Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2025-26/229 · issued 10 Mar 2026 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI has amended the CIC Master Direction to clarify that quarterly profits can be included in Owned Fund, subject to limited review and a dividend adjustment formula. Right-of-Use assets under Ind AS 116 are no longer deducted if the underlying asset is tangible.
The rule, in the simplest words
CICs (companies that invest in other companies) can now add their quarterly profits to 'Owned Fund' (money the company truly owns), but only after a limited check by an outside auditor.
To figure out how much quarterly profit to add, use this formula: eligible profit = net profit for the quarter minus 25% of the average dividend (money paid to shareholders) over the last 3 years.
If the company has a loss this year, that loss must be fully subtracted from Owned Fund.
CICs no longer have to subtract Right-of-Use assets (value of leased things like buildings) from Owned Fund, as long as the leased item is a physical, tangible asset.
How it plays out — a real example
A branch operations officer in Indore, Priya, is updating her CIC's Owned Fund for the first quarter. She takes the net profit of ₹10 lakh, subtracts 25% of the average dividend paid over the last three years (₹2 lakh), and adds the eligible ₹8 lakh to Owned Fund. She also stops deducting the ₹5 lakh Right-of-Use asset for the office building lease, because it's a tangible asset, boosting the company's capital.
What changed
The definition of 'owned funds' in Paragraph 11(21) of the Master Direction has been replaced. Quarterly profits can now be included, but only after a limited review/audit and after deducting 25% of the average dividend paid over the last three years. Losses in the current year must be fully deducted. Additionally, Right-of-Use (ROU) assets from tangible leases are no longer deducted from Owned Fund.
What it means for you
CICs can now boost their Owned Fund by including eligible quarterly profits, which may improve capital adequacy ratios. However, the dividend adjustment formula ensures that only retained profits are counted. The exclusion of ROU assets for tangible leases reduces a previous deduction, potentially increasing Owned Fund for CICs with significant lease portfolios.
What you must do
Update internal policies to include quarterly profits in Owned Fund computation only after limited review/audit by statutory auditors.
Apply the formula EP_t = NP_t - 0.25 * D * t to calculate eligible quarterly profits, using average dividend of last three years.
Ensure current year losses are fully deducted from Owned Fund as per the amended definition.
Stop deducting Right-of-Use assets from Owned Fund for tangible leases under Ind AS 116.
Review and adjust regulatory filings to reflect the new Owned Fund calculation immediately.
Who it affects
All Core Investment Companies (CICs) registered with RBI, Statutory auditors of CICs, Compliance and finance teams at CICs
❓ Common questions
Can we include quarterly profits without audit?
No, quarterly profits can only be included if the financial statements are subjected to limited review or audit by the statutory auditors on a quarterly basis.
How do we calculate eligible quarterly profits?
Use the formula EP_t = NP_t - 0.25 * D * t, where NP_t is net profit up to quarter t, and D is the average dividend paid in the last three financial years.
Are Right-of-Use assets always excluded from deduction?
Only if the underlying asset taken on lease is a tangible asset. ROU assets from intangible leases are not covered by this exemption.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2025-26/229
DOR.CAP.REC.No.419/21.01.002/2025-26
March 10, 2026
All Core Investment Companies (CICs)
Dear Sir / Madam,
Reserve Bank of India (Core Investment Companies) Amendment Directions, 2026
The Reserve Bank had issued the Reserve Bank of India (Core Investment Companies) Directions, 2025 (hereafter referred as the ‘Master Direction’), on November 28, 2025, as amended from time to time. There is a need to further amend the same to provide clarification on the components reckoned in the computation of Owned Fund.
2. Accordingly, in exercise of the powers conferred by Sections 45JA, 45L, and 45M of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934), and of all the powers enabling it in this behalf, the Reserve Bank having considered that it is necessary and expedient in the public interest and being satisfied that for the purpose of enabling it to regulate the credit system to the advantage of the country so to do, hereby, issues the following Amendment Directions.
3. These Directions shall be called the Reserve Bank of India (Core Investment Companies) Amendment Directions, 2026.
4. These Amendment Directions shall come into force with immediate effect.
5. These Amendment Directions modify the Master Direction as under:
Paragraph 11(21) shall be replaced by:
“11(21) “owned funds” means paid up equity capital, preference shares which are compulsorily convertible into equity, free reserves including quarterly profits, balance in share premium account and capital reserves representing surplus arising out of sale proceeds of asset, excluding reserves created by revaluation of asset, as reduced by accumulated loss balance, book value of intangible assets and deferred revenue expenditure, if any;
Inclusion of quarterly profits shall be subject to the following conditions:
(i) The financial statements shall be subjected to limited review / audit on a quarterly basis by the statutory auditors.
(ii) Such profits shall be reduced by average dividend paid in the last three years and the amount which can be reckoned for inclusion would be arrived at as under:
EP t = NP t - 0.25 *D*t
Where:
EP t = Eligible profit up to quarter ‘t’ of the current financial year, t varies from 1 to 4
NP t = Net profit up to quarter ‘t’
D = average dividend paid for / pertaining to the last three financial years
Losses in the current year shall be fully deducted from Owned Fund.
CICs shall not be required to deduct a Right-of-Use (ROU) asset (created in terms of Ind AS 116-Leases) from Owned Fund, provided the underlying asset being taken on lease is a tangible asset.”
Yours faithfully,
Sunil T S Nair
Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2025-26/229 · issued 10 Mar 2026. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (All Core Investment Companies (CICs) registered with RBI, Statutory auditors of CICs, Compliance and finance teams at CICs), your first concrete step on “RBI Clarifies Owned Fund Computation for CICs” is: “Update internal policies to include quarterly profits in Owned Fund computation only after limited review/audit by statutory auditors.” (RBI issued this 10 Mar 2026).
Circular: RBI/2025-26/229 -- RBI Clarifies Owned Fund Computation for CICs
Issued: 10 Mar 2026
Action required: Update internal policies to include quarterly profits in Owned Fund computation only after limited review/audit by statutory auditors.
Action required: Apply the formula EP_t = NP_t - 0.25 * D * t to calculate eligible quarterly profits, using average dividend of last three years.
Action required: Ensure current year losses are fully deducted from Owned Fund as per the amended definition.
Action required: Stop deducting Right-of-Use assets from Owned Fund for tangible leases under Ind AS 116.
Action required: Review and adjust regulatory filings to reflect the new Owned Fund calculation immediately.
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.
💬 Banker Discussion
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BankPulse Compliance Evidence Pack — generated 02 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=13314&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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