**Executive Summary**
This document, issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on January 22, 2026, contains the Reserve Bank of India (Small Finance Banks – Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory Liquidity Ratio) Amendment Directions, 2026. These directions, effective immediately, amend the previous directions issued in 2025. The amendments address definitions and reporting requirements related to development financial institutions.
**Key Points / Main Content**
*Amendment Directions*
* These directions shall be called the Reserve Bank of India (Small Finance Banks – Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory Liquidity Ratio) Amendment Directions, 2026.
* The provisions shall come into force with immediate effect.
* These Amendment Directions modify the Reserve Bank of India (Small Finance Banks – Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory Liquidity Ratio) Directions, 2025
*Amendments to RBI (Small Finance Banks) Directions, 2025*
* Paragraph 19 (1): The phrase "other development financial institutions as defined in section 2 (cccii) of the RBI Act, 1934" shall be inserted.
* Paragraph 28 (6) (v): The words 'under "Cash in hand" shall be deleted.
* Annex I (Form A): "National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, Export Import Bank of India" is replaced 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):
* "Export-Import Bank of India and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development" is replaced 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."
* "Specified" is replaced with "notified" and "from time to time" is deleted.
* A new item "Amount deposited with the Reserve Bank, under Standing Deposit Facility Scheme" is inserted.
**Impact Analysis**
**Small Finance Banks (SFBs)**
**Impact**
* SFBs must comply with the updated reporting requirements and definitions, particularly regarding development financial institutions.
* SFBs need to update their reporting templates (Annex I and Annex II) and internal processes to reflect the changes.
**Action Required**
* SFBs need to review and implement the changes to ensure compliance with the RBI's directions.
* SFBs must update reporting templates.
Key Entities Referenced
Reserve Bank of India (Small Finance Banks – Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory Liquidity Ratio) Directions, 2025: The original directions related to cash reserve ratio and statutory liquidity ratio for small finance banks issued by the Reserve Bank of India.
Banking Regulation Act, 1949: Indian legislation that empowers the Reserve Bank of India to regulate the banking sector.
Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934: Indian legislation under which the Reserve Bank of India was established and granted powers to govern the country's monetary policy.
Reserve Bank of India (Small Finance Banks – Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory Liquidity Ratio) Amendment Directions, 2026: The primary subject: Amendment directions issued by the Reserve Bank of India modifying the original directions regarding cash reserve ratio and statutory liquidity ratio for small finance banks.
Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025: The Amendment Act that triggers changes to the Banking Regulation (Companies) Amendment Rules, 2025.
भारतीय ररज़र्व बैंक
RESERVE BANK OF INDIA
RBI/2025-26/198
DOR.RET.REC.395/12.01.001/2025-26 January 22, 2026
Reserve Bank of India (Small Finance Banks – Cash Reserve Ratio and
Statutory Liquidity Ratio) Amendment Directions, 2026
Please refer to Reserve Bank of India (Small Finance 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 (Small Finance 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 (Small Finance
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 28 (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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