HomeCirculars › RBI/2022-23/25

RBI Raises FALLCR to 16% of NDTL for LCR HQLA

No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2022-23/25 · issued 18 Apr 2022 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI has increased the FALLCR limit from 15% to 16% of NDTL, restoring the total HQLA carve-out from mandatory SLR to 18% of NDTL (2% MSF + 16% FALLCR). This immediately boosts banks' eligible Level 1 HQLA for LCR computation.

What changed

Previously, the total HQLA carve-out from mandatory SLR was 18% of NDTL (3% MSF + 15% FALLCR), but after MSF was reduced to 2% from January 1, 2022, it fell to 17%. Now, RBI has raised FALLCR to 16% of NDTL, bringing the total carve-out back to 18% of NDTL (2% MSF + 16% FALLCR).

What it means for you

Banks can now count an additional 1% of NDTL in government securities as Level 1 HQLA under FALLCR, effectively reversing the earlier reduction. This provides more liquidity headroom for meeting LCR requirements without needing to hold extra unencumbered assets. It eases pressure on banks' liquidity buffers, especially amid tighter market conditions.

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 (excluding RRBs, LABs, and Payments Banks), Treasury departments managing SLR and HQLA portfolios, Risk management teams handling LCR reporting

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

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

What is FALLCR and how does this change impact my bank?

FALLCR (Facility to Avail Liquidity for Liquidity Coverage Ratio) allows banks to use a portion of mandatory SLR government securities as Level 1 HQLA. The increase from 15% to 16% of NDTL means your bank can now count more government securities towards LCR, improving liquidity coverage.

Does this circular apply to all banks?

No, it applies to all Commercial Banks except Regional Rural Banks, Local Area Banks, and Payments Banks. Check your bank's classification to confirm applicability.

When does this change take effect?

The instructions came into force with immediate effect from April 18, 2022, the date of the circular.

📜 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 #248: DOR.LRG.REC.19/21.04.098/2022-23 — "Basel III Framework on Liquidity Standards - Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR)" dated April 18, 2022”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2022-23/25 DOR.LRG.REC.19/21.04.098/2022-23 April 18, 2022 Dear Sir/Madam, Basel III Framework on Liquidity Standards – Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) Please refer to our circular DOR.BP.BC.No.65/21.04.098/2019-20 dated April 17, 2020 on Basel III Framework on Liquidity Standards – Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR). 2. In terms of the circular ibid, the assets allowed as Level 1 High Quality Liquid Assets (HQLAs) for the purpose of computing the LCR, inter alia, include (a) Government securities in excess of the mandatory SLR requirement and (b) within the mandatory SLR requirement, Government securities to the extent allowed under (i) Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) and (ii) Facility to Avail Liquidity for Liquidity Coverage Ratio (FALLCR) [15 per cent of the banks’ Net Demand and Time Liabilities (NDTL)]. 3. Since MSF has been reduced to 2 per cent from 3 per cent of NDTL from January 1, 2022, the total HQLA carve out from the mandatory SLR, which can be reckoned for meeting LCR requirement, has reduced to 17 per cent of NDTL (2 per cent MSF plus 15 per cent FALLCR) from 18 percent. 4. On a review, it has been decided to permit banks to reckon Government securities as Level 1 HQLA under FALLCR within the mandatory SLR requirement up to 16 per cent of their NDTL. Accordingly, the total HQLA carve out from the mandatory SLR, which can be reckoned for meeting LCR requirement will be 18 per cent of NDTL (2 per cent MSF plus 16 per cent FALLCR). Applicability: 5. This circular is applicable to all Commercial Banks other than Regional Rural Banks, Local Area Banks and Payments Banks. 6. These instructions shall come into force with immediate effect. Yours faithfully (Usha Janakiraman) Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2022-23/25 · issued 18 Apr 2022. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
🧰 Tools — save, print, templates & related
Topics: Capital / Basel
Key dataSee the live numbers behind this topic: Bank Health Scores, NPA / Asset-Quality Tracker — updated from official RBI data.
Key termsPlain-English definitions of terms in this circular — see the full Indian banking glossary. CRAR (Capital adequacy) · Tier 1 & Tier 2 capital · Risk-Weighted Assets (RWA) · LCR (Liquidity Coverage Ratio)

💬 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=12291&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 ↗