Quick answerRBI issues amendment directions for commercial banks' cash reserve ratio and statutory liquidity ratio, effective immediately.
What changed
The Reserve Bank of India has amended its directions for commercial banks' cash reserve ratio and statutory liquidity ratio. The amendments include changes to paragraphs 19 and 28, as well as updates to Annex I and II. The amendments aim to modify the existing regulations to align with recent changes in banking laws and regulations. The changes are effective immediately.
What it means for you
The amendments to the cash reserve ratio and statutory liquidity ratio directions may impact commercial banks' liquidity and reserve requirements. Banks may need to adjust their liquidity management strategies to comply with the new regulations. The changes may also affect the overall banking system's stability and efficiency.
The rule, in the simplest words
The RBI changed the rules for how much cash (CRR) and safe assets (SLR) banks must keep, and the changes start right away.
In the rule paragraph 19, the phrase "other development financial institutions" was added, meaning more types of special banks are now included.
In paragraph 28, the words "under 'Cash in hand'" were removed, so that wording is no longer used in the calculations.
The lists of banks in Annex I and Annex II were updated: old names like Export‑Import Bank of India were replaced with a longer list that includes Exim Bank, National Housing Bank, Small Industries Bank, and others.
The word "specified" was changed to "notified", the phrase "from time to time" was deleted, and a new item called "Amount deposited with the Reserve Bank, under Standing Deposit Facility Scheme" was added.
How it plays out — a real example
Rohit, a liquidity manager at a commercial bank in Mumbai, opens his daily checklist and sees the RBI amendment. He updates the bank's reporting template to replace the old Export‑Import Bank name with the new list of institutions, removes any reference to "Cash in hand" from the SLR calculation, and adds a line to record the amount deposited under the Standing Deposit Facility Scheme, ensuring the bank complies with the fresh RBI directions.
The amendments include changes to paragraphs 19 and 28, as well as updates to Annex I and II.
When do the changes take effect?
The changes are effective immediately.
How will the changes impact commercial banks?
The changes may impact commercial banks' liquidity and reserve requirements, and may require adjustments to their liquidity management strategies.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2025-26/197
DOR.RET.REC.394/12.01.001/2025-26
January 22, 2026
Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks – Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory
Liquidity Ratio) Amendment Directions, 2026
Please refer to Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks – Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory Liquidity Ratio) Directions, 2025 dated November 28, 2025 .
2. Pursuant to the enactment of the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025, the Banking Regulation (Companies) Amendment Rules, 2025 and the Reserve Bank of India Scheduled Banks' (Amendment) Regulations 2025 have been published in the Gazette of India dated December 10, 2025 and January 15, 2026 respectively.
3. Accordingly, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and pursuant to Section 42 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 and Sections 18 and 24 of Banking Regulation Act, 1949, as amended from time to time, and all other provisions / laws enabling the Reserve Bank of India in this regard, the Reserve Bank being satisfied that it is necessary and expedient in the public interest so to do, hereby, issues the Amendment Directions hereinafter specified.
4. These Directions shall be called the Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks – Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory Liquidity Ratio) Amendment Directions, 2026.
5. The provisions shall come into force with immediate effect.
6. These Amendment Directions modify the Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks – Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory Liquidity Ratio) Directions, 2025 as under:
(i) In paragraph 19 (1), the words "other development financial institutions as defined in section 2 (cccii) of the RBI Act, 1934" shall be inserted.
(ii) In paragraphs 28 (6) (v), the words 'under "Cash in hand" ' shall be deleted.
(iii) In Annex I (Form A), the words "National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, Export Import Bank of India" shall be substituted with "the Exim Bank, the National Housing Bank, the National Bank, the Small Industries Bank, the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development or the other development financial institution".
(iv) In Annex II (Form VIII),
The words "Export-Import Bank of India and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development" shall be substituted with "Exim Bank, National Bank, National Housing Bank, Small Industries Bank, National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development and other development financial institutions as defined in section 2 (cccii) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934"
The word "specified" shall be substituted with "notified" and words "from time to time" shall be deleted.
A new item "Amount deposited with the Reserve Bank, under Standing Deposit Facility Scheme" shall be inserted.
Yours faithfully,
(Manoranjan Padhy)
Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2025-26/197 · issued 22 Jan 2026. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Test yourself
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Q1. In one line, what does this circular do?
RBI issues amendment directions for commercial banks' cash reserve ratio and statutory liquidity ratio, effective immediately.
Grouped from the action items above — a single circular may involve more than one team.
Worked example & action-note template
Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (Commercial banks, Financial institutions, Banking sector), your first concrete step on “RBI Amends Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory Liquidity Ratio” is: “Review the amended directions” (RBI issued this 22 Jan 2026).
Circular: RBI/2025-26/197 -- RBI Amends Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory Liquidity Ratio
Issued: 22 Jan 2026
Action required: Review the amended directions
Action required: Assess the impact on liquidity management
Action required: Adjust reserve requirements as needed
Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
Evidence filed in compliance register on: ____________
Built only from this circular’s own published fields — not legal advice; always confirm against the official RBI source.
AI-drafted · AI fact-check pending · under the editorial review of our expert review panel · decoded & published by BankPulse · 06 Jul 2026, 14:46 IST
Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=13281&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by our expert review panel. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; never reproduces RBI text verbatim.
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