RBI has directed Regional Rural Banks to prevent excessive interest rates by adopting Board-approved policies that ensure fair pricing and borrower protection. The key takeaway is tighter governance over lending rates despite deregulation.
The Court held that reassessment notices under Section 148 issued beyond the surviving period under TOLA are invalid, leading to quashing of assessment orders. Time-bar limits override procedural provisions.
The Directions require immediate stress identification through SMA classification and enforce time-bound, policy-driven resolution to improve recoveries.
The RBI issues comprehensive guidelines for issuance, conduct, and co-branding of debit cards by Local Area Banks, ensuring transparency, consent, and grievance redressal for customers.
The regulator introduced a consolidated framework strengthening board oversight, audit committees, market conduct, and regulatory compliance for AIFIs, with immediate effect.
The RBI revised branch authorisation norms for regional rural banks to prioritise financial inclusion. Banks must meet eligibility conditions and ensure at least 25% outlets are opened in unbanked rural centres.
The RBI has introduced a comprehensive 2025 framework governing how Regional Rural Banks may transfer and distribute credit risk. The key takeaway is that RRBs are tightly regulated and largely restricted to selling only stressed loans under strict conditions.
The RBI has issued new directions on loan pricing for Local Area Banks, introducing benchmark-linked interest rates and standardised spreads. These rules aim to enhance transparency and protect borrowers.
The Directions impose Board-level accountability, strict due diligence, and audit rights for material IT outsourcing. AIFIs must strengthen cyber security, data protection, and exit planning under a unified framework.
The RBI (Local Area Banks – Miscellaneous) Directions, 2025 lay down comprehensive regulatory requirements for Local Area Banks covering unclaimed deposits and the DEA Fund, AIF investments, governance, compliance, donations, prohibited activities, HR policies, and operational controls, consolidating and replacing earlier instructions with effect from November 28, 2025.
