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RBI Repeals Relief Measures Directions for Banks in Areas Affected by Natural Calamities

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2026-27/76 · issued 29 Apr 2026 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI repeals Directions 2018, replacing it with new Directions effective July 1, 2026, for banks in areas affected by natural calamities.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

Ava, a credit & lending officer in Indore, must review and comply with the new Directions to ensure that her bank is managing stressed assets and credit risk effectively in areas affected by natural calamities. She must also ensure that all approvals or acknowledgments granted under the repealed Directions are deemed as governed by the new Directions.

What changed

RBI has repealed Master Direction – Reserve Bank of India (Relief Measures by Banks in Areas affected by Natural Calamities) Directions 2018 – SCBs dated October 17, 2018. The Directions are replaced by four amendment directions issued on April 29, 2026, effective from July 1, 2026: Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks – Resolution of Stressed Assets) Second Amendment Directions, 2026; Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks – Income Recognition, Asset Classification and Provisioning) Amendment Directions, 2026; Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks – Responsible Business Conduct) Directions, Amendment Directions, 2026; Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks – Credit Risk Management) Third Amendment Directions, 2026.

What it means for you

The repeal of Directions 2018 and replacement with four amendment directions means banks must comply with these new directions effective July 1, 2026, which cover stressed assets, income recognition, responsible business conduct, and credit risk management in areas affected by natural calamities.

What you must do

Who it affects

Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs), Banks in areas affected by natural calamities, Customers of banks in areas affected by natural calamities

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).

What is the effective date of the new Directions?

The new Directions will be effective from July 1, 2026.

Will the repeal of Directions 2018 affect any existing approvals or acknowledgments?

No, all approvals or acknowledgments granted under the repealed Directions will be deemed as governed by the new Directions.

What will happen to any investigations, legal proceedings, or remedies initiated under the repealed Directions?

Any such investigations, legal proceedings, or remedies may be instituted, continued, or enforced as if the Directions had not been repealed.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2026-27/76 DOR.STR.REC.65/21-04-048/2026-27 April 29, 2026 Reserve Bank of India (Relief Measures by Banks in Areas affected by Natural Calamities) Directions 2018 – SCBs Repeal Directions, 2026 The Reserve Bank of India being satisfied that it is necessary and expedient in the public interest to do so, hereby repeals Master Direction – Reserve Bank of India (Relief Measures by Banks in Areas affected by Natural Calamities) Directions 2018 – SCBs dated October 17, 2018 (FIDD.CO.FSD.BC No.9/05.10.001/2018-19). The Directions shall be replaced with the following Directions issued on April 29, 2026, with effect from July 01, 2026. Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks – Resolution of Stressed Assets) Second Amendment Directions, 2026 Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks – Income Recognition, Asset Classification and Provisioning) Amendment Directions, 2026 Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks – Responsible Business Conduct) Directions, Amendment Directions, 2026 Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks – Credit Risk Management) Third Amendment Directions, 2026 2. Notwithstanding such repeal, any action taken or purported to have been taken, or initiated under the repealed Directions shall continue to be governed by the provisions thereof. All approvals or acknowledgments granted under these repealed Directions shall be deemed as governed by these Directions. Further, the repeal of these Directions shall not in any way prejudicially affect: (1) any right, obligation or liability acquired, accrued, or incurred thereunder; (2) any, penalty, forfeiture, or punishment incurred in respect of any contravention committed thereunder; and (3) any investigation, legal proceeding, or remedy in respect of any such right, privilege, obligation, liability, penalty, forfeiture, or punishment as aforesaid; and any such investigation, legal proceedings or remedy may be instituted, continued, or enforced and any such penalty, forfeiture, or punishment may be imposed as if those directions, instructions, or guidelines had not been repealed. (Vaibhav Chaturvedi) Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2026-27/76 · issued 29 Apr 2026. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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Worked example & action-note template

Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs), Banks in areas affected by natural calamities, Customers of banks in areas affected by natural calamities), your first concrete step on “RBI Repeals Relief Measures Directions for Banks in Areas Affected by Natural Calamities” is: “Review and comply with the four new amendment directions issued on April 29, 2026, effective from July 1, 2026.” (RBI issued this 29 Apr 2026).

  1. Circular: RBI/2026-27/76 -- RBI Repeals Relief Measures Directions for Banks in Areas Affected by Natural Calamities
  2. Issued: 29 Apr 2026
  3. Action required: Review and comply with the four new amendment directions issued on April 29, 2026, effective from July 1, 2026.
  4. Action required: Ensure that all approvals or acknowledgments granted under the repealed Directions are deemed as governed by the new Directions.
  5. Action required: Continue to govern any action taken or initiated under the repealed Directions by the provisions thereof.
  6. Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
  7. Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
  8. Evidence filed in compliance register on: ____________
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Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=13427&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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