Reserve Bank of India (Rural Co-operative Banks – Classification, Valuation and Operation of Investment Portfolio) Directions, 2025 (Updated as on May 18, 2026)
UR
- Applies toRural co-operative banks
- StatusIn force
- IssuedNov 28, 2025
- Last amendedMay 18, 2026 · 1 incorporated
- Length61 points in 5 sections · 6 min read
The four dates on this rule
- PublishedNov 28, 2025The day RBI put this document out. This is the same day as the Issued date on this rule.
- Starts to applyNov 28, 2025The day this rule starts to apply, as RBI's own text states it.
- Time to get readyNoneIt starts to apply on the day it was published.
- Last date to actNot statedNo date to act by was found in this document. Other dates may sit inside single paragraphs.
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Numbers to remember
| 50 per cent | Permanent investments may not exceed 50 per cent of total investments. RBI Para 23 |
| five per cent | Investment in NABARD's shared service entity is capped at five per cent of owned funds. RBI Para 69(5) |
| 10 per cent | Non-SLR investments are capped at 10 per cent of last March's total deposits. RBI Para 71 |
| 2 per cent | All shares of co-operative institutions together: 2 per cent of owned funds. RBI Para 73(1) |
| 5 per cent | And not more than 5 per cent of any one institution's subscribed capital. RBI Para 73(2) |
What it says
How firm is each point
Stated by RBI — RBI’s own paragraph says this. We have only made it plainer.
Our reading — BankPulse read RBI’s paragraph and shortened it. The paragraph is the authority, not this line.
Needs judgement — RBI leaves this to the bank to settle, so nobody can give you a fixed number here.
Chapter I. Preliminary
1. Starts at once
The rules start from the date RBI issues them.
2. Who must follow this
These rules apply to every rural co-operative bank in India.
3. Which banks those are
State co-operative banks and central co-operative banks under the NABARD law.
Chapter III. General Guidelines
Must know
1. No portfolio work for clients
The bank may not deal on behalf of portfolio management clients.
2. Judge it like a loan
An investment proposal gets the same credit study as a loan proposal.
3. Do not lean on ratings
The bank must form its own view and not rely on the rating agency alone.
4. Hold it only in demat
Every security must be held in dematerialised form.
Do it
5. The board writes the policy
The board must approve a full written investment policy.
6. Say who may deal
That policy names the authority allowed to put through deals.
7. Limits by industry and maturity
Entry rating floors and limits by industry, maturity and issuer are required.
8. Track the issuer every quarter
The issuer's position is tracked quarterly or half-yearly for rating slippage.
Chapter IV. Classification of Investments
Must know
1. Two groups only
The whole portfolio is split into just two groups: Current and Permanent.
2. Permanent means held to maturity
Paper bought meaning to hold it to maturity goes into Permanent.
3. Half the book at most
Permanent investments may not exceed 50 per cent of total investments.
4. Government paper is outside it
That 50 per cent cap does not apply to government securities.
5. Current means meant for sale
Paper bought to resell in the short term goes into Current.
6. Shift only once a year
Moving investments in or out of the Permanent group happens once a year.
7. Only at the year's start
That shift must be done at the beginning of the accounting year.
Do it
8. Decide when you buy
The group is decided at purchase and written on the investment proposal.
9. Profit goes to a reserve
Profit on selling Permanent paper is moved on to the Capital Reserve Account.
10. Take the loss before moving
Moving paper into Permanent below its book value means booking the loss first.
Chapter V. Valuation of Investments
1. Permanent is valued at cost
Permanent holdings are not marked to market. They stand at cost.
2. Book the loss, not gain
Fall in value is provided for scrip by scrip. Rise in value is ignored.
3. No netting across groups
A fall in one class cannot be reduced by a rise in another class.
4. Current is marked monthly
Each Current holding is marked to market monthly or more often.
Chapter VI. Market Value
1. One rupee when unknown
Where a society's financial position is unknown, the shares stand at 1 per institution.
2. Dead society shares written off
If a society is in liquidation or pays no dividend, full provision is made.
Chapter VII. Investments in Government Securities
1. One gilt account only
The bank may not keep more than one gilt account.
2. No short selling
The bank may not sell what it does not hold.
3. Only the apex may retail
Only a scheduled state co-operative bank may sell government paper to non-banks.
