Natural-calamity relief: banks, NBFCs and AIFIs to file a half-yearly return on RBI’s CIMS portal within 30 days; monthly return for commercial banks discontinued
RBI has asked all regulated entities to report relief measures extended in areas affected by natural calamities through a half-yearly return on the CIMS portal. The return is due within 30 days of each half-year — by 30 October for the half-year ending 30 September and by 30 April for the half-year ending 31 March. The earlier monthly return for Scheduled Commercial Banks stands discontinued from 1 July 2026.
Key facts
- In force
- Half-yearly return due by 30 October and 30 April; monthly return discontinued from 1 July 2026
- Who it affects
- Scheduled Commercial Banks (incl. RRBs and SFBs), Local Area Banks, Urban and Rural Co-operative Banks, NBFCs and All India Financial Institutions
- What it is
- Rule change
- Section
- FEMA & RBI
- Published
- 2 September 2026
In 30 seconds
- Circular RBI/2026-27/250 is dated 2 September 2026.
- It is addressed to Scheduled Commercial Banks (including RRBs and Small Finance Banks), Local Area Banks, Urban and Rural Co-operative Banks, NBFCs and AIFIs.
- The return is half-yearly, filed in the revised reporting format through the CIMS portal.
- Due dates: 30 October for the half-year ending 30 September; 30 April for the half-year ending 31 March.
- The monthly return applicable to Scheduled Commercial Banks (including Small Finance Banks, excluding RRBs) is discontinued with effect from 1 July 2026.
हिंदी में सार
RBI ने 2 सितंबर 2026 के परिपत्र से सभी बैंकों, NBFC और AIFI को कहा है कि प्राकृतिक आपदा प्रभावित क्षेत्रों में दी गई राहत की जानकारी CIMS पोर्टल पर छमाही रिटर्न के रूप में दें। रिटर्न हर छमाही ख़त्म होने के 30 दिन के भीतर देना है — 30 सितंबर की छमाही के लिए 30 अक्टूबर तक और 31 मार्च की छमाही के लिए 30 अप्रैल तक। Scheduled Commercial Banks का पुराना मासिक रिटर्न 1 जुलाई 2026 से बंद कर दिया गया है।
Before and now
A monthly return, applicable to Scheduled Commercial Banks (including Small Finance Banks, excluding Regional Rural Banks).
A half-yearly return on the CIMS portal for all the regulated entities addressed, due within 30 days of the end of each half-year.
What RBI has said
By a circular dated 2 September 2026 (RBI/2026-27/250), the Reserve Bank of India has introduced a half-yearly return, filed through the Centralised Information Management System (CIMS) portal, on relief measures extended in areas affected by natural calamities.
The circular explains the background. The regulatory framework for such relief measures was revised by the amendment directions on Resolution of Stressed Assets dated 29 April 2026, which came into effect from 1 July 2026. Those directions require regulated entities to submit data on calamity relief through the CIMS portal on a half-yearly basis. The circular aligns the reporting mechanism with that framework.
Who has to file
The circular is addressed to the Chief Executive Officer / Managing Director of:
- all Scheduled Commercial Banks, including Regional Rural Banks and Small Finance Banks;
- all Local Area Banks;
- Urban Co-operative Banks and Rural Co-operative Banks;
- Non-Banking Financial Companies; and
- All India Financial Institutions (AIFIs).
Due dates
| Half-year ending | Return due by |
|---|---|
| 30 September | 30 October |
| 31 March | 30 April |
The rule is that the return is submitted within 30 days from the end of each half-year, in the revised reporting format, through the CIMS portal.
The monthly return goes
The existing monthly return on relief measures in calamity-affected areas, which applied to all Scheduled Commercial Banks (including Small Finance Banks and excluding Regional Rural Banks), stands discontinued with effect from 1 July 2026.
What regulated entities should do
- Furnish the information in the revised format on the CIMS portal by the due date for each half-year.
- Ensure the information submitted is accurate, complete and duly validated.
- Set up internal systems and processes for timely collection, verification, consolidation and submission of the data — the circular says such systems “may be established”.
The circular refers to an enclosed list of the amendment directions of 29 April 2026; the list and the reporting format are not reproduced in the text of the circular.
Questions and answers
Who has to file the half-yearly return on natural-calamity relief?
The circular is addressed to all Scheduled Commercial Banks (including Regional Rural Banks and Small Finance Banks), Local Area Banks, Urban Co-operative Banks, Rural Co-operative Banks, Non-Banking Financial Companies and AIFIs.
What is the due date?
Within 30 days from the end of each half-year — by 30 October for the half-year ending 30 September and by 30 April for the half-year ending 31 March.
Where is the return filed?
Through RBI’s Centralised Information Management System (CIMS) portal, in the revised reporting format.
Is the monthly return still required?
No. The monthly return that applied to Scheduled Commercial Banks (including Small Finance Banks and excluding Regional Rural Banks) stands discontinued with effect from 1 July 2026.
Published 2 September 2026. Updated 5 October 2026. This report is for general information and is not professional advice. Read the source document before acting on it.