AIFI HTM Cap Relaxed for Long-Term Bonds of Non-Financial Entities
No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2024-25/116 · issued 17 Feb 2025 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI has exempted AIFIs' investments in long-term bonds/debentures (3+ years residual maturity) of non-financial entities from the 25% HTM ceiling, effective April 1, 2025, to support infrastructure and long-term financing.
What changed
Previously, only specific investments under sub-sections (ii) and (iii) of paragraph 34.2.2 were excluded from the 25% HTM cap. Now, investments made by AIFIs as per their statutory mandates in long-term bonds/debentures (minimum residual maturity of 3 years at investment) issued by non-financial entities are also excluded from this ceiling.
What it means for you
This amendment gives AIFIs more flexibility to hold long-term bonds of non-financial firms without breaching the HTM limit, encouraging them to fund infrastructure and corporate projects. Banks and lenders dealing with AIFIs may see increased demand for such instruments, potentially improving liquidity in the long-term bond market.
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
Update internal HTM classification policies to exclude eligible long-term bonds/debentures from the 25% ceiling for AIFIs.
Review statutory mandates to identify qualifying investments in non-financial entity bonds with 3+ years residual maturity.
Communicate the change to treasury and compliance teams to ensure alignment with the April 1, 2025 effective date.
Monitor AIFI investment portfolios for increased holdings in long-term bonds, which may affect market dynamics.
Who it affects
All India Financial Institutions (EXIM Bank, NABARD, NaBFID, NHB, SIDBI), Treasury and compliance departments of AIFIs, Non-financial entities issuing long-term bonds/debentures, Banks and lenders interacting with AIFIs
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Stated effective dateeffective April 1, 2025
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-18 02:27 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).
Does this exemption apply to all bonds or only those from non-financial entities?
Only investments in long-term bonds and debentures (minimum residual maturity of 3 years at investment) issued by non-financial entities are exempted from the 25% HTM ceiling.
When does this circular take effect?
The instructions come into force from April 1, 2025.
Which AIFIs are covered by this amendment?
The circular applies to EXIM Bank, NABARD, NaBFID, NHB, and SIDBI.
📜 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 #82: DOR.MRG.REC.60/00-00-017/2024-25 — "Reserve Bank of India (Prudential Regulations on Basel III Capital Framework, Exposure Norms, Significant Investments, Class”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2024-25/116
DOR.MRG.REC.60/00-00-017/2024-25
February 17, 2025
Madam / Dear Sir,
Reserve Bank of India (Prudential Regulations on Basel III Capital Framework, Exposure Norms, Significant Investments, Classification, Valuation and Operation of Investment Portfolio Norms and Resource Raising Norms for All India Financial Institutions) Directions, 2023 - Amendment
Please refer to paragraph 34.2 of the Reserve Bank of India (Prudential Regulations on Basel III Capital Framework, Exposure Norms, Significant Investments, Classification, Valuation and Operation of Investment Portfolio Norms and Resource Raising Norms for All India Financial Institutions) Directions, 2023 issued on September 21, 2023 .
2. On a review, it has been decided that investments made by All India Financial Institutions (AIFIs), as per their statutory mandates, in long-term bonds and debentures (i.e., having minimum residual maturity of three years at the time of investment) issued by non-financial entities shall not be accounted for the purpose of the ceiling of 25 per cent applicable to investments included under Held to Maturity (HTM) category, specified under the Directions ibid.
3. Accordingly, the relevant instructions have been amended as detailed in Annex .
Applicability
4. This circular shall be applicable to the AIFIs regulated by the Reserve Bank, viz. the Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank), the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID), the National Housing Bank (NHB) and the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).
5. This circular is issued in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 45L of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
6. These instructions shall come into force with effect from April 1, 2025.
Yours faithfully,
(Usha Janakiraman)
Chief General Manager-in Charge
Annex
Reserve Bank of India (Prudential Regulations on Basel III Capital Framework, Exposure Norms, Significant Investments, Classification, Valuation and Operation of Investment Portfolio Norms and Resource Raising Norms for All India Financial Institutions) Directions, 2023 issued on September 21, 2023
Sr. No.
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2024-25/116 · issued 17 Feb 2025. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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.
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=12783&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.
Help us keep this accurate
Found an inaccuracy or have an improvement? Tell us. Every report is reviewed by our team before any change is made — nothing goes live unverified.
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 ↗
BANKPULSE · FREE DAILY BRIEF
Get RBI updates for your role
Every important RBI update, decoded in plain English — for your career, exams & financial awareness.
We collect only your email, name and role, used solely to send your brief — never sold or shared. Withdraw anytime via the unsubscribe link in any email. Independent platform, not affiliated with the RBI. Information, not legal advice.
REPORT AN ERROR · BETA
Spotted an error? Earn 500 BankPulse Credits
Help us stay accurate. If your correction is verified true and approved by our founder, you earn 500 BankPulse Credits — redeemable when the platform monetises.
Reviewed by a human before any credit is awarded. We never change the site from crowd input without verification.
WANT A NEW FEATURE · BETA
What would make BankPulse more useful for you?
Tell us what to build next — a tool, a data view, a role page, anything. We read every suggestion.
Thank you — your ideas directly shape what we build.