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Directions · Reserve Bank of India

Reserve Bank of India (Urban Co-operative Banks – Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory Liquidity Ratio) Directions, 2025 (Updated as on June 19, 2026)

UR

The four dates on this rule

At a glanceBanks must report their CRR to RBI using the statutory return Form A. The last CRR step took effect from the fortnight beginning November 29, 2025.

Official RBI page

What it says

Chapter I. Preliminary

Must know

1. Form A reporting

Banks must report their CRR to RBI using the statutory return Form A.

Do it

2. Split the savings account

The bank must split every savings account between a demand liability and a time liability.

Background

3. Start date

This rule takes effect immediately.

4. What aggregate deposits mean

Aggregate deposits mean demand deposits and time deposits added together.

5. Half year average used

The average of minimum monthly balances over the half year is treated as time liability.

6. What counts as SLR

The listed securities count as approved securities, known to bankers as SLR securities.

7. Some pledged stock still counts

Certain SLR securities are not treated as encumbered, so they still qualify as SLR assets.

8. Outside money at call

Money at call and short notice from outside the banking system is shown as a liability to others.

9. Count pledged securities too

Investment in India covers both encumbered and unencumbered securities in the bank's investment book.

Chapter II. Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR)

Must know

1. Last CRR step

The last CRR step took effect from the fortnight beginning November 29, 2025.

Do it

2. Ask RBI when unsure

Where it is unclear whether a transaction is a liability in India, the bank must approach the Reserve Bank.

3. Use the FBIL rate

Foreign assets and liabilities must be converted using the rate announced by FBIL.

Background

4. Final CRR rate

CRR reached its final rate of 3.0% of NDTL in four steps by late November 2025.

BankPulse example. Suppose a bank has net demand and time liabilities of ₹10,000 crore. It must keep 3.0 per cent of that with RBI, which is ₹300 crore. At the first step of 3.75 per cent it would have kept ₹375 crore.

5. RBI may name a liability

The Reserve Bank may specify that a transaction or class of transactions is a liability in India.

6. Borrowing abroad counts

Loans and borrowings from abroad count as liabilities to others and attract reserve requirements.

7. Upper Tier II counts

Upper Tier II instruments raised in India or abroad count as a liability when computing NDTL.

8. Unpaid drafts count

The unpaid balance of drafts issued under the remittance facilities scheme counts as a liability.

9. Correspondent bank money

Money received by a correspondent bank counts as a liability to the banking system.

10. Draft money is an asset

Sums placed for issuing drafts, interest or dividend warrants are assets with the banking system.

11. What is left out

Paid up capital, reserves and certain borrowings are not liabilities for CRR and SLR.

12. Share money held apart

Money collected by branches for a share issue, held pending allotment, is treated separately.

13. Foreign currency loans count

Loans out of FCNR (B) and inter-bank foreign currency deposits count as part of bank credit.

Chapter III. Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR)

1. Standing facility not for CRR

Standing deposit facility balances cannot be counted towards the cash reserve ratio.

2. Hold securities in ledger

Government securities must be held only in SGL accounts with the Reserve Bank or in CSGL accounts.

3. Marginal Standing Facility

Banks can borrow up to 2% of their NDTL under the Marginal Standing Facility.

4. Standing facility counts for SLR

Balances kept with the Reserve Bank under the standing deposit facility qualify as SLR assets.

5. Cash management bill qualifies

A cash management bill is treated as a treasury bill and counts as an SLR security.

Chapter IV. Procedure for computation of SLR

1. Value securities by rule

Approved securities must be classified and valued under the investment directions.

Chapter V. Reporting

1. Full CRR in transition

During the transition period banks must keep the whole of the required CRR.

Chapter VI. Penalties

1. Director fines

A bank director who knowingly lets a CRR default continue can be fined up to ₹500 per fortnight.

BankPulse example. Suppose the default runs for four fortnights after the first. The first fine may be up to ₹500. A further ₹500 may be added for each of those four fortnights, which is ₹2,000 more.

2. Late return draws penalty

Failure to submit the return, or late submission, attracts penalties under the RBI Act.

3. Explain every CRR default

A bank must report the date, amount, percentage and reason for any CRR default.

Chapter VII. Repeal and Other Provisions

Background

1. Older rules cancelled

This document cancels the earlier conduct rules for these institutions.

2. Earlier repeals stand

Guidelines already repealed before these Directions stay repealed.

3. Old rules stay repealed

Rules repealed before this document was issued remain repealed.

4. Old actions preserved

Anything already done under the old rules stays governed by those old rules.

5. Approvals carried over

Approvals given under the cancelled rules are now treated as given under these rules.

6. Other laws still apply

These Directions add to other laws. They do not replace any of them.

7. RBI's reading final

RBI's interpretation of any part of these Directions is final and binding.

How this rule has changed

The points above are the rule as it stands today, after every change listed here.

  1. Issued on Nov 28, 2025. This is the date RBI put the rule out.

  2. Changed on Dec 11, 2025. Takes effect From December 15, 2025. Exceptions and conditions are stated in the amendment..

    • Who it applies to. These rules apply to urban co-operative banks for cash reserve ratio and statutory liquidity ratio matters.
    • Effective dates. Most parts start from December 15, 2025, but paragraph 7(vii)(3) starts from December 12, 2025.
    • Single Form B return. Banks must file only one Form B return under the new reporting setup, not provisional, final or special returns.
    • New forms on CIMS. Banks must use the new Form B and Form I on the Centralised Information Management System portal with new codes.
  3. Changed on Jan 22, 2026.

    • Directions in force. These new rules apply from the date of this circular.
    • What is amended. These rules change the 2025 cash reserve and statutory liquidity rules for urban co-operative banks.
    • Add other DFIs. Banks must treat other named development finance bodies as allowed investments in paragraph 20(3).
    • Delete cash in hand. Banks must no longer use the phrase under cash in hand in paragraph 28(4)(v).
  4. Changed on Jun 08, 2026.

    • Directions effective now. These amendment rules apply from the date they are issued, without any delay.
    • Exemption only on principal. Cash reserve ratio relief applies only on the original deposit amount and only while it stays on the bank's books.
    • Update to paragraph 29(4). Paragraph 29(4) will now also refer to new paragraph 21(5).
  5. Changed on Jun 19, 2026.

    • Immediate effect. All changes in this amendment apply from the date of issue, without any delay.
    • Who it applies to. These rules change the 2025 cash reserve ratio and statutory liquidity ratio rules for urban co-operative banks.
    • Only original amount. Reserve relief applies only on the original NRE deposit amount, and only while it remains on the bank's books.
    • No NRO to NRE benefit. Transfers from Non-Resident Ordinary accounts to Non-Resident External accounts do not get this reserve exemption.
  6. Changed on Aug 25, 2026.

    • Date shortened. For these exemptions, banks can now count fresh FCNR(B) deposits only up to August 31, 2026.
    • Directions in force. All rules in this amendment apply from the date the circular is issued.
    • FCNRB exemption period. For CRR and SLR exemption, only FCNR(B) deposits between June 8, 2026 and August 31, 2026 are eligible.
    • NRE exemption period. For CRR and SLR exemption, only NRE term deposits between June 19, 2026 and August 31, 2026 are eligible.

The same subject for other kinds of institution

The same subject for other kinds of institution.

Other RBI rules for urban co-operative banks

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