**Executive Summary**
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued Amendment Directions, effective immediately on January 22, 2026, modifying the 2025 Directions concerning Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) and Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) for Local Area Banks (LABs). These amendments are pursuant to the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025, and aim to update definitions and reporting requirements.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **General:**
* These are Amendment Directions to the Reserve Bank of India (Local Area Banks – Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory Liquidity Ratio) Directions, 2025.
* The amendments are effective immediately.
* **Paragraph 16 (1) Amendment:**
* The following words shall be inserted "other development financial institutions as defined in section 2 (cccii) of the RBI Act, 1934".
* **Paragraph 23 (5) (v) Amendment:**
* The words 'under "Cash in hand" ‘ shall be deleted.
* **Annex I (Form A) Amendment:**
* Replace "National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, Export Import Bank of India" with "the Exim Bank, the National Housing Bank, the National Bank, the Small Industries Bank, the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development or the other development financial institution".
* **Annex II (Form VIII) Amendments:**
* Replace "Export-Import Bank of India and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development" with "Exim Bank, National Bank, National Housing Bank, Small Industries Bank, National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development and other development financial institutions as defined in section 2 (cccii) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934".
* Replace the word "specified" with "notified" and delete the words “from time to time".
* Insert a new item: "Amount deposited with the Reserve Bank, under Standing Deposit Facility Scheme".
**Impact Analysis**
**Local Area Banks (LABs)**
* **Impact:** LABs must adhere to the revised definitions and reporting requirements for CRR and SLR. This includes updated reporting formats (Annex I and II) and amended language regarding "other development financial institutions" and the removal of 'Cash in hand'.
* **Action Required:** Update internal systems and reporting procedures to reflect the changes mandated by these Amendment Directions and submit returns accordingly.
Key Entities Referenced
Reserve Bank of India (Local Area Banks – Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory Liquidity Ratio) Amendment Directions, 2026: The primary subject of the document, these directions amend existing regulations regarding cash reserve ratio and statutory liquidity ratio for local area banks.
Banking Regulation Act, 1949: Cited as the source of authority for exercising powers by the Reserve Bank of India.
Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934: Cited as the source of authority for exercising powers by the Reserve Bank of India. Section 2 (cccii) of the act is also mentioned.
Reserve Bank of India (Local Area Banks – Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory Liquidity Ratio) Directions, 2025: The directions being amended by the current document.
Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025: The enactment of this act is the basis for the amendment directions.
भारतीय ररज़र्व बैंक
RESERVE BANK OF INDIA
RBI/2025-26/201
DOR.RET.REC.398/12.01.001/2025-26 January 22, 2026
Reserve Bank of India (Local Area Banks – Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory
Liquidity Ratio) Amendment Directions, 2026
Please refer to Reserve Bank of India (Local Area Banks – Cash Reserve Ratio and
Statutory Liquidity Ratio) Directions, 2025 dated November 28, 2025.
2. Pursuant to the enactment of the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025, the
Banking Regulation (Companies) Amendment Rules, 2025 and the Reserve Bank of
India Scheduled Banks' (Amendment) Regulations 2025 have been published in the
Gazette of India dated December 10, 2025 and January 15, 2026 respectively.
3. Accordingly, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 35A of the Banking
Regulation Act, 1949 and pursuant to Section 42 of the Reserve Bank of India Act,
1934 and Sections 18 and 24 of Banking Regulation Act, 1949, as amended from time
to time, and all other provisions / laws enabling the Reserve Bank of India in this
regard, the Reserve Bank being satisfied that it is necessary and expedient in the
public interest so to do, hereby, issues the Amendment Directions hereinafter
specified.
4. These Directions shall be called the Reserve Bank of India (Local Area Banks –
Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory Liquidity Ratio) Amendment Directions, 2026.
5. The provisions shall come into force with immediate effect.
6. These Amendment Directions modify the Reserve Bank of India (Local Area Banks
– Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory Liquidity Ratio) Directions, 2025 as under:
(i) In paragraph 16 (1), the words "other development financial institutions as
defined in section 2 (cccii) of the RBI Act, 1934" shall be inserted.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
विवियमि विभाग, केंद्रीय कायाालय, 12िी ींऔर 13िी ींमींव़िल, िरीमि भिि, िरीमि पॉइींट, म ींबई 400021
Department of Regulation, Central Office, 12th & 13th Floor, Nariman Bhavan, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400021
बैंक व ींदी में पत्राचार का स्वागत करता ै
Caution: RBI never sends mails, SMSs or makes calls asking for personal information like bank account details, passwords,
etc. It never keeps or offers funds to anyone. Please do not respond in any manner to such offers.(ii) In paragraphs 23 (5) (v), the words ‘under "Cash in hand" ‘ shall be deleted.
(iii) In Annex I (Form A), the words "National Bank for Agriculture and Rural
Development, Export Import Bank of India" shall be substituted with "the Exim
Bank, the National Housing Bank, the National Bank, the Small Industries
Bank, the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development or the
other development financial institution".
(iv) In Annex II (Form VIII),
• The words "Export-Import Bank of India and National Bank for Agriculture
and Rural Development" shall be substituted with "Exim Bank, National
Bank, National Housing Bank, Small Industries Bank, National Bank for
Financing Infrastructure and Development and other development
financial institutions as defined in section 2 (cccii) of the Reserve Bank of
India Act, 1934"
• The word "specified" shall be substituted with "notified" and words “from
time to time” shall be deleted.
• a new item “Amount deposited with the Reserve Bank, under Standing
Deposit Facility Scheme” shall be inserted.
Yours faithfully,
(Manoranjan Padhy)
Chief General Manager
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