What changed
The amendment modifies the risk weight table under paragraph 18(1) of the Prudential Norms on Capital Adequacy Directions, 2025. It inserts two new sub-items (e)(i) and (e)(ii) that assign 75% and 50% risk weights respectively to loans for 'high-quality infrastructure projects' as defined in the Concentration Risk Management Amendment Directions, 2026, provided the borrower has repaid at least 2% or 5% of the sanctioned project debt. If a project later fails these conditions, it reverts to standard risk weights under items 3(e) or (g).
What it means for you
NBFCs can now apply lower capital charges on qualifying infrastructure loans, incentivizing lending to high-quality projects with proven repayment track records. The tiered thresholds (2% and 5% repayment) encourage monitoring of project performance. However, the reversion clause adds risk: if a project slips, NBFCs must immediately apply higher risk weights, potentially increasing capital requirements. The transition provision allows NBFCs to retain existing risk weights on current exposures that currently have a lower risk weight but will be subject to a higher risk weight under these Directions, until March 31, 2027, or the next review/renewal, whichever is earlier.
What you must do
- Review your current infrastructure loan portfolio to identify exposures that may qualify as 'high-quality infrastructure projects' under the new definition.
- Update internal risk-weighting systems to apply 75% or 50% risk weights only after verifying borrower repayment of at least 2% or 5% of sanctioned project debt.
- Implement monitoring mechanisms to track ongoing compliance with repayment thresholds and trigger reversion to standard risk weights if conditions are no longer met.
- Plan for the transition period: for existing exposures that currently have a lower risk weight but will be subject to a higher risk weight under the new rules, you can maintain current risk weights until March 31, 2027, or the next review/renewal, whichever is earlier.
- Coordinate with your credit and risk teams to align loan documentation and sanction processes with the new repayment threshold calculation, including clubbing of additional debt from takeovers.
Who it affects
All NBFCs subject to the Prudential Norms on Capital Adequacy Directions, 2025, NBFCs with significant exposure to infrastructure lending, Credit risk and capital adequacy teams within NBFCs, Borrowers in infrastructure projects seeking NBFC financing
What is the definition of 'high-quality infrastructure project' for these risk weights?
The amendment refers to the definition in the Reserve Bank of India (Non-Banking Financial Companies - Concentration Risk Management) Amendment Directions, 2026. NBFCs should refer to that specific direction for the full definition.
How is the repayment threshold calculated when a loan is taken over by another NBFC?
Any additional debt sanctioned as part of a takeover or otherwise must be clubbed with previous loans against the project assets or cash flows to determine the repayment threshold. This ensures continuity in assessing the borrower's repayment progress.
Can NBFCs adopt these directions before April 1, 2026?
Yes, NBFCs may adopt the amendment in entirety from an earlier date. However, if they do, the new risk weights will apply to all relevant exposures from that date.