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October 2026
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FEMA & RBIRBI issues Credit Valuation Adjustment Framework Directions, 2026 for commercial banks, effective 1 April 2027; six amendment directions issued the same day
From 1 April 2027Rule changeRBI has issued the Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks – Credit Valuation Adjustment Framework) Directions, 2026, which set out how commercial banks must compute the capital charge for CVA risk on derivatives. The Directions come into effect from 1 April 2027. Six amendment directions were issued the same day: two take effect from 1 April 2027 and four, on exposures to qualifying central counterparties, from the date of issue.
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CustomsICEGATE now verifies AD Code and incentive bank accounts directly with banks through API; no document upload for API-integrated banks
Bank verification by APINew facilityICEGATE has integrated with participating banks to verify AD Code and incentive bank account details electronically. For API-integrated banks, the user need not select a document type or upload a document with IRN. The advisory of 1 October 2026 lists what must match across ICEGATE, DGFT and bank records, and the common reasons a verification fails.
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FEMA & RBIRBI issues Master Circular on credit facilities to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes: what banks must do
Master Circular, 1 Oct 2026RBI has issued its Master Circular consolidating instructions to banks on credit facilities to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. It covers credit planning, help with applications, no insistence on deposits, rejection of loan applications only at the next higher level, the 40 per cent share under the DRI scheme, the credit guarantee scheme for SC entrepreneurs, and monitoring through a special cell at Head Office.
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FEMA & RBIRBI allows one-time approval for mutual funds, insurers and pension funds to re-acquire major shareholding in a bank, up to 10 per cent
One-time approval, up to 10%ReliefRBI has amended its directions on acquisition and holding of shares or voting rights in banks. SEBI-registered mutual funds, IRDAI-registered insurers and PFRDA-registered pension funds outside the bank’s promoter group can get a one-time approval, through PRAVAAH, for subsequent acquisitions of major shareholding up to 10 per cent. Prior approval for the initial acquisition stays mandatory.
September 2026
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FEMA & RBIBanks must value unquoted InvIT and REIT units at disclosed NAV — and at ₹1 if NAV is not disclosed as SEBI requires or the units are infrequently traded
InvIT/REIT units: NAV or ₹1ClarifiedRBI has inserted paragraphs 84A and 84B in the Commercial Banks investment portfolio Directions, 2025 to bring uniformity in how banks value units of Infrastructure Investment Trusts and Real Estate Investment Trusts. Quoted units follow the rules for quoted securities; unquoted units are valued at the NAV disclosed by the trust, failing which at ₹1. In force from 22 September 2026.
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FEMA & RBIRBI issues final Basel III market-risk capital rules for commercial banks: Simplified Standardised Approach from 1 April 2027
Market risk rules: 1 Apr 2027Rule changeRBI has issued the Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks – Minimum Capital Requirements for Market Risk) Directions, 2026, finalising draft guidelines of 17 February 2023. Banks must use the Simplified Standardised Approach, with capital computed for interest rate, equity and foreign exchange risk. The Directions take effect from 1 April 2027.
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FEMA & RBIBanks can accept overseas-certified KYC documents from Foreign Portfolio Investors: RBI amends the Commercial Banks KYC Directions
KYC: certified copy for FPIsReliefRBI has amended paragraph 5(1)(v) of the Commercial Banks – Know Your Customer Directions, 2025. The option of taking an original certified copy of KYC documents — certified by an overseas bank branch, a notary abroad, a court magistrate, a judge or the Indian Embassy/Consulate — was available for NRIs and PIOs. It now also covers Foreign Portfolio Investors, with immediate effect from 18 September 2026.
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FEMA & RBIRBI draft: banks to follow an SOP for temporary debit holds on accounts linked to mule activity and cyber fraud
Debit-hold SOPComments invitedThe draft KYC Amendment Directions, 2026 follow a Supreme Court order of 4 August 2026. Comments were invited up to 2 October 2026.
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FEMA & RBINatural-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
Half-yearly return on CIMSRule changeRBI 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.
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FEMA & RBIUrban Co-operative Banks can now hold equity shares of Indian Digital Payment Intelligence Corporation (IDPIC) to become members: RBI amends investment Directions
UCBs may hold IDPIC sharesRule changeRBI has amended its investment portfolio Directions for Urban Co-operative Banks so that they can acquire membership of the Indian Digital Payment Intelligence Corporation (IDPIC), described as the nation’s central digital payment fraud intelligence platform. Paragraphs 101(5) and 107(1) of the 2025 Directions now mention equity shares of IDPIC. The change took effect on 2 September 2026.
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FEMA & RBIRBI drops two reports on Rupee accounts of non-resident banks: yearly branch list and overdrawal reporting dispensed with — A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 20
Two FEMA reports droppedReliefBy A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 20 dated 2 September 2026, RBI has dispensed with two reporting requirements on Rupee accounts of non-resident banks that dated from April 2003: the annual list of branches maintaining such accounts, and the report of temporary overdrawals not adjusted within five days. The change applies with immediate effect.
