HomeCirculars › RBI/2021-2022/158

RBI Clarifies NPA Upgrade Rules for Multiple Facilities

No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2021-2022/158 · issued 15 Feb 2022 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI clarifies that loan accounts can be upgraded from NPA to standard only after full repayment of all arrears across all credit facilities. The 'out of order' definition now applies to all overdraft products, including non-business ones. NBFCs get until September 30, 2022, to implement the upgrade rule.

What changed

The definition of 'out of order' now covers all overdraft facilities, not just business loans, and the 'previous 90 days' period includes the day-end process day. For borrowers with multiple credit facilities, all accounts must have full arrears cleared before any can be upgraded from NPA to standard. No changes were made to CRILC reporting or Ind-AS guidelines for NBFCs.

What it means for you

Banks must ensure that for any borrower with multiple loans, all accounts are fully regularized before upgrading any single account. This tightens NPA upgrade discipline and prevents selective repayment. The expanded 'out of order' definition brings more overdraft products under stricter monitoring, potentially increasing NPA recognition for non-business OD accounts.

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

Who it affects

All Commercial Banks including Small Finance Banks, Local Area Banks, and RRBs, All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, State Co-operative Banks, and District Central Co-operative Banks, All-India Financial Institutions (Exim Bank, NABARD, NHB, SIDBI), All Non-Banking Financial Companies including Housing Finance Companies

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).

Does this circular change CRILC reporting requirements?

No, the circular explicitly states that CRILC reporting continues to be governed by existing instructions for respective entities.

What is the timeline for NBFCs to implement the upgrade rule?

NBFCs have until September 30, 2022, to put in place necessary systems for the provision that loan accounts can be upgraded only if entire arrears are paid. Other instructions apply as per earlier timelines.

📜 This document’s life story (1 recorded event, each backed by RBI’s own words)
Repealed by RBI/2025-26/100 — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)
RBI’s words: “Official withdrawal register entry #267: DOR.STR.REC.85/21.04.048/2021-22 — "Prudential Norms on Income Recognition, Asset Classification and Provisioning Pertaining to Advances - Clarifications" date”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2021-2022/158 DOR.STR.REC.85/21.04.048/2021-22 February 15, 2022 All Commercial Banks (including Small Finance Banks, Local Area Banks and Regional Rural Banks) excluding Payments Banks All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks/State Co-operative Banks/District Central Co-operative Banks All-India Financial Institutions (Exim Bank, NABARD, NHB and SIDBI) All Non-Banking Financial Companies (including Housing Finance Companies) Madam/Dear Sir, Prudential norms on Income Recognition, Asset Classification and Provisioning pertaining to Advances – Clarifications Please refer to the clarifications issued in respect of Prudential norms on Income Recognition, Asset Classification and Provisioning vide circular DOR.STR.REC.68/21.04.048/2021-22 dated November 12, 2021 (‘ Circular ’). 2. In view of several queries received seeking certain clarifications, it is advised as under: The definition of ‘out of order’, as clarified in the Circular, shall be applicable to all loan products being offered as an overdraft facility, including those not meant for business purposes and/or which entail interest repayments as the only credits. The ‘previous 90 days period’ for determination of ‘out of order’ status of a CC/OD account shall be inclusive of the day for which the day-end process is being run. In case of borrowers having more than one credit facility from a lending institution, loan accounts shall be upgraded from NPA to standard asset category only upon repayment of entire arrears of interest and principal pertaining to all the credit facilities. The circular does not make any changes to the requirements related to reporting of information to CRILC, which will continue to be governed in terms of extant instructions for respective entities 1 . The circular does not, in any way, interfere with the extant guidelines on implementation of Ind-AS by NBFCs. 3. Paragraph 10 of the Circular stipulates that loan accounts classified as NPAs may be upgraded as ‘standard’ asset only if entire arrears of interest and principal are paid by the borrower. NBFCs shall have time till September 30, 2022 to put in place the necessary systems to implement this provision. All other instructions of the Circular shall continue to be applicable as per the timelines specified therein. Yours faithfully, (Manoranjan Mishra) Chief General Manager 1 Circular No. DBS.Dir.OSMOS.No.3327/33.01.001/2013-14 dated September 11, 2013 (SCBs) Circular No. DNBS (PD) CC.No.371/03.05.02/2013-14 dated March 21, 2014 (NBFCs) Circular No. DBS.OSMOS.No.14703/33.01.001/2013-14 dated May 22, 2014 (AIFIs) Circular No. DOR (PCB).BPD.Cir.No.7/13.05.000/2019-20 dated December 27, 2019 (UCBs)
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2021-2022/158 · issued 15 Feb 2022. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
🧰 Tools — save, print, templates & related

💬 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.

Loading comments…
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=12230&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.
Public beta — plain-English informational summaries. Always verify against the official RBI source (circular number cited on every page) before making compliance, credit, treasury, audit, or operational decisions. · Join our WhatsApp channel ↗