CRGFTLIH Guaranteed Loans: Risk Weight & Provisioning Norms for NBFC-MFIs
No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/425 · issued 01 Jan 2014 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI allows NBFC-MFIs to assign zero risk weight and skip provisioning on the guaranteed portion of low-income housing loans backed by CRGFTLIH. Only the unguaranteed excess follows standard norms. Effective January 1, 2014.
What changed
RBI amended the 2007 Prudential Norms Directions for NBFC-MFIs to insert two new provisions. First, for loans guaranteed by CRGFTLIH, NBFC-MFIs may assign zero risk weight to the guaranteed portion, with the excess attracting standard risk weights. Second, if such an advance becomes non-performing, no provision is required for the guaranteed portion; only the unguaranteed excess must be provisioned as per existing guidelines.
What it means for you
This circular reduces capital and provisioning burden for NBFC-MFIs lending to low-income housing under CRGFTLIH guarantee. It aligns treatment with similar credit guarantee schemes (like CGTMSE) and encourages lending to this segment. Banks and NBFC-MFIs can now offer more competitive rates on such loans, knowing the guaranteed part carries no risk weight or provisioning cost.
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 prudential norms to assign zero risk weight to the CRGFTLIH-guaranteed portion of housing loans.
Ensure provisioning policies reflect that no provision is needed on the guaranteed portion of NPAs; only the excess is provisioned as per standard norms.
Train credit and risk teams on the distinction between guaranteed and unguaranteed portions for reporting and capital adequacy calculations.
Review existing low-income housing loan portfolios to identify CRGFTLIH-backed advances and apply the new treatment.
Who it affects
NBFC-MFIs, Banks lending to low-income housing, Credit Risk Guarantee Fund Trust for Low Income Housing (CRGFTLIH), Risk management and compliance teams
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Stated effective dateEffective January 1, 2014
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-18 11:22 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 CRGFTLIH and who set it up?
CRGFTLIH stands for Credit Risk Guarantee Fund Trust for Low Income Housing, set up by the Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation, Government of India, in June 2012 to guarantee low-income housing loans.
Does this circular apply to all NBFCs or only NBFC-MFIs?
It applies specifically to NBFC-MFIs (Non-Banking Financial Company-Micro Finance Institutions) as per the notification. Other NBFCs are not covered.
What happens if the guaranteed portion exceeds the loan amount?
The circular states zero risk weight and no provisioning only for the guaranteed portion. Any amount outstanding beyond the guarantee is treated per standard risk weight and provisioning norms.
📜 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/2013-14/425
DNBS.PD.363/03.10.38/2013-14
January 1, 2014
All NBFC-MFIs
Dear Sirs,
Advances guaranteed by Credit Risk Guarantee Fund Trust for Low Income Housing (CRGFTLIH) – Risk Weights and Provisioning
The Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation, Government of India has set up the CRGFTLIH vide their Notification No.O-17034/122/2009-H dated June 21, 2012 for the purpose of providing guarantee in respect of low income housing loans . On the issue of assignment of appropriate risk weight for loans guaranteed by CRGFTLIH and prescription of requisite provisioning norms for such loans on the lines of credit facilities guaranteed by Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises, it has been decided as under:
i) Risk weight
NBFC-MFIs may assign zero risk weight for the guaranteed portion. The balance outstanding in excess of the guaranteed portion would attract a risk-weight as per extant guidelines.
ii) Provisioning
In case the advance covered by CRGFTLIH guarantee becomes non-performing, no provision need be made towards the guaranteed portion. The amount outstanding in excess of the guaranteed portion should be provided for as per the extant guidelines on provisioning for non-performing advances.
Also please find enclosed the amending Notifications of date for meticulous compliance.
Yours faithfully,
(N.S.Vishwanathan)
Principal Chief General Manager
RESERVE BANK OF INDIA
DEPARTMENT OF NON-BANKING SUPERVISION
CENTRAL OFFICE
CENTRE I, WORLD TRADE CENTRE
CUFFE PARADE, COLABA
MUMBAI 400 005
Notification No.DNBS.267 / PCGM (NSV)-2014 January 1, 2014
The Reserve Bank of India, having considered it necessary in public interest and being satisfied that, for the purpose of enabling the Bank to regulate the credit system to the advantage of the country, it is necessary to amend the Non-Banking Financial (Non-Deposit Accepting or Holding) Companies Prudential Norms (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2007 (hereinafter referred to as the said Directions) contained in Notification No.DNBS.193/DG(VL)-2007 dated February 22, 2007, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 45JA of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934) and of all the powers enabling it in this behalf, hereby directs that the said Directions shall be amended with immediate effect as follows -
(1) In paragraph 9 under sub-heading “Notes” after paragraph (6) the following paragraph (7) shall be inserted :-
7. In case of NBFC-MFIs, if the advance covered by Credit Risk Guarantee Fund Trust for Low Income Housing (CRGFTLIH) guarantee becomes non-performing, no provision need be made towards the guaranteed portion. The amount outstanding in excess of the guaranteed portion should be provided for as per the extant guidelines on provisioning for non-performing advances.
(2) In sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 16 under sub-heading “Notes” after paragraph (4) the following paragraph (5) shall be inserted : -
5. For loans guaranteed by Credit Risk Guarantee Fund Trust for Low Income Housing (CRGFTLIH) NBFC-MFIs may assign zero risk weight for the guaranteed portion. The balance outstanding in excess of the guaranteed portion would attract a risk-weight as per extant guidelines.
(N.S. Vishwanathan)
Principal Chief General Manager
RESERVE BANK OF INDIA
DEPARTMENT OF NON-BANKING SUPERVISION
CENTRAL OFFICE
CENTRE I, WORLD TRADE CENTRE
CUFFE PARADE, COLABA
MUMBAI 400 005
Notification no. DNBS. 268 /PCGM (NSV)-2014 January 1, 2014
The Reserve Bank of India, having considered it necessary in public interest and being satisfied that, for the purpose of enabling the Bank to regulate the credit system to the advantage of the country, it is necessary to amend the Non-Banking Financial (Non-Deposit Accepting or Holding) Companies Prudential Norms (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2007 (hereinafter referred to as the said Directions) contained in Notification No.DNBS.192/DG(VL)-2007 dated February 22, 2007, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 45JA of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934) and of all the powers enabling it in this behalf, hereby directs that the said Directions shall be amended with immediate effect as follows –
(1) In paragraph 9 under sub-heading “Notes” after paragraph (6) the following paragraph (7) shall be inserted :-
7. In case of NBFC-MFIs, if the advance covered by Credit Risk Guarantee Fund Trust for Low Income Housing (CRGFTLIH) guarantee becomes non-performing, no provision need be made towards the guaranteed portion. The amount outstanding in excess of the guaranteed portion should be provided for as per the extant guidelines on provisioning for non-performing advances.
(2) In sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 16 under sub-heading “Notes” after paragraph (4) the following paragraph (5) shall be inserted :-
(5) For loans guaranteed by Credit Risk Guarantee Fund Trust for Low Income Housing (CRGFTLIH) NBFC-MFIs may assign zero risk weight for the guaranteed portion. The balance outstanding in excess of the guaranteed portion would attract a risk-weight as per extant guidelines.
(N.S. Vishwanathan)
Principal Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/425 · issued 01 Jan 2014. 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=8663&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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