LAF Overnight Repo Quantum Halved to 0.25% of NDTL
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-2014/549 · issued 01 Apr 2014 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI cut the overnight repo amount under LAF from 0.5% to 0.25% of bank-wise NDTL, effective immediately. This reduces daily liquidity access for banks and primary dealers, aligning with the April 2014 monetary policy stance.
The rule, in the simplest words
RBI lowered the overnight repo limit under LAF from 0.5% to 0.25% of each bank's NDTL (the total amount of demand and time deposits).
Banks and standalone primary dealers can now get only half the previous amount of short‑term cash from RBI each night.
Banks need to change their daily cash‑need forecasts and look for other sources like term repos or market borrowings.
The change applies to all scheduled commercial banks (except regional rural banks) and standalone primary dealers.
How it plays out — a real example
Rohit, a treasury officer at a scheduled commercial bank in Mumbai, checks his bank’s NDTL each morning. With the new rule, he limits the overnight repo borrowing from RBI to 0.25% of NDTL and arranges a short‑term market loan to cover the remaining cash need, keeping the bank’s daily liquidity smooth.
What changed
The quantum of liquidity provided through overnight repos under the Liquidity Adjustment Facility was reduced from 0.5% to 0.25% of each bank's Net Demand and Time Liabilities (NDTL). This change took effect from April 1, 2014, as announced in the First Bi-monthly Monetary Policy Statement 2014-15. All other LAF terms and conditions remained unchanged.
What it means for you
Banks and standalone primary dealers now have access to only half the previous overnight repo liquidity relative to their NDTL, tightening short-term funding availability. This move signals RBI's intent to gradually withdraw excess liquidity and nudge market rates closer to the policy repo rate. Lenders may need to rely more on other sources like the term repo or market borrowings for daily cash management.
What you must do
Recalibrate daily liquidity forecasting to reflect the reduced overnight repo limit of 0.25% of NDTL.
Explore alternative liquidity sources such as term repos, market borrowings, or interbank call money to meet shortfalls.
Update internal treasury and ALM systems to incorporate the new LAF cap for compliance and reporting.
Communicate the change to treasury and risk management teams to adjust funding strategies.
Who it affects
All Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs), Standalone Primary Dealers
❓ Common questions
Does this change affect the LAF repo rate or other terms?
No, only the quantum of overnight repo liquidity was reduced. The repo rate, reverse repo rate, and all other LAF terms remain unchanged.
Why did RBI reduce the overnight repo quantum?
The reduction was part of the First Bi-monthly Monetary Policy Statement 2014-15, aimed at gradually absorbing excess liquidity and aligning short-term rates with the policy rate.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2013-2014/549
FMD.MOAG. No. 100/01.01.001/2013-14
April 1, 2014
All Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs) and Standalone Primary Dealers
Madam / Sir,
Liquidity Adjustment Facility
As announced today in the First Bi-monthly Monetary Policy Statement 2014-15 , it has been decided to decrease the quantum of liquidity provided under overnight repos under the Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF) from 0.5 per cent of bank-wise NDTL to 0.25 per cent with immediate effect.
2. All other terms and conditions of the current LAF scheme will remain unchanged.
3. Please acknowledge receipt.
Yours sincerely
(G. Mahalingam)
Principal Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-2014/549 · issued 01 Apr 2014. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Update internal treasury and ALM systems to incorporate the new LAF cap for compliance and reporting.
📜 Compliance
Recalibrate daily liquidity forecasting to reflect the reduced overnight repo limit of 0.25% of NDTL.
Explore alternative liquidity sources such as term repos, market borrowings, or interbank call money to meet shortfalls.
Communicate the change to treasury and risk management teams to adjust funding strategies.
Grouped from the action items above — a single circular may involve more than one team.
Worked example & action-note template
Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (All Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs), Standalone Primary Dealers), your first concrete step on “LAF Overnight Repo Quantum Halved to 0.25% of NDTL” is: “Recalibrate daily liquidity forecasting to reflect the reduced overnight repo limit of 0.25% of NDTL.” (RBI issued this 01 Apr 2014).
Circular: RBI/2013-2014/549 -- LAF Overnight Repo Quantum Halved to 0.25% of NDTL
Issued: 01 Apr 2014
Action required: Recalibrate daily liquidity forecasting to reflect the reduced overnight repo limit of 0.25% of NDTL.
Action required: Explore alternative liquidity sources such as term repos, market borrowings, or interbank call money to meet shortfalls.
Action required: Update internal treasury and ALM systems to incorporate the new LAF cap for compliance and reporting.
Action required: Communicate the change to treasury and risk management teams to adjust funding strategies.
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
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=8822&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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