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RBI revises list of LWE-affected districts for branch authorisation

No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2022-23/109 · issued 22 Aug 2022 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI has reduced the list of Left Wing Extremism-affected districts from 90 to 70, effective August 22, 2022. Banks must use this revised list for branch authorisation under the relaxed policy for these areas.

What changed

The Government of India reduced the number of LWE-affected districts from 90 to 70. RBI has updated its branch authorisation policy accordingly, replacing the earlier list issued in June 2018. The revised list is effective from the date of this circular.

What it means for you

Banks can now open branches more freely in the 20 districts removed from the list, as they no longer qualify for relaxed norms. For the remaining 70 districts, the existing relaxed branch authorisation policy continues to apply. This change may affect branch expansion strategies in states like Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, and West Bengal.

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 Domestic Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs, Payments Banks, and LABs), Branch planning and compliance departments, Banks with operations in LWE-affected states

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

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

What is the effective date of the revised LWE district list?

The revised list is effective from August 22, 2022, the date of the circular.

How many districts are now classified as LWE-affected?

The list has been reduced from 90 to 70 districts.

Which states are included in the revised list?

The list includes districts from Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, and West Bengal.

📜 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Repealed by RBI/2025-26/100 — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)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 #220: DOR.AUT.REC.62/22.01.001/2022-23 — "Section 23 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 - Branch Authorisation Policy - Left Wing Extremism Affected Districts - Rev”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2022-23/109 DOR.AUT.REC.62/22.01.001/2022-23 August 22, 2022 All Domestic Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding Regional Rural Banks, Payments Banks and Local Area Banks) Madam/Dear Sir, Section 23 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 – Branch Authorisation Policy – Left Wing Extremism affected districts – Revised List Please refer to our circular on ‘Rationalisation of Branch Authorisation Policy-Revision of Guidelines’ DBR.No.BAPD.BC.69/22.01.001/2016-17 dated May 18, 2017 . As per paragraph 4.2 (c) of the circular, a list of 90 Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected districts in the country was issued vide our Circular DBR.No.BAPD.BC.111/22.01.001/2017-18 dated June 14, 2018 , based on Government of India’s notification issued in April 2018. 2. The Government of India has further reduced the list of LWE affected district to 70. The banks are advised to follow the revised list (effective from the date of this circular) as annexed herewith . Yours faithfully, (Prakash Baliarsingh) Chief General Manager Encl: As above ANNEX List of LWE districts Andhra Pradesh 1.East Godavari 2.Srikakulam 3.Visakhapatnam 4.Vizianagram 5.West Godavari Bihar 6.Aurangabad 7.Banka 8.Gaya 9.Jamui 10.Kaimur 11.Lakhisarai 12.Munger 13.Nawada 14.Rohtas 15.West Champaran Chhattisgarh 16.Balrampur 17.Bastar 18.Bijapur 19.Dantewada 20.Dhamtari 21.Gariyaband 22.Kanker 23.Kondagaon 24.Mahasamund 25.Narayanpur 26.Rajnandgaon 27.Sukma 28.Kabirdham 29.Mungeli Jharkhand 30.Bokaro 31.Chatra 32.Dhanbad 33.Dumka
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2022-23/109 · issued 22 Aug 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=12379&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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