RBI Revamps Trading Book Rules for Capital Adequacy
No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2023-24/128 · issued 28 Feb 2024 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI aligns capital adequacy guidelines with the new Investment Master Direction, effective April 1, 2024. Trading book definition now follows the HFT classification, and AFS-reserve is part of regulatory capital. Market risk capital requirements get intermediate scalers ahead of the Simplified Standardised Approach.
What changed
RBI has amended the Basel III Capital Regulations and Local Area Bank capital adequacy norms to align with the September 2023 Master Direction on Investment Portfolios. The trading book is now clearly defined under the Held for Trading (HFT) classification, and the AFS-reserve is included in regulatory capital. Market risk capital requirements have been recalibrated with intermediate scalers, though the full Simplified Standardised Approach will be implemented later.
What it means for you
Banks must update their internal capital planning and risk models to reflect the new trading book definition and AFS-reserve treatment. The intermediate scalers for market risk capital will affect capital ratios, so banks should review their strategies. This is a preparatory step before the full Simplified Standardised Approach for market risk is rolled out.
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 and update your bank's trading book classification to align with the HFT definition in the new Investment Master Direction.
Incorporate AFS-reserve into regulatory capital calculations as per the amended guidelines.
Recalibrate market risk capital requirements using the intermediate scalers provided in the annexes.
Adjust capital planning and strategy to account for the transitional scalers ahead of the full Simplified Standardised Approach.
Who it affects
All Commercial Banks (excluding Regional Rural Banks), Local Area Banks, Risk management and treasury teams, Capital planning and compliance departments
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Stated effective dateeffective April 1, 2024
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-18 03:45 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 new trading book rules take effect?
The instructions are applicable from April 1, 2024, for all commercial banks except Regional Rural Banks.
What is the AFS-reserve and how does it affect capital?
The AFS-reserve is a new component introduced under the Investment Master Direction that is now part of regulatory capital. Banks must include it in their capital adequacy calculations.
Will the Simplified Standardised Approach for market risk be implemented immediately?
No, the final guidelines on the Simplified Standardised Approach will be issued later. For now, banks must use intermediate scalers for market risk capital requirements.
📜 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)
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2023-24/128
DOR.MRG.REC.80/00-00-003/2023-24
February 28, 2024
All Commercial Banks
(excluding Regional Rural Banks)
Dear Sir / Madam,
Capital Adequacy Guidelines – Review of Trading Book
Please refer to Master Circular – Basel III Capital Regulations dated May 12, 2023 , and Master Direction – Prudential Norms on Capital Adequacy for Local Area Banks (Directions), 2021 dated October 26, 2021 (hereinafter together referred to as ‘capital adequacy guidelines’).
2. As you are aware, the Master Direction - Classification, Valuation and Operation of Investment Portfolio of Commercial Banks (Directions), 2023 dated September 12, 2023 (hereinafter referred as ‘MD on Investment’) inter alia provides a clearly identifiable trading book under ‘Held for Trading (HFT)’ accounting sub-classification and introduces AFS-reserve which would be part of regulatory capital. In view of the changes cited above, it has been decided to amend the capital adequacy guidelines in alignment with the MD on Investment.
3. Accordingly, the provisions of Master Circular – Basel III Capital Regulations have been modified as provided in Annex 1 .
4. It may be noted that ‘ Draft Guidelines on Minimum Capital Requirements for Market Risk – under Basel III ’ providing inter alia ‘Definition of trading book’ and ‘Market Risk capital Requirements – Simplified Standardised Approach’ were released on February 17, 2023 for public comments. While the revised definition of trading book for the purpose of capital adequacy will be as provided in Annex I of MD on Investment, the final guidelines on ‘Market Risk Capital Requirements – Simplified Standardised Approach’ will be implemented at a later date and detailed guidelines will be issued separately.
5. Considering the transition to ‘Market Risk Capital Requirements – Simplified Standardised Approach’, the extant market risk capital requirements have also been recalibrated by introducing intermediate scalers. Banks should keep this in view while reviewing their strategies and capital planning measures.
6. Further, the provisions of Master Direction – Prudential Norms on Capital Adequacy for Local Area Banks (Directions), 2021 have been modified as provided in Annex 2 .
Applicability
7. These instructions shall be applicable from April 1, 2024 to all Commercial Banks (excluding Regional Rural Banks).
Yours faithfully,
(Usha Janakiraman)
Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2023-24/128 · issued 28 Feb 2024. 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=12615&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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