Bilateral Netting of QFC: Prudential Norms Updated
No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2021-22/189 · issued 31 Mar 2022 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI has amended prudential guidelines across multiple regulated entities to align with the Bilateral Netting of Qualified Financial Contracts Act, 2020, enabling enforceable netting for derivatives and repo/reverse repo transactions. Effective immediately.
What changed
RBI has modified select instructions in seven existing circulars/directions covering Standalone Primary Dealers, UCBs, State/DCCBs, LABs, RRBs, NBFCs (ND-SI and D), and HFCs to incorporate the legal framework for bilateral netting of qualified financial contracts (QFCs). The changes reflect the notification of derivatives and repo/reverse repo as QFCs under the Act.
What it means for you
Banks and lenders can now legally enforce bilateral netting for derivatives and repo/reverse repo transactions, reducing counterparty credit risk and potentially lowering capital requirements. This aligns Indian prudential norms with international best practices and the 2020 Act, improving balance sheet efficiency for affected entities.
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 the specific annexes for your entity type to understand amended prudential norms on capital adequacy and risk weights.
Update internal policies and systems to reflect enforceable bilateral netting for derivatives and repo/reverse repo transactions.
Train risk and compliance teams on the revised netting framework under the Bilateral Netting of Qualified Financial Contracts Act, 2020.
Ensure capital adequacy calculations incorporate the new netting benefits as per the amended circulars.
Who it affects
Standalone Primary Dealers, Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, State and District Central Cooperative Banks, Local Area Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Systemically Important Non-Deposit taking NBFCs (NBFC-ND-SIs), Deposit taking NBFCs (NBFC-Ds), Housing Finance Companies (HFCs)
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-18 06:41 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).
When do these amendments take effect?
The revised instructions come into force with immediate effect from the date of the circular, March 31, 2022.
📜 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)
RBI’s words: “Official withdrawal register entry #262: DOR.CAP.REC.No.97/21.06.201/2021-22 — "Bilateral Netting of Qualified Financial Contracts - Amendments to Prudential Guidelines" dated March 31, 2022”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2021-22/189
DOR.CAP.REC.No.97/21.06.201/2021-22
March 31, 2022
Dear Sir/ Madam,
Bilateral Netting of Qualified Financial Contracts - Amendments to Prudential Guidelines
The Bilateral Netting of Qualified Financial Contracts Act, 2020 (hereafter referred to as “the Act”), has been notified by the Government of India vide Gazette Notification No. S.O. 3463(E) dated October 1, 2020. The Act provides a legal framework for enforceability of bilateral netting of qualified financial contracts (QFC).
2. In exercise of the powers conferred by section 4(a) of the Act, the Reserve Bank, vide Notification no. FMRD.DIRD.2/14.03.043/2020-21 dated March 9, 2021, has since notified (a) “derivatives”; and (b) “repo” and “reverse repo” transactions as defined under Section 45(U) of Chapter III-D of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 as a QFC.
3. Accordingly, select instructions contained in the following circulars/ Directions have been modified/ amended appropriately:
Master Direction DNBR.PD.004/03.10.119/2016-17 dated August 23, 2016 - Master Direction - Standalone Primary Dealers (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2016 as provided in Annex 1 ;
Master Circular DCBR.BPD.(PCB). MC.No.10/09.18.201/2015-16 dated July 1, 2015 on Prudential Norms on Capital Adequacy – UCBs as provided in Annex 2 ;
Circular RPCD.RCB.BC.No.37/07.51.012/2014-15 dated October 29, 2014 on Risk Weights for calculation of CRAR as provided in Annex 3 ;
Master Direction DOR.CAP.REC.No.61/21.01.002/2021-22 dated October 26, 2021 - Prudential Norms on Capital Adequacy for Local Area Banks (Directions), 2021 as provided in Annex 4 ;
Master Circular RPCD.CO.RRB.No.BC.44/05.03.095/2007-08 dated December 28, 2007 on Application of Capital Adequacy Norms to Regional Rural Banks as provided in Annex 5 ;
Master Direction DNBR.PD.008/03.10.119/2016-17 dated September 01, 2016 - Non-Banking Financial Company - Systemically Important Non-Deposit taking Company and Deposit taking Company (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2016 as provided in Annex 6 ; and
Master Direction DOR.FIN.HFC.CC.No.120/03.10.136/2020-21 dated February 17, 2021 - Non-Banking Financial Company – Housing Finance Company (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2021 as provided in Annex 7 .
The Directions mentioned above shall be accordingly updated.
Applicability
4. This circular is applicable to All Standalone Primary Dealers, Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, State and District Central Cooperative Banks, Local Area Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Systemically Important Non-Deposit taking Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFC-ND-SIs) and Deposit taking Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFC-Ds) and Housing Finance Companies (HFCs), as mentioned in Annex 1 to 7 respectively.
The revised instructions come into force with immediate effect.
Yours faithfully,
(Usha Janakiraman)
Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2021-22/189 · issued 31 Mar 2022. 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=12262&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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