{"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":"md13601","title":"Reserve Bank of India (Rural Co-operative Banks - Statutory Audit) Directions, 2026","document_kind":"Directions","page":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13601","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":"md13601","mode":"four_dates_v1","published":{"label":"Published","value":"Jul 31, 2026","stated":true,"why":"The day RBI put this document out."},"effective":{"label":"Starts to apply","value":"April 01, 2021","stated":true,"why":"The day this rule starts to apply, as RBI's own text states it."},"transition":{"label":"Time to get ready","value":"None","stated":true,"why":"The start date RBI gave is before the day this document was published."},"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/md13601.json","effective":"data/date_kinds.json kind=effective_date","transition":"worked out from published and starts-to-apply","deadline":"none held"}},"rbi_source":{"url":"https://rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_ViewMasDirections.aspx?id=13601","document_date":"Jul 31, 2026","read_by_bankpulse":"2026-08-21 16:25:38 UTC","text_sha256":"df4e96bc1c2095e9f1b88a59b0a1ba4259e1f5e2d148803a1e75e4c25cfbd5c1","word_count":3978,"standing_last_checked":"Standing checked on RBI’s Master Directions index, 15 September 2026, 5:58 am IST."},"counts":{"points_shown":29,"points_naming_an_rbi_paragraph":29,"points_stored":29,"actions":0,"amendments":0},"points":[{"n":1,"claim":"md13601-9ce4569b","page_group":"Opening paragraphs","stored_section":"THE CORE IDEA","heading":"Framed under section 30","plain_english":"These rules are framed under section 30(1A) of the Banking Regulation Act.","rbi_paragraph":"Opening paragraphs","rbi_char_offset":3099,"weight":"BACKGROUND","role":"All staff","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13601#p1","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":1,"claim":"md13601-68f311ed","page_group":"Chapter I. Preliminary","stored_section":"THE CORE IDEA","heading":"Audit rules for RCBs","plain_english":"This paper sets who may audit rural co-operative banks and for how long.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 1","rbi_char_offset":4159,"weight":"BACKGROUND","role":"Audit","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13601#p2","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":2,"claim":"md13601-0e747d72","page_group":"Chapter I. Preliminary","stored_section":"KEY DATES","heading":"Start date","plain_english":"These Directions came into effect immediately upon issuance.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 2","rbi_char_offset":4295,"weight":"BACKGROUND","role":"All staff","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":"There is no gap here between issue and effect. The Directions come into effect immediately upon issuance. A bank cannot wait for a separate start date, because there is none.","anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13601#p3","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":3,"claim":"md13601-3e5d9354","page_group":"Chapter I. Preliminary","stored_section":"WHO IT APPLIES TO","heading":"Who is covered","plain_english":"These Directions apply to every rural co-operative bank.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 3","rbi_char_offset":4365,"weight":"BACKGROUND","role":"All staff","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13601#p4","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":4,"claim":"md13601-dd89351c","page_group":"Chapter I. 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Governance and Oversight","stored_section":"WHO SHOULD ACT","heading":"Publish the audit policy","plain_english":"A Board approved policy on appointing the auditor must be put on the public website.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 6","rbi_char_offset":7790,"weight":"DO IT","role":"Board","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13601#p9","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":4,"claim":"md13601-8619c024","page_group":"Chapter II. Governance and Oversight","stored_section":"THE CORE IDEA","heading":"Be open and objective","plain_english":"The policy must be transparent and objective on every major part of the choice.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 6","rbi_char_offset":8115,"weight":"DO IT","role":"Compliance","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13601#p10","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":5,"claim":"md13601-94eb0887","page_group":"Chapter II. Governance and Oversight","stored_section":"WHO SHOULD ACT","heading":"Write the procedure too","plain_english":"A procedure for selecting, appointing, reappointing and removing the auditor is needed.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 6","rbi_char_offset":7910,"weight":"BACKGROUND","role":"Audit","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13601#p11","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":1,"claim":"md13601-c33c2f3c","page_group":"Chapter III. Guidelines for Appointment","stored_section":"WHAT CHANGES","heading":"Fifty per cent growth","plain_english":"A branch whose business grew by half or more over last year must be taken up for audit.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 9(4)","rbi_char_offset":9688,"weight":"MUST KNOW","role":"Audit","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":"A branch did ₹40 crore of business last year and ₹64 crore this year. That is growth of 60 per cent, which is 50 per cent and more. The branch has to be taken up for audit on that ground alone.","anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13601#p12","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":2,"claim":"md13601-e5f24915","page_group":"Chapter III. Guidelines for Appointment","stored_section":"WHAT CHANGES","heading":"One year for the staff","plain_english":"Professional staff must have been with the firm a year to be counted.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 10(4)","rbi_char_offset":13445,"weight":"MUST KNOW","role":"All staff","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13601#p13","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":3,"claim":"md13601-26c39c17","page_group":"Chapter III. Guidelines for Appointment","stored_section":"WHAT CHANGES","heading":"No debarred firm","plain_english":"A firm debarred by any government agency, the reporting authority or RBI is out.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 11(2)","rbi_char_offset":13825,"weight":"MUST KNOW","role":"Compliance","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13601#p14","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":4,"claim":"md13601-d63d0128","page_group":"Chapter III. Guidelines for Appointment","stored_section":"WHAT CHANGES","heading":"And bars the whole group","plain_english":"If a partner is a director in a bank, the firm cannot audit that bank's group entities.