**Summary:**
This Reserve Bank of India (RBI) circular, reference number RBI/2020-21/115 DOR.CAP.5121/06.20.012/2020-21 dated March 30, 2021, addresses amendments to prudential guidelines following the enactment of "The Bilateral Netting of Qualified Financial Contracts Act, 2020" (the Act). The Act, notified on October 1, 2020, via Gazette Notification No. S.O. 3463(E), establishes a legal framework for the enforceability of bilateral netting of qualified financial contracts (QFCs). In accordance with Section 4a of the Act, the RBI, via Notification no. FMRD.DIRD.214/03.043/2020-21 dated March 9, 2021, has designated derivatives and repo and reverse repo transactions (as defined under Section 45U of Chapter IIID of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934) as QFCs. Consequently, select instructions within the following circulars have been modified:
* Master Circular DBR.No.BP.BC.1/21.06.201/5-16 dated July 1, 2015, on Basel III Capital Regulations (Annex 1).
* Circular DBR.BP.BC.No.106/21.04.098/2017-18 dated May 17, 2018, on Basel III Framework on Liquidity Standards – Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR) Final Guidelines (Annex 2).
* Master Circular DBR.No.BP.BC.2/21.04.048/2015-16 dated July 1, 2015, on Prudential norms on Income Recognition, Asset Classification and Provisioning pertaining to Advances (Annex 3).
* Master Circular DBR.No.BP.BC.4/21.06.001/2015-16 dated July 1, 2015, on Prudential Guidelines on Capital Adequacy and Market Discipline – New Capital Adequacy Framework (NCAF) (Annex 4).
These revisions are effective immediately and apply to all Scheduled Commercial Banks excluding Regional Rural Banks. Further inquiries can be directed to Usha Janakiraman, Chief General Manager, Reserve Bank of India. The official website is www.rbi.org.in.
Key Entities Referenced
Reserve Bank of India: The central bank of India, which issued the notification.
Bilateral Netting of Qualified Financial Contracts Act, 2020: An act providing a legal framework for enforceability of bilateral netting of qualified financial contracts.
Qualified Financial Contracts: Financial contracts that are eligible for bilateral netting under the Bilateral Netting of Qualified Financial Contracts Act, 2020.
Basel III Capital Regulations: A set of international banking regulations related to capital requirements, mentioned in Master Circular DBR.No.BP.BC.121.06.201201516.
Basel III Framework on Liquidity Standards Net Stable Funding Ratio: A framework concerning liquidity standards and net stable funding ratio, outlined in Circular DBR.BP.BC.No.10621.04.098201718.
Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934: The act that established the Reserve Bank of India and defines its powers and functions.
Usha Janakiraman: Chief General Manager at Reserve Bank of India
Regional Rural Banks: Scheduled Commercial Banks excluding Regional Rural Banks
भारतीय �रज़व� ब�क
_________________________RESERVE BANK OF INDIA ______________________
www.rbi.org.in
RBI/2020-21/115
DOR.CAP.51/21.06.201/2020-21 March 30, 2021
All Scheduled Commercial Banks
(excluding Regional Rural Banks)
Madam / Dear Sir,
Bilateral Netting of Qualified Financial Contracts- Amendments to Prudential
Guidelines
The Bilateral Netting of Qualified Financial Contracts Act, 2020 (hereafter referred to
as “the Act”), has been notified by the Government of India vide Gazette Notification
No. S.O. 3463(E) dated October 1, 2020. The Act provides a legal framework for
enforceability of bilateral netting of qualified financial contracts (QFC).
2. In exercise of the powers conferred by section 4(a) of the Act, the Reserve Bank,
vide Notification no. FMRD.DIRD.2/14.03.043/2020-21 dated March 9, 2021, has
since notified (a) “derivatives”; and (b) “repo” and “reverse repo” transactions as
defined under Section 45(U) of Chapter III-D of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934
as a QFC.
3. Accordingly, select instructions contained in the following circulars have been
modified/ amended appropriately:
a) Master Circular DBR.No.BP.BC.1/21.06.201/2015-16 dated July 1, 2015 on
‘Basel III Capital Regulations’ as provided in Annex 1;
b) Circular DBR.BP.BC.No.106/21.04.098/2017-18 dated May 17, 2018 on ‘Basel
III Framework on Liquidity Standards – Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR) – Final
Guidelines’ as provided in Annex 2;
c) Master Circular DBR.No.BP.BC.2/21.04.048/2015-16 dated July 1, 2015 on
‘Prudential norms on Income Recognition, Asset Classification and Provisioning
pertaining to Advances’ as provided in Annex 3; andd) Master Circular DBR.No.BP.BC.4./21.06.001/2015-16 dated July 1, 2015 on
Prudential Guidelines on Capital Adequacy and Market Discipline-New Capital
Adequacy Framework (NCAF) as provided in Annex 4.
The revised instructions come into force with immediate effect.
Yours faithfully,
(Usha Janakiraman)
Chief General Manager
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