**Executive Summary**
This document, RBI/2025-26/198, issued by the Reserve Bank of India on January 22, 2026, contains amendment directions for Small Finance Banks regarding Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory Liquidity Ratio. These directions, effective immediately, modify the RBI's 2025 directions on the same subject. It refers to publications in the Gazette of India dated December 10, 2025 and January 15, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **General:**
* These directions are called the "Reserve Bank of India (Small Finance Banks – Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory Liquidity Ratio) Amendment Directions, 2026."
* The Amendment Directions modify the "Reserve Bank of India (Small Finance Banks – Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory Liquidity Ratio) Directions, 2025".
* The provisions come into force with immediate effect.
* **Paragraph 19 (1) Modification:**
* The words "other development financial institutions as defined in section 2 (cccii) of the RBI Act, 1934" shall be inserted.
* **Paragraph 28 (6) (v) Modification:**
* The words 'under "Cash in hand" shall be deleted.
* **Annex I (Form A) Modification:**
* 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".
* **Annex II (Form VIII) Modification:**
* 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.
**Impact Analysis**
**Small Finance Banks**
* **Impact**:
* SFBs must update their understanding of Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory Liquidity Ratio requirements, especially regarding what counts as cash in hand.
* SFBs need to adjust the categorization of financial institutions under Annex I and II in their reporting.
* SFBs should incorporate the new item "Amount deposited with the Reserve Bank under Standing Deposit Facility Scheme" in Annex II (Form VIII).
* **Action Required**:
* Review and implement the changes outlined in the amendment directions to ensure compliance.
* Update reporting templates and procedures to reflect the modifications in Annex I and Annex II.
* Ensure relevant staff are aware of the changes and their implications.
Key Entities Referenced
Reserve Bank of India (Small Finance Banks – Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory Liquidity Ratio) Amendment Directions, 2026: The primary subject of the document, outlining amendment directions for small finance banks related to cash reserve ratio and statutory liquidity ratio.
Banking Regulation Act, 1949: Referenced as a source of authority for the directions outlined in the document.
Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934: Referenced as a source of authority for the directions outlined in the document. Specifically, section 2 (cccii) is referenced.
Reserve Bank of India (Small Finance Banks – Cash Reserve Ratio and Statutory Liquidity Ratio) Directions, 2025: The Directions that the current document amends.
Reserve Bank of India: The issuing authority for the directions
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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