Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2022-23/12 · issued 01 Apr 2022 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI issued a consolidated Master Circular on Basel III capital adequacy norms for scheduled commercial banks (excluding SFBs, PBs, RRBs), effective April 1, 2022, replacing the 2015 circular.
What changed
This Master Circular consolidates all Basel III capital regulations issued up to the date of this circular into a single document. It supersedes the previous Master Circular dated July 1, 2015, and includes an annex listing all circulars that have been consolidated.
What it means for you
Banks now have a single, updated reference for all Basel III capital adequacy requirements, reducing the need to track multiple circulars. Compliance teams must ensure their capital planning and reporting align with the consolidated instructions. Small Finance Banks, Payments Banks, and RRBs are excluded and must follow their own licensing guidelines.
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 consolidated Master Circular and update internal capital adequacy policies accordingly.
Ensure all Basel III reporting and compliance processes reference this circular as the primary source.
Train relevant staff on any changes or clarifications introduced in the consolidated instructions.
Cross-check Annex 27 to confirm all previously issued circulars are accounted for.
Who it affects
All Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding Small Finance Banks, Payments Banks, and Regional Rural Banks)
RBI’s words: “Please refer to the Master Circular No. DOR.CAP.REC.3/21.06.201/2022-23 dated April 1, 2022”
Repealed byRBI/2025-26/100 — Consolidation of Regulations — Withdrawal of circulars (28 Nov 2025)
RBI’s words: “Official withdrawal register entry #254: DOR.CAP.REC.3/21.06.201/2022-23 — "Master Circular - Basel III Capital Regulations" dated April 1, 2022”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2022-23/12
DOR.CAP.REC.3/21.06.201/2022-23
April 1, 2022
All Scheduled Commercial Banks
(Excluding Small Finance Banks, Payments Banks
and Regional Rural Banks)
Madam / Dear Sir,
Master Circular – Basel III Capital Regulations
Please refer to the Master Circular No. DBR.No.BP.BC.1/21.06.201/2015-16 dated July 1, 2015 , consolidating therein the prudential guidelines on Basel III capital adequacy issued to banks till June 30, 2015.
2. This Master Circular consolidates instructions on the above matters issued as on date. A list of circulars consolidated in this Master Circular is contained in Annex 27.
3. Small Finance Banks and Payments Banks may refer to their respective licensing guidelines and operating guidelines issued by Reserve Bank, for prudential guidelines on capital adequacy.
Yours faithfully,
(Usha Janakiraman)
Chief General Manager
Encl.: As above
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2022-23/12 · issued 01 Apr 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=12278&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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