHA Circular.
Yours faithfully,
(A.Udgata)
Principal Chief General Manager
Encl. as above
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/347 · 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=8541&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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