{"what_this_is":"The machine-readable twin of the BankPulse page for one RBI rulebook. Same points, same dates, same paragraph references as the page a person reads. RBI's own wording is not reproduced here: each point names the RBI paragraph, the character offset into the text BankPulse read and the sha256 of that text, so the claim can be checked against RBI's own document.","schema_version":1,"release_id":"d653cdb0a5","generated_at":"2026-09-15T00:33:59.117975+00:00","id":"md12996","title":"Reserve Bank of India (Rural Co-operative Banks – Interest Rates on Advances) Directions, 2025","document_kind":"Directions","page":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md12996","status":"In force","importance":{"code":"MR","label":"MUST READ","weight":"Must read","why":"Binding RBI Directions naming this institution class in the title","layer":"bankpulse_inference"},"applies_to":{"shown":"Rural co-operative banks","class_code":"RURAL_COOP","from":"the document's own title","layer":"bankpulse_inference"},"dates":{"prid":"md12996","mode":"four_dates_v1","published":{"label":"Published","value":"Nov 28, 2025","stated":true,"why":"The day RBI put this document out."},"effective":{"label":"Starts to apply","value":"","stated":false,"why":"Not stated separately in this document. Read the rule itself before you assume a start date."},"transition":{"label":"Time to get ready","value":"","stated":false,"why":"Cannot be worked out until the day it starts to apply is known."},"deadline":{"label":"Last date to act","value":"","stated":false,"why":"No date to act by was found in this document. Other dates may sit inside single paragraphs."},"sources":{"published":"doc_date in data/highlights/md12996.json","effective":"none held","transition":"none held","deadline":"none held"}},"rbi_source":{"url":"https://rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_ViewMasDirections.aspx?id=12996","document_date":"Nov 28, 2025","read_by_bankpulse":"2026-08-21 16:19:44 UTC","text_sha256":"09a0cf692b77f64a71eb636544b76482cdde5d1dbe985ee98708f49134ecb163","word_count":1149,"standing_last_checked":"Standing checked on RBI’s Master Directions index, 15 September 2026, 5:58 am IST."},"counts":{"points_shown":26,"points_naming_an_rbi_paragraph":26,"points_stored":26,"actions":0,"amendments":0},"points":[{"n":1,"claim":"md12996-9db77ee8","page_group":"Chapter I. 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Preliminary","stored_section":"WHO IT APPLIES TO","heading":"What an RCB means","plain_english":"An RCB means a State or Central Co-operative Bank under that Act.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 3","rbi_char_offset":2923,"weight":"BACKGROUND","role":"Compliance","team":null,"products_covered":["agriculture-loan"],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md12996#p3","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":1,"claim":"md12996-2c941cb4","page_group":"Chapter II. General guidelines","stored_section":"THE CORE IDEA","heading":"A rate can be usurious","plain_english":"Beyond a level a rate is usurious, and that is not normal banking.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 5","rbi_char_offset":3873,"weight":"MUST KNOW","role":"Board","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md12996#p4","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":2,"claim":"md12996-398d2e3e","page_group":"Chapter II. General guidelines","stored_section":"THE CORE IDEA","heading":"The bank sets its rate","plain_english":"The bank fixes its lending rates itself, with its Board's approval.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 5","rbi_char_offset":4015,"weight":"MUST KNOW","role":"Board","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md12996#p5","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":3,"claim":"md12996-aab934a6","page_group":"Chapter II. General guidelines","stored_section":"THE CORE IDEA","heading":"Rates must be open","plain_english":"The rates charged must be clear and known to every customer.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 6","rbi_char_offset":4389,"weight":"MUST KNOW","role":"Branch","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md12996#p6","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":4,"claim":"md12996-f40fa2c5","page_group":"Chapter II. 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General guidelines","stored_section":"WHO SHOULD ACT","heading":"Price on borrower's rating","plain_english":"The risk charge must be reasonable and tied to the borrower's own internal rating.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 8(2)","rbi_char_offset":5414,"weight":"MUST KNOW","role":"Branch","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md12996#p9","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":7,"claim":"md12996-02ee3ac3","page_group":"Chapter II. General guidelines","stored_section":"WHO SHOULD ACT","heading":"Security counts in risk","plain_english":"Whether there is security, and what it is worth, must be weighed too.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 8(2)","rbi_char_offset":5631,"weight":"MUST KNOW","role":"Branch","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md12996#p10","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":8,"claim":"md12996-76dbbd8e","page_group":"Chapter II. General guidelines","stored_section":"WHO SHOULD ACT","heading":"The whole cost be fair","plain_english":"Interest and every other charge together must be justifiable against real cost.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 8(3)","rbi_char_offset":5723,"weight":"MUST KNOW","role":"Branch","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md12996#p11","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":9,"claim":"md12996-e3d009da","page_group":"Chapter II. General guidelines","stored_section":"IMPACT","heading":"Small loan rates too","plain_english":"Rates and fees on microfinance loans must not be usurious either.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 10","rbi_char_offset":6821,"weight":"MUST KNOW","role":"Board","team":null,"products_covered":["microfinance"],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md12996#p12","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":10,"claim":"md12996-96d2d6dc","page_group":"Chapter II. General guidelines","stored_section":"IMPACT","heading":"RBI will look at them","plain_english":"These rates and charges are open to supervisory scrutiny by RBI.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 10","rbi_char_offset":6907,"weight":"MUST KNOW","role":"Compliance","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md12996#p13","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":11,"claim":"md12996-6090069e","page_group":"Chapter II. General guidelines","stored_section":"WHAT CHANGES","heading":"Publish highest and lowest","plain_english":"The bank must publish its minimum and maximum interest rates.