RBI Revises Capital Adequacy Rules for Rural Co-operative Banks on Forex and Gold Risk

The Reserve Bank of India (Rural Co-operative Banks – Prudential Norms on Capital Adequacy) Amendment Directions, 2026 revise the capital adequacy framework for Rural Co-operative Banks (RCBs) by introducing a comprehensive methodology for computing capital requirements on foreign exchange and gold open positions. Effective from April 1, 2027, the amendments aim to ensure uniform implementation of market risk capital norms across RCBs. They prescribe a detailed process for calculating the Net Open Position (NOP), covering on-balance sheet and off-balance sheet exposures, foreign currency assets and liabilities, derivatives, forward contracts, guarantees, and gold positions. The Directions clarify exclusions from NOP, require capital to be maintained on a continuous daily basis, and mandate the use of benchmark-based spot exchange rates. The overall Net Open Position will attract a 100% risk weight, in addition to credit risk capital requirements. RCBs acting as Authorised Dealers must apply these norms to foreign exchange exposures, while other RCBs will calculate NOP based solely on gold positions, ensuring greater consistency and stronger market risk management.

Reserve Bank of India

RBI/2026-27/160
DOR.MRG.REC.No.146/21-01-002/2026-27 | June 24, 2026

Reserve Bank of India (Rural Co-operative Banks – Prudential Norms on Capital Adequacy) Amendment Directions, 2026

Please refer to Annex I of the FMRD Master Direction – Risk Management and Inter-Bank Dealings (Master Direction No. 1/2016-17 dated July 5, 2016) and Chapter III of Reserve Bank of India (Rural Co-operative Banks – Prudential Norms on Capital Adequacy) Directions, 2025 dated November 28, 2025 which inter alia specify the capital requirement on foreign exchange and gold open positions. Upon a review and to ensure consistent implementation across Rural Co-operative Banks, there is a felt need to amend these instructions.

2. Accordingly, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 35A read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and all other provisions / laws enabling the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to issue instructions in this regard, the RBI being satisfied that it is necessary and expedient in the public interest so to do, hereby, issues the Amendment Directions hereinafter specified.

3. (i) These instructions shall be called the Reserve Bank of India (Rural Co-operative Banks – Prudential Norms on Capital Adequacy) Amendment Directions, 2026.

(ii) These Directions shall come into effect from April 1, 2027.

4. The Reserve Bank of India (Rural Co-operative Banks – Prudential Norms on Capital Adequacy) Directions, 2025 are amended as provided below:

(i) Sr. No. V in the Table under paragraph 17(1) shall be substituted by the following, namely: –

”.

(ii) A new paragraph 17(4) shall be inserted after paragraph 17(3), namely: –

“17(4) Computation of Net Open Position for Foreign Exchange Risk

Scope of Application

(i) An RCB shall meet the capital requirements for foreign exchange risk on a continuous basis, i.e., at the close of each business day.

Exclusions from net open position

(ii) An RCB shall not apply foreign exchange risk capital requirement to any position that is deducted from the RCB’s regulatory capital, including a position that is hedging such a position.

(iii) An RCB shall not apply forex risk capital requirements to securities which are a) already matured and remain unpaid; or b) have been classified as a non­performing asset / investment. Such securities shall attract capital only for credit risk.

Calculation of Net Open Position

(iv) For calculating the capital requirement for foreign exchange risk, an RCB shall include all positions, within the ‘Scope of Application’ above, in foreign currencies, including gold.

(v) For this purpose, an RCB shall include all assets, liabilities, and off-balance 2 sheet positions in foreign currencies, including gold.

(vi) The Net Open Position shall be calculated as under:

(a) Measure the exposure in a single currency as set out in sub-paragraphs (vii) to (xii) below.

(b) Measure the risks inherent in an RCB’s mix of long and short positions in different currencies as set out in sub-paragraphs (xiii) to (xviii) below.

Measuring the exposure in a single currency

(vii) An RCB’s net open position in each currency shall be calculated by summing:

(a) the net spot position (i.e., all asset items less all liability items, including accrued interest, denominated in the currency in question);

(b) the net forward position (i.e., all amounts to be received less all amounts to be paid as indicated in sub-paragraph (vii) below);

(c) guarantees (and similar instruments) that are certain to be called and are likely to be irrecoverable;

(d) net future income / expenses not yet accrued / due but where the amounts are certain and have been fully hedged by the RCB, at its discretion;

(e) any other item representing a profit or loss in foreign currencies; and

(f) the net delta-based equivalent of the total book of foreign currency options.

(viii) The net forward position includes:

(a) tom and spot transactions which are not yet settled;

(b) forward and futures transactions; and

(c) principal on cross-currency swaps and any other forex derivative transactions not included in the spot position.

(ix) Positions in gold (spot plus forward) shall be first expressed in terms of the standard unit of measurement (tonnes / kilos, ounces, etc.), with the net position being valued at current spot rates.

(x) Where gold is part of a forward contract (quantity of gold to be received or to be delivered), any foreign currency exposure from the other leg of the contract shall be reported as set out in sub-paragraph (vii) above.

(xi) Interest, other income and expenses shall be treated as follows: Interest accrued (i.e., earned but not yet received) and accrued expenses shall be included as a spot position. Unearned but expected future interest and anticipated expenses may be excluded unless the amounts are certain and the RCB has taken the opportunity to hedge them. If an RCB includes future income / expenses it shall do so on a consistent basis, and it would not be permitted to select only those expected future flows which reduce its position.

(xii) Measurement of derivative positions: An RCB shall use the current spot rates, without present value adjustment, for measuring derivative positions.

Measuring the foreign exchange risk in a portfolio of foreign currency positions and gold

(xiii) For measuring the foreign exchange risk in a portfolio of foreign currency positions and gold, an RCB shall use a shorthand method which treats all currencies equally.

(xiv) Under the shorthand method, the nominal amount of the net position in each foreign currency and in gold is converted at spot rates into the reporting currency. The overall net open position is measured by aggregating:

(a) the sum of the net short positions or the sum of the net long positions, whichever is greater; plus

(b) the net position (short or long) in gold, regardless of sign.

Illustration: See example in Table below.

Table: Example of the shorthand measure of net open position

Overall net open position is the higher of either the net long currency positions or the net short currency positions (i.e., 300) and of the net position in gold (35) = 335.

(xv) An RCB shall use the spot rates based on financial benchmarks administered by benchmark administrators authorised under the relevant directions issued by FMRD.

(xvi) Transactions undertaken by an RCB till the end of business day shall be included for calculation of Net Open Position. The transactions undertaken after the end of business day may be taken into the positions for the next day. For this purpose, an RCB may define its own end of business day timings but the same shall be determined as per a duly approved internal policy and followed on a consistent basis.

(xvii) Net Open Position shall be risk weighted at 100 per cent as prescribed at Sr. No. V in the Table under paragraph 17(1). This capital requirement is in addition to the capital requirement for credit risk or any other risks on the on-balance sheet and off-balance sheet items pertaining to foreign exchange and gold transactions.

(xviii) An RCB which is subject to the Master Direction – Risk Management and Inter-Bank Dealings, as amended from time to time, shall be guided by the Direction ibid, and related directions, for other instructions related to Net Open Position, including inter alia, reporting, applicable limit, and limit for Net Open Position involving Rupee as one of the currencies (NOP-INR).”.

(Sunil T S Nair)
Chief General Manager