Reserve Bank of India issues Consolidated Supervisory Directions

The Reserve Bank has constantly endeavoured to refine and strengthen its regulatory and supervisory framework with a view, inter alia, to rationalising the requirements and minimising compliance costs through periodic evaluation for their continued relevance.

2. Attention is drawn to Press Release dated April 8, 2026 wherein it was announced that Department of Supervision had undertaken a comprehensive exercise to consolidate the existing universe of supervisory instructions into structured function-wise, entity-specific consolidated Master Directions. The exercise involved consolidation of 628 circulars (including Master Circulars and Master Directions) into 64 Master Directions covering up to nine functions across 11 types of regulated entities: (i) Commercial Banks; (ii) Small Finance Banks; (iii) Payments Banks; (iv) Local Area Banks; (v) Regional Rural Banks; (vi) Urban Co-operative Banks; (vii) Rural Co-operative Banks; (viii) All India Financial Institutions; (ix) Non-Banking Financial Companies; (x) Asset Reconstruction Companies; and (xi) Credit Information Companies.

3. Accordingly, the drafts of these 64 Master Directions and list of circulars proposed to be repealed were placed on the website of the Reserve Bank for public comments regarding completeness and accuracy, vide press release dated April 8, 2026. Reserve Bank received 767 comments from various stakeholders on the draft Master Directions. Certain suggestions for review and changes, being outside the scope of the present consolidation exercise, have not been considered but will be examined separately. The remaining comments that are for enhancing clarity and accuracy have been duly considered while finalising the final consolidated Master Directions.

4. Consequently, the following set of final documents are issued today:

1. 64 Master Directions consolidating all instructions currently administered by the Department of Supervision, on an ‘as is’ basis. These instructions have been issued separately for 11 types of regulated entities and are cohesively organised across up to nine functional areas. These Directions are accessible on the RBI Website at Notifications → Master Directions → Department of Supervision and will serve as the sole library of instructions administered by the Department of Supervision.

2. In parallel, a circular dated July 31, 2026, listing the 628 circulars that are being repealed / withdrawn, consequent upon the issue of these consolidated Master Directions has been issued. The repealed circulars can be accessed under Notifications → Circulars Withdrawn → Circulars withdrawn by the Department of Supervision.

(Brij Raj)           
Chief General Manager

Press Release: 2026-2027/787