RBI Tightens Wilful Defaulter Rules for ARCs

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Accordingly, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 12 of the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002; and Section 11 of the Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Act, 2005, the Reserve Bank, being satisfied that it is necessary and expedient in public interest so to do, hereby, issues these Directions hereinafter specified. Chapter I - Preliminary 1. Short title and commencement (1) These directions shall be called the Reserve Bank of India (Asset Reconstruction Companies – Treatment of Wilful Defaulters and Large Defaulters) Directions, 2025. (2) These directions shall come into force with immediate effect. 2. Applicability (1) These Directions shall be applicable to Asset Reconstruction Companies (herein after collectively referred to as 'ARCs' and individually as an 'ARC'). (2) The restrictions on further financial accommodation to wilful defaulters and provisions regarding large defaulters contained in these Directions, shall apply to all entities regulated by the Reserve Bank, irrespective of whether they fall within the definition of 'lender' as provided in these Directions or not. 3. Definitions (1) The definitions contained in the Reserve Bank of India (Non-Banking Financial Companies – Treatment of Wilful Defaulters and Large Defaulters) Directions, 2025 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to an ARC. (2) Transfer of a loan shall mean a transfer undertaken in terms of the Reserve Bank of India (Non-Banking Financial Companies – Transfer and Distribution of Credit Risk) Directions, 2025 and hence, the terms "transfer", "transferor" and "transferee" shall have the same meaning assigned therein. (3) All other expressions, unless defined herein, shall have the same meaning as have been assigned to them under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 or the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 or the Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Act, 2005, or the Companies Act, 2013, or any statutory modification or re-enactment thereto or other regulations issued by the Reserve Bank of India or the Glossary of Terms published by Reserve Bank or as used in commercial parlance, as the case may be. Chapter II - Reporting of Wilful Defaulters and Large Defaulters 4. Reporting and Dissemination of Credit Information on Large Defaulters (1) An ARC shall submit information in Annex I to all credit information companies (CICs) in respect of the large defaulters at monthly intervals: (i) a list of suit filed accounts of large defaulters; and (ii) a list of non-suit filed accounts of large defaulters whose account has been classified as doubtful or loss (in accordance with the instructions issued by the Reserve Bank from time to time). (2) For calculating the threshold of ₹1 crore, the unapplied interest, if any, shall also be included. In the case of suit-filed accounts, the threshold shall relate to the amount for which the suits have been filed. 5. Reporting and Dissemination of Credit Information on Wilful Defaulters (1) An ARC to which the account has been transferred shall submit at monthly intervals, information in Annex II to all credit information companies in respect of the wilful defaulters: (i) a list of wilful defaulters (LWD) in respect of suit filed accounts (ii) a LWD in respect of non-suit filed accounts (2) The ARC to which the account has been transferred shall inform all credit information companies the removal of the name of the wilful defaulter from the LWD, promptly and not later than thirty days, from the date when the outstanding amount falls below the threshold of ₹25 lakh or as notified by Reserve Bank of India from time to time, subject to Paragraph 6(2). 6. Treatment of compromise settlements (1) Any account included in LWD, where an ARC has entered into a compromise settlement with the borrower, shall be removed from the LWD only when the borrower has fully paid the compromise amount. (2) Till such time as only part payment is made, name of the borrower shall not be removed from the LWD even if the outstanding amount becomes less than the threshold of ₹25 lakh or as notified by Reserve Bank of India from time to time. (3) The compromise settlement with the wilful defaulter shall be in terms of the board approved policy of the ARC. Such policy shall include guidelines on staff accountability examination, reporting of the compromise/ settlement to the board, higher upfront payment if any, etc. The compromise settlement shall be without prejudice to the continuation of criminal proceedings against the wilful defaulter. (4) In cases where an ARC decides to cancel a compromise settlement due to non-adherence to the terms of the settlement and revises the amount payable by the borrower, the reporting shall be with reference to the revised amount. 7. Treatment of defaulted loans transferred (1) An ARC to which a loan, in which wilful default has been observed, has been transferred shall be responsible for reporting it in the LWD to the credit information companies post such transfer. (2) An ARC, which is a transferee in case of a loan in which wilful default has been observed, shall continue to report the account as a wilful defaulter until the balance remaining to be recovered in their account plus the amount written off by the transferor falls below the threshold of ₹25 lakh or as notified by Reserve Bank of India from time to time, subject to the provisions contained in Paragraph 6. 8. Treatment of accounts where resolution is done under Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC)/ resolution framework guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank (1) In case an account which is included in LWD and has subsequently undergone liquidation or where the resolution [either under IBC or under the resolution framework Directions issued by the Reserve Bank] results in a change in the management and control of the entity / business enterprise, the name of such a borrower or guarantor who were classified as wilful defaulter [which includes in case of a company, its promoters and the director (s), and in case of entity (other than companies), persons who are in charge and responsible for the management of the affairs of the entity], shall be removed from the LWD after implementation of the resolution plan under IBC or the resolution framework Directions issued by the Reserve Bank. 9. Responsibility for Correct Reporting (1) The responsibility for reporting correct information and also ensuring the accuracy of facts and figures rests with the reporting ARC. (2) An ARC, while furnishing information to credit information companies, shall ensure the accuracy of the particulars of the directors, and wherever possible, by cross-checking with the database maintained by the Registrar of Companies. 10. Reporting of Guarantors (1) An ARC shall report to credit information companies the details of guarantors who have failed to honour the commitments thereunder when invoked, as large defaulters / wilful defaulters, as the case may be. The details shall be reported as per Annex I and II . Chapter III - Repeal and Other Provisions 11. Repeal and saving (1) With the issue of these Directions, the existing directions, instructions, and guidelines relating Treatment of Wilful Defaulters and Large Defaulters as applicable to Asset Reconstruction Companies stand repealed, as communicated vide circular DOR.RRC.REC.302/33-01-010/2025-26 dated November 28, 2025 . The directions, instructions and guidelines already repealed vide any of the directions, instructions, and guidelines listed in the above notification shall continue to remain repealed. (2) Notwithstanding such repeal, any action taken or purported to have been taken, or initiated under the repealed Directions, instructions, or guidelines shall continue to be governed by the provisions thereof. All approvals or acknowledgments granted under these repealed lists shall be deemed as governed by these Directions. Further, the repeal of these directions, instructions, or guidelines shall not in any way prejudicially affect: (i) any right, obligation or liability acquired, accrued, or incurred thereunder; (ii) any, penalty, forfeiture, or punishment incurred in respect of any contravention committed thereunder; (iii) 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. 12. Application of other laws not barred (1) The provisions of these Directions shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of the provisions of any other laws, rules, regulations, or directions, for the time being in force. 13. Interpretations (1) For the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of these Directions or in order to remove any difficulties in the application or interpretation of the provisions of these Directions, the Reserve Bank may, if it considers necessary, issue necessary clarifications in respect of any matter covered herein and the interpretation of any provision of these Directions given by the Reserve Bank shall be final and binding. (J.P. 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Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/DOR/2025-26/376 · issued 28 Nov 2025. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.

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