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 11(4)","rbi_char_offset":14234,"weight":"MUST KNOW","role":"Board","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13601#p15","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":5,"claim":"md13601-ec914e82","page_group":"Chapter III. Guidelines for Appointment","stored_section":"WHAT CHANGES","heading":"No sub-contracting","plain_english":"Sharing or sub-contracting the audit to another firm in the network is not allowed.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 23","rbi_char_offset":19796,"weight":"MUST KNOW","role":"Audit","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13601#p16","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":6,"claim":"md13601-67a924ef","page_group":"Chapter III. Guidelines for Appointment","stored_section":"WHO SHOULD ACT","heading":"Weigh the bank's own shape","plain_english":"In choosing branches, the bank must weigh how centralised its processes are.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 9(6)","rbi_char_offset":10048,"weight":"DO IT","role":"Branch","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13601#p17","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":7,"claim":"md13601-378cca49","page_group":"Chapter III. Guidelines for Appointment","stored_section":"WHO SHOULD ACT","heading":"Publish the coverage","plain_english":"The bank must publish how much of its branches and business the audit covered.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 9(7)","rbi_char_offset":10333,"weight":"DO IT","role":"Audit","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13601#p18","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":8,"claim":"md13601-53483b5b","page_group":"Chapter III. Guidelines for Appointment","stored_section":"WHO SHOULD ACT","heading":"Check the partner's income","plain_english":"The Board must satisfy itself that the partner earns enough from the firm to count as a full-time partner.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 10(4)","rbi_char_offset":12203,"weight":"DO IT","role":"Board","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13601#p19","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":9,"claim":"md13601-68a21083","page_group":"Chapter III. Guidelines for Appointment","stored_section":"WHO SHOULD ACT","heading":"Follow the code of ethics","plain_english":"The appointment must follow the institute's code of ethics and raise no clash of interest.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 11(3)","rbi_char_offset":14069,"weight":"DO IT","role":"All staff","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13601#p20","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":10,"claim":"md13601-4791b6e7","page_group":"Chapter III. Guidelines for Appointment","stored_section":"WHO SHOULD ACT","heading":"Regain eligibility before starting","plain_english":"A firm that loses eligibility must regain it before the annual audit begins.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 12(2)","rbi_char_offset":15305,"weight":"DO IT","role":"Audit","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13601#p21","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":11,"claim":"md13601-052ad32e","page_group":"Chapter III. Guidelines for Appointment","stored_section":"WHO SHOULD ACT","heading":"Go to the committee first","plain_english":"Where the management blocks the audit, the auditor must approach the audit committee.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 13","rbi_char_offset":16004,"weight":"DO IT","role":"Audit","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13601#p22","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":12,"claim":"md13601-1821b0cb","page_group":"Chapter III. Guidelines for Appointment","stored_section":"WHAT CHANGES","heading":"Incoming must be unconnected","plain_english":"The incoming firm is ineligible if it is tied to the outgoing one or its network.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 22","rbi_char_offset":19640,"weight":"DO IT","role":"All staff","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13601#p23","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":13,"claim":"md13601-d4b08869","page_group":"Chapter III. Guidelines for Appointment","stored_section":"THE CORE IDEA","heading":"Fee must fit the work","plain_english":"The fee must be reasonable and match the size, spread and complexity of the audit.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 25","rbi_char_offset":20265,"weight":"DO IT","role":"Audit","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13601#p24","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":14,"claim":"md13601-4bd44e3b","page_group":"Chapter III. Guidelines for Appointment","stored_section":"WHO SHOULD ACT","heading":"Audit the suspect branch","plain_english":"A branch where fraud or a suspicious transaction is suspected may be taken up for audit.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 9(3)","rbi_char_offset":9437,"weight":"BACKGROUND","role":"Audit","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13601#p25","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":15,"claim":"md13601-25b4cb00","page_group":"Chapter III. Guidelines for Appointment","stored_section":"THE CORE IDEA","heading":"What counts as experience","plain_english":"Audit experience means work as a central or branch auditor of a bank or institution.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 10(4)","rbi_char_offset":12774,"weight":"BACKGROUND","role":"Audit","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13601#p26","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":16,"claim":"md13601-5f8cd29f","page_group":"Chapter III. Guidelines for Appointment","stored_section":"WHAT CHANGES","heading":"Tax work is allowed","plain_english":"Tax audit, tax representation and tax advice do not normally create a clash.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 15(1)","rbi_char_offset":16845,"weight":"BACKGROUND","role":"Audit","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13601#p27","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":1,"claim":"md13601-b053e786","page_group":"Chapter IV. Repeal and Other Provisions","stored_section":"THE CORE IDEA","heading":"Old repeals stand","plain_english":"Anything repealed before these Directions stays repealed.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 27","rbi_char_offset":24396,"weight":"BACKGROUND","role":"All staff","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13601#p28","layer":"bankpulse"},{"n":2,"claim":"md13601-b6c42903","page_group":"Chapter IV. Repeal and Other Provisions","stored_section":"THE CORE IDEA","heading":"These add to other law","plain_english":"These Directions add to any other law and do not cut it down.","rbi_paragraph":"Para 29","rbi_char_offset":25547,"weight":"BACKGROUND","role":"All staff","team":null,"products_covered":[],"products_excluded":[],"bankpulse_example":null,"anchor":"https://bankpulse.ai/rule/md13601#p29","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."}