Chapter VII. Investments in non-SLR Securities
Must know
1. Only A rated corporate bonds
Corporate bonds must be rated A or better.
2. A2 for short paper
Commercial paper and certificates of deposit must be rated A2 or better.
3. Five per cent, NABARD entity
Investment in NABARD's shared service entity is capped at five per cent of owned funds.
4. No perpetual debt
Perpetual debt instruments are not allowed at all.
5. Non-SLR capped at ten
Non-SLR investments are capped at 10 per cent of last March's total deposits.
6. Unlisted capped at ten too
Unlisted non-SLR paper may not exceed 10 per cent of total non-SLR holdings.
7. Two per cent, society shares
All shares of co-operative institutions together: 2 per cent of owned funds.
8. Five per cent, one institution
And not more than 5 per cent of any one institution's subscribed capital.
9. All banks counted together
That 5 per cent counts every co-operative bank together, not each one alone.
10. Retire it in ten years
Share capital put into a society is retired in 10 equal yearly instalments.
11. No lending to a State
The bank may not place deposits with or lend to a State Government.
12. No parking, urban bank
Surplus funds may not be placed as deposits with an urban co-operative bank.
Do it
13. Fifteen minutes to report
An over the counter corporate bond trade is reported within fifteen minutes.
Chapter VIII. Prudential Systems / Controls
Must know
1. The broker only introduces
A broker's role is only to bring the two sides together.
2. No power of attorney
No broker may be given authority to deal on the bank's behalf.
3. Brokers do not settle
Settlement happens directly between the two sides, never through the broker.
4. One broker, five per cent
No single broker may carry more than 5 per cent of the year's brokered deals.
BankPulse example. A bank put 400 crore of deals through brokers last year. Five per cent of 400 crore is 20 crore, so that is what any one broker may carry. Deals done straight with the other side, with no broker in the middle, are left out of the 400 crore before the sum is done.
5. Primary dealers are outside it
That 5 per cent limit does not apply to a Primary Dealer.
Do it
6. Split the desk four ways
Trading, settlement, monitoring and accounting must be separate functions.
7. A slip for every deal
Every transaction needs a serially numbered deal slip with the full details.
8. A board approved broker panel
The board approves a panel of brokers and reviews it every year.
9. Write down any breach
If the broker limit must be crossed, the reason is written and the board told after.
Chapter IX. Audit, Review and Reporting
Do it
1. Audit to the chief monthly
Treasury audit results go to the chief executive once every month.
2. The auditor certifies the holding
The concurrent auditor certifies each quarter that the bank really holds them.
3. Thirty days after the quarter
The auditor's holding certificate reaches NABARD within 30 days of quarter end.
4. Two reviews a year
The portfolio is reviewed as on March 31 and September 30 each year.
5. Board reviews within two months
That review reaches the board by end-May and end-November.
6. June and December for NABARD
The return goes to NABARD by June 15 and December 15.
Chapter X. Accounting and Provisioning
1. Reserve of five per cent
The bank keeps a fluctuation reserve of not less than 5 per cent of Current holdings.
2. Ten if the board agrees
The board may take that reserve up to 10 per cent.
3. Built from real gains only
That reserve is built from realised gains and only out of net profit.
How this rule has changed
The points above are the rule as it stands today, after every change listed here.
Issued on Nov 28, 2025. This is the date RBI put the rule out.
Changed on May 18, 2026.
- Directions start date. These amendment rules apply from the issue date mentioned in this letter.
- What is amended. The 2025 investment portfolio rules for rural co-operative banks are changed as given here.
- IFR minimum level. A rural co-operative bank must keep an Investment Fluctuation Reserve of at least 5 per cent of its current investments.
- How to calculate IFR. Banks must calculate the minimum IFR once a year, using book value of current investments on the balance sheet date.
The same subject for other kinds of institution
The same subject for other kinds of institution.
Other RBI rules for rural co-operative banks
RBI Kisan Credit Card rules for rural co-operative banks 2026
RBI capital adequacy rules for rural co-operative banks 2025
RBI credit bureau reporting rules for rural co-operative banks 2025
RBI customer service and fair conduct rules for rural co-operative banks 2025
RBI deposit interest rate rules for rural co-operative banks 2025
RBI digital banking channel rules for rural co-operative banks 2025
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