**Executive Summary**
This document, issued by the Reserve Bank of India on January 22, 2026, contains the "Reserve Bank of India (Payments Banks – Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory Liquidity Ratio) Amendment Directions, 2026". These directions, effective immediately, modify the 2025 directions concerning payments banks' cash reserve and statutory liquidity ratios, following the enactment of the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Amendments to the Reserve Bank of India (Payments Banks – Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory Liquidity Ratio) Directions, 2025:**
* In paragraph 19 (1), add the phrase "other development financial institutions as defined in section 2 (cccii) of the RBI Act, 1934".
* In paragraphs 26 (6) (v), remove the words "under "Cash in hand"".
* In Annex I (Form A), 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".
* In Annex II (Form VIII):
* 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 "specified" with "notified" and remove "from time to time".
* Add a new item: "Amount deposited with the Reserve Bank, under Standing Deposit Facility Scheme".
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Payments Banks**
**Impact:**
Payments Banks must ensure compliance with the updated directions concerning Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) and Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) calculations and reporting. This includes incorporating the changes to the definitions and reporting formats as outlined in the amended Annexes.
**Action Required:**
Payments Banks need to update their internal systems, reporting templates, and operational procedures to reflect the amendments outlined in the directions. They must also ensure that staff are adequately trained on the new requirements.
Key Entities Referenced
Reserve Bank of India: The central bank of India, responsible for regulating the banking sector and issuing the directions described in the document.
Reserve Bank of India (Payments Banks – Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory Liquidity Ratio) Amendment Directions, 2026: The primary subject of the document, outlining amendments to regulations regarding cash reserve ratio and statutory liquidity ratio for payments banks.
Banking Regulation Act, 1949: An act that empowers the Reserve Bank of India and provides a framework for the regulation of banks in India.
Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934: An act that established the Reserve Bank of India and outlines its powers and functions.
Reserve Bank of India (Payments Banks – Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory Liquidity Ratio) Directions, 2025: The original directions that are being amended by the new Directions.
भारतीय ररज़र्व बैंक
RESERVE BANK OF INDIA
RBI/2025-26/199
DOR.RET.REC.396/12.01.001/2025-26 January 22, 2026
Reserve Bank of India (Payments Banks – Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory
Liquidity Ratio) Amendment Directions, 2026
Please refer to Reserve Bank of India (Payments 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 (Payments 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 (Payments Banks
– Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory Liquidity Ratio) Directions, 2025 as under:
(i) In paragraph 19 (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 26 (6) (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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