Basel III Capital Regulations Master Circular 2013
No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/70 · issued 01 Jul 2013 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI issued a consolidated Master Circular on Basel III Capital Regulations, effective April 1, 2013, with phased implementation. It updates previous guidelines and incorporates instructions up to June 30, 2013. Banks must refer to Basel II circular for regulatory adjustments until March 31, 2017.
What changed
This Master Circular consolidates and updates the previous Basel III guidelines issued up to June 30, 2013, replacing the earlier Master Circular from July 2, 2012. It marks the formal implementation of Basel III in India from April 1, 2013, in a phased manner. The Basel II framework remains relevant for regulatory adjustments and deductions during the transition period ending March 31, 2017.
What it means for you
Indian banks must now comply with the updated Basel III capital regulations as outlined in this circular, which sets higher capital standards. The phased implementation allows banks time to adjust, but they must carefully manage capital planning and deductions using both Basel II and III rules during the transition. This impacts capital adequacy calculations, risk-weighted assets, and disclosure requirements.
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
Review and implement the updated Basel III capital requirements as per the Master Circular effective April 1, 2013.
Ensure compliance with the phased implementation schedule and maintain adequate capital ratios.
Refer to the Basel II circular for regulatory adjustments and deductions until March 31, 2017.
Update internal policies and reporting systems to align with the consolidated guidelines.
Who it affects
All Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding Local Area Banks and Regional Rural Banks), Risk management and compliance teams, Capital planning and treasury departments
RBI’s words: “additions / amendments to the ‘Master Circular on Basel III Capital Regulations’”
Repealed byRBI/2025-26/100 — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)
RBI’s words: “Official withdrawal register entry #1088: DBOD.No.BP.BC.2/21.06.201/2013-14 — "Master Circular - Basel III Capital Regulations" dated July 1, 2013”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2013-14/70
DBOD.No.BP.BC. 2/21.06.201/2013-14
July 1, 2013
All Scheduled Commercial Banks
(Excluding Local Area Banks
and Regional Rural Banks)
Madam / Sir,
Master Circular – Basel III Capital Regulations
Please refer to the Master Circular No.DBOD.BP.BC.16/21.06.001/2012-13 dated July 2, 2012 , consolidating therein the prudential guidelines issued to banks till that date on Capital Adequacy and Market Discipline - New Capital Adequacy Framework (NCAF).
2. As you are aware, Basel III Capital Regulations is being implemented in India with effect from April 1, 2013 in a phased manner. Accordingly, instructions contained in the aforesaid Master Circular have been suitably updated / amended by incorporating relevant guidelines, issued up to June 30, 2013 and is being issued as Master Circular on ‘Basel III Capital Regulations’.
3. The Basel II guidelines as contained in the Master Circular DBOD.No.BP.BC.9/21.06.001/2013-14 dated July 1, 2013 on ‘Prudential Guidelines on Capital Adequacy and Market Discipline- New Capital Adequacy Framework (NCAF)’ may, however, be referred to during the Basel III transition period for regulatory adjustments / deductions up to March 31, 2017.
Yours faithfully,
(Chandan Sinha)
Principal Chief General Manager
Encl.: As above
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/70 · issued 01 Jul 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=8142&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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