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 6","rbi_char_offset":4490,"weight":"DO IT","role":"Compliance","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md12996#p14","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":12,"claim":"md12996-00b962b9","page_group":"Chapter II. General guidelines","stored_section":"WHAT CHANGES","heading":"Show rates in branches","plain_english":"That information must be displayed in every branch of the bank.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 6","rbi_char_offset":4577,"weight":"DO IT","role":"Branch","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md12996#p15","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":13,"claim":"md12996-8f129f88","page_group":"Chapter II. General guidelines","stored_section":"WHO SHOULD ACT","heading":"Check the cash flow first","plain_english":"A small personal loan needs a proper approval step that looks at the borrower's cash flow.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 8(1)","rbi_char_offset":5233,"weight":"DO IT","role":"Branch","team":null,"products_covered":["personal-loan"],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md12996#p16","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":14,"claim":"md12996-52d3b8b3","page_group":"Chapter II. General guidelines","stored_section":"WHO SHOULD ACT","heading":"Set a ceiling, publish it","plain_english":"A ceiling on interest and charges may be fixed, and should be made public.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 8(4)","rbi_char_offset":6028,"weight":"DO IT","role":"Compliance","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md12996#p17","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":15,"claim":"md12996-5ff76c53","page_group":"Chapter II. General guidelines","stored_section":"WHO SHOULD ACT","heading":"A policy for small loans","plain_english":"The board must approve a policy on how microfinance loans are priced.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 9","rbi_char_offset":6226,"weight":"DO IT","role":"Board","team":null,"products_covered":["microfinance"],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md12996#p18","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":16,"claim":"md12996-fd02c715","page_group":"Chapter II. General guidelines","stored_section":"WHO SHOULD ACT","heading":"Write the rate model down","plain_english":"It needs a documented way of reaching the all-inclusive interest rate.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 9(1)","rbi_char_offset":6366,"weight":"DO IT","role":"Compliance","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md12996#p19","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":17,"claim":"md12996-abfad404","page_group":"Chapter II. General guidelines","stored_section":"WHO SHOULD ACT","heading":"Break the rate into parts","plain_english":"Cost of funds, risk premium and margin must be set out separately.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 9(2)","rbi_char_offset":6468,"weight":"DO IT","role":"Compliance","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md12996#p20","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":18,"claim":"md12996-411f0077","page_group":"Chapter II. General guidelines","stored_section":"WHO SHOULD ACT","heading":"A spread range per borrower","plain_english":"The policy must give the range of each part for each borrower category.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 9(3)","rbi_char_offset":6649,"weight":"DO IT","role":"Compliance","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md12996#p21","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":19,"claim":"md12996-c43dfab8","page_group":"Chapter II. General guidelines","stored_section":"WHO SHOULD ACT","heading":"A ceiling on small loans","plain_english":"It must also carry a ceiling on the rate and every other charge.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 9(4)","rbi_char_offset":6726,"weight":"DO IT","role":"Compliance","team":null,"products_covered":["microfinance"],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md12996#p22","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":1,"claim":"md12996-19b8a8ca","page_group":"Chapter III. Repeal and Other Provisions","stored_section":"WHAT IT REPLACES","heading":"Old rules stand repealed","plain_english":"The earlier lending rate rules for these banks are repealed.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 11","rbi_char_offset":7080,"weight":"BACKGROUND","role":"Compliance","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md12996#p23","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":2,"claim":"md12996-1079c38d","page_group":"Chapter III. Repeal and Other Provisions","stored_section":"WHAT IT REPLACES","heading":"Old actions still stand","plain_english":"Anything done under the old rules stays governed by those old rules.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 12","rbi_char_offset":7484,"weight":"BACKGROUND","role":"Compliance","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md12996#p24","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":3,"claim":"md12996-76f8c80d","page_group":"Chapter III. Repeal and Other Provisions","stored_section":"WHAT IT REPLACES","heading":"Old approvals still count","plain_english":"Approvals given under the repealed rules now come under these rules.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 12","rbi_char_offset":7663,"weight":"BACKGROUND","role":"Compliance","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md12996#p25","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":4,"claim":"md12996-a1664389","page_group":"Chapter III. Repeal and Other Provisions","stored_section":"IMPACT","heading":"Other laws still apply","plain_english":"These rules add to other laws. They do not cut them down.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 13","rbi_char_offset":8524,"weight":"BACKGROUND","role":"Compliance","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md12996#p26","layer":"bankpulse"}],"actions":[],"amendments":[],"layers":{"rbi_source":"Facts taken from RBI's own document.","bankpulse":"BankPulse's plain-English summary of RBI's document.","bankpulse_inference":"BankPulse's own inference, not stated by RBI."},"rbi_wording_not_included":"By design. BankPulse never republishes RBI's exact sentences. Use rbi_paragraph with rbi_source.url to read RBI's own words.","terms":"BankPulse's plain-English summaries are BankPulse's own work. The underlying regulation is the Reserve Bank of India's. Always check the RBI document named in rbi_source before acting."}