Date: 2025-09-29Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Reserve Bank of India (Basel III Capital Regulations - Perpetual Debt Instruments (PDI) in Additional Tier 1 Capital – Eligible Limit for Instruments Denominated in Foreign Currency/Rupee Denominated Bonds Overseas) Directions, 2025
**Executive Summary**
This document, issued by the Reserve Bank of India on September 29, 2025, outlines directions regarding the eligible limit for Perpetual Debt Instruments (PDI) in Additional Tier 1 Capital denominated in foreign currency/rupee bonds overseas. These directions, effective from October 1, 2025, revise the existing limit. The previous circular on the same subject, DOR.CAP.REC.No.56/21.06.201/2021-22 dated October 4, 2021, is repealed.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Title:** Reserve Bank of India (Basel III Capital Regulations - Perpetual Debt Instruments (PDI) in Additional Tier 1 Capital – Eligible Limit for Instruments Denominated in Foreign Currency/Rupee Denominated Bonds Overseas) Directions, 2025.
* **Effective Date:** These directions come into force from October 01, 2025.
* **Revised Limits:**
* Perpetual Debt Instruments (PDIs) issued in foreign currency/ rupee denominated bonds overseas shall be eligible for inclusion in Additional Tier 1 (AT1) capital.
* The limit for inclusion in Additional Tier 1 (AT1) capital is up to a maximum amount of 1.5 per cent of Risk Weighted Assets (RWAs).
* The 1.5% limit is determined based on the latest available financial statements (audited or subjected to limited review).
* **Supersession:** The directions supersede circular DOR.CAP.REC.No.56/21.06.201/2021-22 dated October 4, 2021.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder**: All Scheduled Commercial Banks (Excluding Small Finance Banks, Payments Banks and Regional Rural Banks)
**Impact**:
The directions revise the eligible limit for inclusion of Perpetual Debt Instruments (PDIs) in Additional Tier 1 Capital. These institutions need to adhere to the revised limit of 1.5% of Risk Weighted Assets (RWAs) as per their latest available financial statements when including PDIs in AT1 capital.
**Action Required**:
All Scheduled Commercial Banks (Excluding Small Finance Banks, Payments Banks and Regional Rural Banks) need to review their existing PDIs denominated in foreign currency/rupee bonds overseas and ensure compliance with the revised limits. They must also take note that the older directions have been repealed.
Key Entities Referenced
Reserve Bank of India: Regulator issuing directions on Basel III Capital Regulations and Perpetual Debt Instruments.
Basel III Capital Regulations - Perpetual Debt Instruments (PDI) in Additional Tier 1 Capital – Eligible Limit for Instruments Denominated in Foreign Currency/Rupee Denominated Bonds Overseas) Directions, 2025: Main subject of the document; Directions regarding instruments eligible for Additional Tier 1 capital.
Banking Regulation Act, 1949: Act providing the Reserve Bank of India authority to issue these directions.
DOR.CAP.REC.No.56/21.06.201/2021-22: Earlier circular on Basel III Capital Regulations - Perpetual Debt Instruments, which is superseded by the current directions.
बेटी बचाओ
भारतीय ररज़र्व बैंक बेटी पढाओ
RESERVE BANK OF INDIA
______________________ ______________________
www.rbi.org.in
RBI/2025-26/85
DOR.CAP.REC.No.53/21.01.002/2025-26 September 29, 2025
All Scheduled Commercial Banks
(Excluding Small Finance Banks, Payments Banks
and Regional Rural Banks)
Reserve Bank of India (Basel III Capital Regulations - Perpetual Debt
Instruments (PDI) in Additional Tier 1 Capital – Eligible Limit for Instruments
Denominated in Foreign Currency/Rupee Denominated Bonds Overseas)
Directions, 2025
The Reserve Bank had issued a circular DOR.CAP.REC.No.56/21.06.201/2021-22
dated October 4, 2021 on “Basel III Capital Regulations - Perpetual Debt Instruments
(PDI) in Additional Tier 1 Capital – Eligible Limit for Instruments Denominated in
Foreign Currency/Rupee Denominated Bonds Overseas” (hereinafter referred to as
“the circular”). On a review, it has been decided to revise the existing eligible limit
applicable to PDIs denominated in foreign currency/rupee denominated bonds
overseas.
2. Accordingly, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 35A of the Banking
Regulation Act, 1949 and all other laws enabling the Reserve Bank in this regard, the
Reserve Bank being satisfied that it is necessary and expedient in the public interest
to do so, hereby issues the Directions hereinafter specified.
3. (i) These Directions shall be called the “Reserve Bank of India (Basel III Capital
Regulations - Perpetual Debt Instruments (PDI) in Additional Tier 1 Capital – Eligible
Limit for Instruments Denominated in Foreign Currency/Rupee Denominated Bonds
Overseas) Directions, 2025”.
(ii) These Directions shall come into force from October 01, 2025.
4. In supersession of the circular ibid, the revised limits applicable to PDIs
denominated in foreign currency/rupee denominated bonds overseas shall be as
under:
विवियमि विभाग,केंद्रीय कायाालय, 12 िी ींऔर 13 िी ींमींविल, केंद्रीय कायाालय भिि, शहीद भगत व ींह मागा,फोर्ा,म ींबई-400001
दूरभाष: 022-22601000 फैक्स: 022-22705691 ई-मेल: cgmicdor@rbi.org.in
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Department of Regulation, Central Office, 12th and 13th Floor, Central Office Building, Shahid Bhagat Singh Marg, Fort, Mumbai- 400 001
Tel: 022- 2260 1000 Fax: 022-2270 5691 email: cgmicdor@rbi.org.in“Perpetual Debt Instruments (PDIs) issued in foreign currency/ rupee denominated
bonds overseas shall be eligible for inclusion in Additional Tier 1 (AT1) capital up to a
maximum amount of 1.5 per cent of Risk Weighted Assets (RWAs) as per the latest
available financial statements (audited or subjected to limited review).”
5. The circular DOR.CAP.REC.No.56/21.06.201/2021-22 dated October 4, 2021 on
“Basel III Capital Regulations - Perpetual Debt Instruments (PDI) in Additional Tier 1
Capital – Eligible Limit for Instruments Denominated in Foreign Currency/Rupee
Denominated Bonds Overseas” shall stand repealed.
(Usha Janakiraman)
Chief General Manager-in-Charge
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