Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued revised directions on investments in non-SLR instruments by State Co-operative Banks (StCBs) and Central Co-operative Banks (CCBs) following the regulatory approval granted to NABARD for setting up a Shared Service Entity (SSE) in April 2025. Under the updated framework, StCBs and CCBs are permitted to invest voluntarily in the share capital of the SSE, subject to a cap of five percent of their owned funds, which includes paid-up share capital and reserves. These investments will not be counted under the overall prudential limit on non-SLR investments, nor will they be subject to the restrictions on unlisted non-SLR securities as specified earlier in the 2016 circular. The updated guidelines, issued under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, come into immediate effect and provide co-operative banks with regulatory clarity to participate in NABARD’s SSE initiative. This amendment seeks to facilitate collective service structures for co-operative banks while ensuring prudential oversight on their investment exposure.
Reserve Bank of India
India’s Central Bank
Notifications
Investment by State Co-operative Banks (StCBs) and Central Co-operative Banks (CCBs) in Shared Service Entity (SSE) established by NABARD
RBI/2025-26/80
DOR.MRG.REC.49/00.00.011/2025-26 Dated: September 26, 2025
All State / Central Co-operative Banks
Madam/ Dear Sir,
Investment by State Co-operative Banks (StCBs) and Central Co-operative Banks (CCBs) in Shared Service Entity (SSE) established by NABARD
Please refer to circular DCBR.BPD.BC.No.01/19.51.026/2016-17 dated July 14, 2016 (hereinafter called the extant instructions), on Investments in Non-SLR instruments by State / Central Co-operative Banks. The circular, inter alia, specifies the permissible non-SLR instruments, the prudential limit on a bank’s total non-SLR investments, and restriction on its investment in unlisted non-SLR securities.
2. RBI has accorded regulatory approval in April 2025 to NABARD’s proposal for setting up of a Shared Service Entity (SSE) for StCBs and CCBs wherein it is envisaged that the StCBs and CCBs can subscribe to the share capital of the SSE on a voluntary basis. In this context, there is a need to suitably review the extant instructions on investment in non-SLR instruments by StCBs/ CCBs.
3. Accordingly, the relevant instructions have been reviewed and are being amended vide Reserve Bank of India (Investments in Non-SLR instruments by State / Central Co-operative Banks) Directions, 2025.
Yours faithfully,
(Usha Janakiraman)
Chief General Manager-in-Charge
Reserve Bank of India (Investments in Non-SLR instruments by State / Central Co-operative Banks) Directions, 2025
Reserve Bank of India had issued circular on ‘Investments in Non-SLR instruments by State / Central Co-operative Banks’ dated July 14, 2016 (hereinafter called the Extant Instructions) covering the prudential norms governing the investments in non-SLR instruments by State Co-operative Banks (StCBs) and Central Co-operative Banks (CCBs). There is a need to amend the extant instructions considering the approval granted to NABARD for setting up of a Shared Service Entity (SSE) for StCBs/ CCBs.
2. Accordingly, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 35A read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (hereinafter called the Act) and all other laws enabling the Reserve Bank of India (hereinafter called the Reserve Bank) in this regard, the Reserve Bank, being satisfied that it is necessary and expedient in the public interest to do so, hereby, issues the Directions hereinafter specified.
3. (i) These Directions shall be called the Reserve Bank of India (Investments in Non-SLR instruments by State / Central Co-operative Banks) Directions, 2025.
(ii) These Directions shall be effective immediately.
4. These Directions modify the extant instructions as under:
(i) After paragraph 2.2(c) of the circular, the following paragraph 2.2(d) shall be inserted, namely: –
“2.2(d) Share capital of Shared Service Entity (SSE) set up by NABARD for StCBs and CCBs.”
(ii) After paragraph 2.3(i) of the circular, the following paragraph 2.3(j) shall be inserted, namely: –
“2.3(j) The investment by an StCB/ CCB in the share capital of SSE shall be restricted to five percent of its owned funds (paid-up share capital and reserves). Such investment, however, shall be exempt from the prudential limit on non-SLR investments specified at Para 2.1 and the restriction on investment in unlisted non-SLR investments specified at Para 2.3(d) above.”
