- #1economic_timesneutral
RBI caps loans against shares at Rs 1 crore system‑wide, defers norms to July
The Reserve Bank of India has capped system-wide loans against shares at Rs 1 crore and deferred revised capital market exposure norms by three months to July 1, 2026, following industry representations on operational issues. The revised rules also require banks to secure a corporate guarantee from acquiring companies when extending acquisition finance through subsidiaries or special purpose vehicles.
RBI defers revised capital market exposure rules to July 1 after industry pushback.
regulationcapital_marketsbanking_supervision - #2economic_timesneutral
Risk off! Banks opting to lend to prime customers
Indian lenders are increasingly concentrating new loan originations among prime borrowers with CIBIL scores of 730 and above, while the share of new-to-credit customers has fallen sharply to 16% in January 2026 from 22% two years ago. Overall credit market health has improved, with TransUnion CIBIL's Credit Market Indicator rising to 102 for the December 2025 quarter, though micro-loans against property show mild stress.
New-to-credit borrowers' share of loan originations fell to 16% in January 2026.
credit_marketsbanking_supervision - #3economic_timesneutral
What changes will RBI’s new rules bring to digital payments from April 1?
From April 1, 2026, the Reserve Bank of India mandates two-factor authentication for all digital transactions, requiring at least one dynamic element such as a one-time password, biometric, or device-based verification. The new framework moves away from rigid rule-based compliance toward principle-driven regulation, aligning India with global payment security standards.
RBI mandates dynamic two-factor authentication for all digital payments from April 1.
paymentsdigital_bankingregulation - #4economic_timespositive
Piramal Finance AUM touches Rs 1 lakh crore; acquisitions on radar: CEO
Piramal Finance has crossed Rs 1 lakh crore in assets under management and is targeting Rs 1.5 lakh crore by March 2028, with plans to diversify into gold loans and microfinance, which together should constitute up to 10% of the portfolio within three years. The company remains open to acquisitions in the microfinance and gold lending segments, though no deal is imminent.
Piramal Finance targets Rs 1.5 lakh crore AUM by March 2028 via gold and microfinance growth.
credit_marketscorporate_finance - #5economic_timesneutral
Telangana relied on RBI borrowings for most of FY25: CAG report
Telangana relied heavily on Reserve Bank of India short-term borrowing facilities in FY25, utilising Ways and Means Advances worth Rs 64,188 crore over 298 days, according to a Comptroller and Auditor General report. The state failed to maintain its minimum required cash balance of Rs 1.38 crore with the RBI despite generating monthly revenues of approximately Rs 12,000 crore.
Telangana used RBI's Ways and Means Advances for 298 days in FY25, per CAG audit.
government_securitiesmonetary_policy - #6reserve_bank_of_indianeutral
Lending and Deposit Rates of Scheduled Commercial Banks – March 2026
Scheduled commercial bank lending and deposit rates eased in February 2026, with the weighted average lending rate on fresh rupee loans falling to 8.44 per cent from 8.49 per cent in January. The Reserve Bank of India also introduced new sector-wise weighted average lending rate tables, while External Benchmark based Lending Rate-linked loans rose to 65.4 per cent of outstanding floating rate loans.
One-year median MCLR declined to 8.40% in March 2026, signalling broad-based rate softening.
credit_marketsmonetary_policy - #7economic_timesnegative
Utkarsh Small Finance Bank sold Rs 1491 crore of bad loans for just Rs 195 crore
Utkarsh Small Finance Bank offloaded Rs 1,491 crore of stressed microfinance loans to two asset reconstruction companies for just Rs 195 crore, recovering a mere 13 paise on the rupee. The sale follows a gross non-performing asset ratio of 11 per cent and a net loss of Rs 375 crore in the third quarter, the worst asset quality reading in the banking sector.
Utkarsh recovered only 13% of face value on Rs 1,491 crore in bad microfinance loans sold.
npa_resolutionbanking_supervision - #8economic_timespositive
Courier export cap removed to boost ecomm shipments, cut logistics delays
India's Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs has scrapped the Rs 10 lakh per shipment ceiling on courier exports from April 1, 2026, giving exporters greater flexibility and reducing compliance costs. A new formal return-to-origin mechanism for uncleared parcels held beyond 15 days is also introduced to ease congestion at courier hubs.
Removal of Rs 10 lakh courier export cap from April 1 directly benefits small businesses and startups.
economy_macrofintech - #9economic_timesnegative
Central Bank of India gets Rs 296-cr demand notice from Income Tax Dept
Central Bank of India has received a Rs 296 crore income tax demand notice for assessment year 2024-25 and plans to challenge the order through appellate channels. The bank expects full relief based on precedent and states no material impact on its financial or operational activities.
Central Bank of India contests Rs 296 crore tax demand, expecting full relief on appeal.
banking_supervision - #10economic_timesneutral
Corp insurance premiums fall up to 80% this season
Corporate insurance premiums in India have fallen by up to 80 per cent at April 2026 renewals, driven by surplus reinsurance capacity, aggressive competition and benign claims experience across property, marine, liability and employee benefit segments. Industry executives warn that unsustainable pricing could pose risks if claims rise or capital tightens.
Corporate insurance premiums drop up to 80%, driven by excess reinsurer capacity entering India.
insurancecapital_markets