The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the Rural Co-operative Banks – Branch Authorisation Repeal Directions, 2025, formally repealing the earlier Directions issued on November 28, 2025. This repeal is intended to replace the previous framework with updated Branch Authorisation Directions, 2025 issued on December 4, 2025, reflecting RBI’s updated policy for rural co-operative banks. The repeal does not affect any actions, approvals, or legal proceedings initiated under the earlier Directions; all rights, obligations, penalties, and investigations accrued under the repealed Directions remain valid and enforceable. Essentially, the RBI ensures continuity of regulatory oversight while updating the procedural and operational framework for branch authorisations of rural co-operative banks. By repealing and replacing the prior Directions, the RBI seeks to streamline governance, provide clarity on regulatory compliance, and avoid any disruption in bank operations, while reaffirming that prior acts under the repealed Directions retain their legal validity.
RESERVE BANK OF INDIA
RBI/DOR/2025-26/122
DOR.LIC.REC.No.328/07-01-000/2025-26 |Dated: December 04, 2025
Reserve Bank of India (Rural Co-operative Banks – Branch Authorisation) Repeal Directions, 2025
The Reserve Bank of India being satisfied that it is necessary and expedient in the public interest to do so, hereby repeals the Reserve Bank of India (Rural Cooperative Banks – Branch Authorisation) Directions, 2025 (DoR.LIC.REC.No.215/07-01-000/2025-26) issued on November 28, 2025. The Directions have now been replaced with Reserve Bank of India (Rural Co-operative Banks – Branch Authorisation) Directions, 2025 issued on December 04, 2025.
2. Notwithstanding such repeal, any action taken or purported to have been taken, or initiated under the repealed Directions shall continue to be governed by the provisions thereof. All approvals or acknowledgments granted under these repealed Directions shall be deemed as governed by these Directions. Further, the repeal of these Directions shall not in any way prejudicially affect:
1. any right, obligation or liability acquired, accrued, or incurred thereunder;
2. any, penalty, forfeiture, or punishment incurred in respect of any contravention committed thereunder;
3. any investigation, legal proceeding, or remedy in respect of any such right, privilege, obligation, liability, penalty, forfeiture, or punishment as aforesaid; and any such investigation, legal proceedings or remedy may be instituted, continued, or enforced and any such penalty, forfeiture or punishment may be imposed as if those directions, instructions, or guidelines had not been repealed.
(Manoranjan Padhy)
Chief General Manager
