HomeCirculars › RBI/2013-14/376

UCBs: Speed Up Recovery of Undue ADWDRS Benefits

No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/376 · issued 20 Nov 2013 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI has flagged slow recovery of undue benefits under the Agricultural Debt Waiver & Debt Relief Scheme 2008 by Urban Co-operative Banks. Banks must refund identified amounts to RBI by December 20, 2013, covering ineligible borrowers, excess benefits, and wrongful charges.

What changed

RBI observed that while UCBs have identified cases and amounts of undue benefits under ADWDRS 2008, the recovery process is slow and banks have not yet refunded the identified amounts to RBI. The circular reiterates the earlier directive from March 2013 and sets a firm deadline of December 20, 2013 for refunds, including both CAG-flagged and non-CAG cases.

What it means for you

UCBs face heightened regulatory pressure to recover and refund undue benefits disbursed under the 2008 debt waiver scheme. The personal responsibility of the institutional head is emphasized, meaning non-compliance could lead to supervisory action. Banks must prioritize recovery from ineligible borrowers and adjust accounts promptly to avoid losses to the exchequer.

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 Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, Institutional heads of UCBs, Borrowers who received undue benefits under ADWDRS 2008

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

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

What is the deadline for refunding the identified amounts to RBI?

The deadline is December 20, 2013, for both CAG-flagged and non-CAG cases.

What categories of undue benefits are covered?

Benefits granted to ineligible borrowers, excess benefits extended to borrowers, and charges/interest claimed or debited wrongfully.

Who is personally responsible for ensuring full recovery?

The institutional head of each Urban Co-operative Bank is personally responsible for ensuring full recoveries and refunds to avoid loss to the exchequer.

📜 This document’s life story (1 recorded event, each backed by RBI’s own words)
Repealed by RBI/2025-26/100 — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)
RBI’s words: “Official withdrawal register entry #992: UBD.BPD.(PCB).CIR.No.39/13.05.006/2013-14 — "Performance Audit of Agricultural Debt Waiver & Debt Relief Scheme 2008" dated November 20, 2013”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2013-14/376 UBD.BPD. (PCB) CIR No.39 /13.05.006/2013-14 November 20, 2013 The Chief Executive Officers of All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks Madam/Dear Sir, Performance Audit of Agricultural Debt Waiver & Debt Relief Scheme 2008 Please refer to our Circular UBD.BPD. (PCB) Cir. No.40/13.05.006/2012-13 dated March 7, 2013 , in terms of which Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs) were advised to conduct  complete verification of list of beneficiaries under ADWDRS, 2008 and take corrective steps as indicated therein. In this connection, attention of UCBs is invited to para 1(iii) thereof, wherein it was advised that cases of extending benefits to ineligible beneficiaries must be dealt with on top priority and full recoveries as per law must be made to avoid any loss to the exchequer and it will be the personal responsibility of the institutional head to ensure that such recoveries are effected in full. 2. It is observed that although the cases and amounts of undue benefits have been identified, the recovery process is quite slow and banks are yet to refund to Reserve Bank of India, the amount identified by them. You are therefore, advised to complete the recovery process by refunding  the identified amount without any further delay and adjust the amount in the books of account as and when recovery is effected in cases of the following categories pointed out by CAG – Benefits granted to ineligible borrowers, Excess benefits extended to borrowers and Charges/Interest claimed/ debited. 3. You may speed up the refund process in pending non-CAG cases also and refund both the amounts to the Regional Office of Reserve Bank of India concerned, on or before December 20, 2013. Yours faithfully (P.K.Arora) General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/376 · issued 20 Nov 2013. 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=8583&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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