RBI's own words: “These instructions supersede the GCC guidelines issued in December 2013” — RBI/2023-24/19
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/389 · issued 02 Dec 2013 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI revised the GCC scheme to boost non-farm entrepreneurial credit to individuals. Banks must report all such credit under GCC in FIPs, excluding consumption loans. No loan ceiling applies if priority sector norms are met. Existing credit cards for entrepreneurs must be included.
The rule, in the simplest words
Banks must report all loans given to individuals for non-farm business (like a small shop or workshop) under the General Credit Card (GCC) in their Financial Inclusion Plans (FIPs).
Existing business credit cards (like Artisan Card or Weaver's Card) must also be counted under GCC, but loans for personal spending (like buying a TV) must be reported separately as overdraft/consumption credit.
There is no limit on how much can be lent under GCC if the loan follows priority sector rules (helping small borrowers).
Banks should use smart cards or passbooks for GCC loans, as per RBI guidelines.
How it plays out — a real example
An agri & priority-sector lending officer in Indore reviews her bank's reporting system and notices that small loans to local artisans for buying raw materials were not being counted under GCC. She updates the system to include these loans in the Financial Inclusion Plan report, ensuring the bank follows the new rule and helps more small entrepreneurs get credit without a loan ceiling.
What changed
The GCC scheme was revised to explicitly cover all non-farm entrepreneurial credit extended to individuals, ensuring such lending is captured under Financial Inclusion Plans. Banks must now report existing credit cards like Artisan or Weaver's Card under GCC, while consumption credit must be reported separately as overdraft/consumption credit. The earlier 2005 and 2008 guidelines are superseded.
What it means for you
Banks need to align their reporting systems to classify all individual non-farm entrepreneurial loans under GCC, which removes any loan ceiling for such priority sector advances. This increases the flow of credit to small borrowers but requires careful segregation from consumption credit to avoid misreporting. Lenders must also ensure compliance with collateral-free lending norms for micro and small units.
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 report all non-farm entrepreneurial credit to individuals under GCC in FIP reporting.
Include existing credit cards (e.g., Artisan, Laghu Udyami, Weaver's Card) under GCC reporting.
Separately report consumption credit as overdraft/consumption credit in FIP format.
Ensure no loan ceiling is applied for GCC advances that meet priority sector criteria.
Adopt smart card or passbook formats for GCC as per RBI guidelines.
Who it affects
All scheduled commercial banks including RRBs, Priority sector lending teams, Financial Inclusion Plan reporting units, Small entrepreneurs and individual borrowers
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
What types of credit are covered under the revised GCC scheme?
All non-farm entrepreneurial credit extended to individuals that qualifies as priority sector, including working capital and term loans. Consumption credit is excluded.
Is there a maximum loan limit under the GCC?
No, there is no ceiling on the loan amount as long as it is for non-farm entrepreneurial activity and eligible for priority sector classification. Limits are set case-by-case based on risk assessment.
How should banks report existing credit cards like Artisan Card under GCC?
Banks must include all such cards catering to non-farm entrepreneurial credit needs under GCC reporting in FIPs, while consumption credit cards are reported separately.
📜 This document’s life story (1 recorded event, each backed by RBI’s own words)
RBI’s words: “These instructions supersede the GCC guidelines issued in December 2013”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2013-14/389
RPCD.MSME & NFS.BC.No.61/06.02.31/2013-14
December 2, 2013
The Chairman/Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer
All Scheduled Commercial Banks
(Including Regional Rural Banks)
Dear Sir / Madam
Revised General Credit Card (GCC) Scheme
Please refer to our circular RPCD.CO.No.RRB.BC.59/03.05.33(F)/2005-06 dated December 27, 2005 and circular no. RPCD.CO.Plan.BC.No.66/04.09.01/2007-08 dated May 06, 2008 on the General Credit Card (GCC) Scheme.
2. During Financial Inclusion Plan (FIP) review meetings held with banks during May-July 2013, it was observed that data reported by banks under GCC is not showing entrepreneurial credit extended to individuals. In order to enhance the coverage of GCC Scheme to ensure greater credit linkage for all productive activities within the overall Priority sector guidelines and to capture all credit extended by banks to individuals for non-farm entrepreneurial activity the GCC guidelines are being revised. The revised Scheme is at Annex .
3. You are further advised that any other Credit Card (e.g. Artisan Credit Card, Laghu Udyami Card, Swarojgar Credit Card, and Weaver’s Card etc.) in existence and catering to the non-farm entrepreneurial credit needs of individuals should be included for reporting of credit extended through the General Credit Cards under the Financial Inclusion Plans (FIPs). As the GCC is intended to cover all entrepreneurial credit, consumption credit extended to individuals should not be reported under GCC.
4. The issuance of GCC does not preclude the banks from issuing any other credit card to their customers for their consumption needs. Consumption credit provided by banks is to be reported separately under the head of Overdraft (OD)/consumption credit in the FIP reporting format prescribed by Reserve Bank of India.
5. These guidelines will supersede the GCC guidelines issued by Reserve Bank of India in December 2005 and May 2008. The revision has been done to ensure greater flow of entrepreneurial credit to individuals, particularly to borrowers of small means.
6. All banks are advised to implement the Revised General Credit Card Scheme with immediate effect under advice to us.
Yours faithfully
(Madhavi Sharma)
Chief General Manager
Encl: As above
Annex
1. Objectives
The objective is to increase flow of credit to individuals for entrepreneurial activity in the non-farm sector provided through the General Credit Card. 2. Eligibility
All non-farm entrepreneurial credit extended to individuals, which is eligible for classification under the priority sector guidelines.
3. Coverage
The scheme shall cover the entire country.
4. Nature of financial accommodation
Any credit facility extended under the Scheme would include both working capital and term loan requirements of entrepreneurs. The GCC, preferably, may be issued as a Smart card / Debit card (Biometric smart card compatible for use in the ATMs / Hand held Swipe Machines and capable of storing adequate information on entrepreneur’s identity, assets and credit profile etc.). Wherever the accounts are not digitized, the GCC may be issued as a card/pass book or a credit card cum pass book incorporating the name, address, photograph of the holder, particulars of borrowing limit, validity period etc. for the time being which will serve both as an identity card as well as facilitate recording of the transactions on an ongoing basis.
5. Quantum of credit limit
There will be no ceiling on the loan amount as long as the loan is for the purpose of non-farm entrepreneurial activity and is otherwise eligible for classification as priority sector. The limits should be fixed on the basis of risk assessment on a case to case basis.
6. Security
Security norms will be applicable as per Reserve Bank guidelines on collateral free lending for micro and small units issued from time to time.
7. Rate of Interest
To be decided by banks in terms of their Board approved policies within the overall guidelines issued by Reserve Bank on interest rates from time to time.
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/389 · issued 02 Dec 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=8603&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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