ECB Re-schedulement: RBI Delegates Powers to AD Banks
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/584 · issued 09 May 2014 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI now allows AD Category-I banks to approve ECB re-schedulement (changes in drawdown/repayment schedule) without prior RBI nod, subject to conditions like no increase in interest rate or additional costs, and compliance with all-in-cost and average maturity period norms.
The rule, in the simplest words
AD Category-I banks can now approve ECB re-schedulement without RBI nod, but with conditions.
No increase in interest rate or additional costs allowed, AIC and AMP must stay within guidelines.
Borrower must not be in RBI's default/caution list or under ED investigation, and ECB must comply with all applicable guidelines.
How it plays out — a real example
A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore, Mr. Kumar, is processing an ECB re-schedulement request from a corporate borrower. He verifies the borrower's eligibility, checks that the re-schedulement does not increase the interest rate or add any costs, and confirms that the post-re-schedulement AIC and AMP comply with applicable ECB norms. After ensuring all conditions are met, Mr. Kumar approves the re-schedulement and reports it to DSIM via revised Form 83, maintaining an audit trail.
What changed
Earlier, AD banks could only approve changes in drawdown/repayment schedules under specific conditions, but any elongation beyond original maturity needed RBI approval. Now, RBI has delegated full power to AD Category-I banks to allow re-schedulement of ECB (both automatic and approval routes) before maturity, with conditions. This simplification removes the need for prior RBI approval for such re-schedulements, except for FCCBs which are excluded.
What it means for you
Banks can now process ECB re-schedulement requests faster without waiting for RBI clearance, reducing turnaround time for borrowers. However, banks must ensure strict compliance: no increase in interest rate or additional costs, AIC and AMP must stay within guidelines, and the borrower must not be in RBI's default/caution list or under ED investigation. This delegation eases operational burden on RBI but increases due diligence responsibility on AD banks.
What you must do
Update internal ECB processing guidelines to include delegated re-schedulement approval authority.
Verify borrower eligibility: ensure no default/caution list presence and no ED investigation.
Check that re-schedulement does not increase interest rate or add any cost (foreign currency or INR).
Confirm post-re-schedulement AIC and AMP comply with applicable ECB norms.
Report re-schedulement to DSIM via revised Form 83 and maintain audit trail.
Who it affects
AD Category-I banks handling ECB approvals, Corporate borrowers with existing ECBs under automatic or approval routes, RBI's ECB monitoring and compliance teams
❓ Common questions
Can we approve re-schedulement for ECBs that have already matured?
No. Re-schedulement is allowed only once, before the original maturity of the ECB. Any elongation after maturity still requires prior RBI approval.
Does this circular apply to FCCBs?
No. The provisions of this circular explicitly do not apply to Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds (FCCBs).
What if the lender is an overseas branch of a domestic bank?
In such cases, the AD bank must ensure compliance with applicable prudential norms on account of re-schedulement.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2013-14/584
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 128
May 9, 2014
To
All Category – I Authorised Dealer Banks Madam/ Sir,
External Commercial Borrowings (ECB) Policy:
Re-schedulement of ECB - Simplification of procedure
Attention of Authorised Dealer Category – I (AD Category – I) banks is invited to the instructions contained in A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.33 dated February 09, 2010 in terms of which AD Category – banks are permitted to approve changes / modifications in the drawdown / repayment schedule of the ECBs already availed, both under the approval and the automatic routes, subject to the conditions. However, any elongation / rollover in the repayment on expiry of the original maturity of the ECB requires the prior approval of the Reserve Bank.
2. As a measure of simplification of the existing procedures, it has been decided to delegate the power to the designated AD Category – I bank to allow re-schedulement of ECB due to changes in draw-down schedule and / or repayment schedule with the following conditions:
Changes, if any, in all-in-cost (AIC) is only on account of the change in average maturity period (AMP) due to re-schedulement of ECB and post re-schedulement, the AIC and the AMP are in conformity with applicable guidelines. There should not be any increase in the rate of interest and no additional cost (in foreign currency / Indian Rupees) should be involved.
The re-schedulement is allowed only once, before the maturity of the ECB.
If the lender is an overseas branch of a domestic bank, the prudential norms applicable on account of re-schedulement should be complied with.
The changes on account of re-schedulement should be reported to DSIM through revised Form 83.
The ECB should be in compliance with all applicable guidelines related to eligible borrower, recognised lender, AIC, AMP, end-uses, etc.
The borrower should not be in the default / caution list of RBI and should not be under the investigation of Directorate of Enforcement.
3. The facility will be available for ECBs raised both under the automatic and approval routes . Provisions of this Circular do not apply to FCCBs.
4. The modification to the ECB policy will come into force with immediate effect. All other aspects of the ECB policy shall remain unchanged.
5. AD Category - I banks may bring the contents of this circular to the notice of their constituents and customers.
6. The directions contained in this circular have been issued under sections 10(4) and 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999) and are without prejudice to permissions / approvals, if any, required under any other law.
Yours faithfully,
(Rudra Narayan Kar)
Chief General Manager-in-Charge
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/584 · issued 09 May 2014. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (AD Category-I banks handling ECB approvals, Corporate borrowers with existing ECBs under automatic or approval routes, RBI's ECB monitoring and compliance teams), your first concrete step on “ECB Re-schedulement: RBI Delegates Powers to AD Banks” is: “Update internal ECB processing guidelines to include delegated re-schedulement approval authority.” (RBI issued this 09 May 2014).
Circular: RBI/2013-14/584 -- ECB Re-schedulement: RBI Delegates Powers to AD Banks
Issued: 09 May 2014
Action required: Update internal ECB processing guidelines to include delegated re-schedulement approval authority.
Action required: Verify borrower eligibility: ensure no default/caution list presence and no ED investigation.
Action required: Check that re-schedulement does not increase interest rate or add any cost (foreign currency or INR).
Action required: Confirm post-re-schedulement AIC and AMP comply with applicable ECB norms.
Action required: Report re-schedulement to DSIM via revised Form 83 and maintain audit trail.
Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
Evidence filed in compliance register on: ____________
Built only from this circular’s own published fields — not legal advice; always confirm against the official RBI source.
💬 Banker Discussion
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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=8870&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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