August 2026
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FEMA & RBIRBI proposes one set of rules on loan interest rates for all lenders, covering fixed and floating loans
Fixed + floatingComments invitedThe draft Interest Rates on Loans and Advances Directions, 2026 would harmonise the framework for banks, NBFCs, AIFIs, RRBs and co-operative banks. Comments closed on 11 September 2026.
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Foreign TradeDraft SOP for reporting inward remittances routed through NBFC Factors, for eBRC self-certification: DGFT Trade Notice 20/2026-27 invites comments
Comments within 30 daysComments invitedDGFT has circulated a draft Standard Operating Procedure on how Inward Remittance Messages (IRMs) are to be reported when export proceeds come through NBFC Factors. Factors would tag their SWIFT messages so that AD-I banks do not create IRMs for factoring proceeds; exporters would see factor-linked IRMs on the DGFT portal to self-certify eBRCs. Comments are invited within 30 days.
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Foreign TradeDGFT advisory asks exporters, banks and ECGC to exercise heightened vigilance with two Thimphu-based firms: Trade Notice 19/2026-27 under para 8.07(d) of FTP 2023
Advisory: 2 Bhutanese firmsClarifiedDGFT has issued a precautionary advisory under para 8.07(d) of the Foreign Trade Policy 2023 against two Bhutanese entities — M/s Legoy Powersports and M/s Druk A-Z Store, both of Thimphu — after a complaint could not be resolved for want of response. EPCs, Regional Authorities, ECGC and AD banks are advised to exercise enhanced caution and due diligence.
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FEMA & RBIRBI draft CVA framework: banks to compute Credit Valuation Adjustment capital charge under Basel III basic approach from 1 April 2027, with a simpler option for smaller derivative books
CVA capital charge: draftComments invitedRBI released draft Directions on 7 August 2026 to replace its 2011 Credit Valuation Adjustment (CVA) framework with the basic approach (BA-CVA) of the final Basel III framework. Banks could choose the full or reduced version; a bank with non-centrally cleared derivatives of up to ₹10 lakh crore notional could instead set its CVA charge at 100% of its counterparty credit risk charge. Proposed date of effect is 1 April 2027; comments closed on 28 August 2026.
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FEMA & RBIRBI draft proposes to rewrite banks’ leverage ratio chapter on the Basel 2017 standard from 1 April 2027; text puts the minimum at 4% for D-SIBs and 3.5% for other banks
Leverage ratio: draft rewriteComments invitedRBI released a draft on 7 August 2026 to amend Chapter VII (Leverage Ratio framework) of its capital adequacy Directions for commercial banks, to align with the Basel Committee’s ‘Leverage Ratio 2017 Standard’. The draft sets out how the exposure measure is to be built from on-balance sheet, derivative, SFT and off-balance sheet exposures, and proposes 1 April 2027 as the date of effect. Comments were invited till 28 August 2026; the window has closed.
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Foreign TradeInterest subvention on export credit: EXIM Bank replaces RBI as implementing agency from 1 April 2026
RBI → EXIM BankRule changeTrade Notice 17/2026-27 records the transition under the Export Promotion Mission – Niryat Protsahan. Banks will now claim reimbursement from EXIM Bank; the benefit still reaches the MSME exporter upfront.
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FEMA & RBIRBI issues final Directions on loan recovery and recovery agents; in force from 1 January 2027
1 January 2027Rule changeThe Amendment Directions cover fair treatment of borrowers, conduct of employees and recovery agents, and technology-based recovery on financed mobile devices — for banks, NBFCs and HFCs.
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FEMA & RBIRBI draft for State and Central Co-operative Banks: exposure capped at 20% of Tier-I capital per borrower and 25% per group, new housing loan ceilings proposed from 1 April 2027
20% single, 25% group capComments invitedRBI issued two draft Directions on 6 August 2026 for Rural Co-operative Banks (State and Central Co-operative Banks). They propose exposure limits of 20% of Tier-I capital for a single counterparty and 25% for a group, a 15% cap each on real estate exposure and unsecured advances, and housing loan ceilings of ₹60 lakh to ₹3 crore by deposit size — all from 1 April 2027. Comments were due by 28 August 2026; the window has closed.
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FEMA & RBIRBI proposes to resume licensing of Urban Co-operative Banks ‘on tap’: draft asks for ₹10,000 crore deposits and ₹300 crore net worth from credit societies
UCB licences: draft rulesComments invitedRBI published draft guidelines on 5 August 2026 for licensing Urban Co-operative Banks on an ‘on tap’ basis. As proposed, only credit co-operative societies that are at least 10 years old, registered under the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002, with deposits of at least ₹10,000 crore and net worth of at least ₹300 crore could apply. Comments were invited till 5 September 2026; that window has closed.
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