RBI plans to repeal 9,000 circulars by consolidating regulations

MUMBAI: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has undertaken the exercise of consolidating its regulatory instructions issued up to October 9, 2025, into 238 master directions across 11 types of regulated entities. Consequently, approximately 9,000 circulars, including Master Circulars, will be repealed and adjusted in these 238 master directions.

The 11 regulated entities include commercial banks, small finance banks, payments banks, local area banks, regional rural banks, urban co-operative banks, rural co-operative banks, all-India financial institutions, non-banking financial companies, asset reconstruction companies, and credit information companies.

"The consolidation involves all the regulatory instructions administered by the Department of Regulation of the Reserve Bank. Thus, the universe of consolidation includes instructions issued by the Department of Regulation (DoR) as well as the erstwhile Departments which have since been merged into DoR either partly or fully," RBI said in a statement.


For example, branch authorisation guidelines for commercial banks can be found in one place, while prudential norms on capital adequacy norms for small finance banks will be consolidated in one place. All regulations on different entities have been similarly consolidated in one place according to the subject.

The central bank has sought suggestions from the public on the draft guidelines by November 10.