RBI notification of Priority Sector Lending

RBI/2014-15/573
FIDD.CO.Plan.BC.54/04.09.01/2014-15 April 23, 2015
The Chairman / Managing Director/
Chief Executive Officer
[All Scheduled Commercial Banks,
(excluding Regional Rural Banks)]
Dear Sir/ Madam,
PRIORITY SECTOR LENDING-TARGETS AND CLASSIFICATION
An Internal Working Group (IWG) was set up in July 2014 to revisit the existing priority
sector lending guidelines. The report of the IWG was placed in the public domain inviting
comments. The recommendations of the IWG were examined in the light of the comments /
suggestions received from Government of India, banks, and other stakeholders and revised
guidelines are being issued in supersession of guidelines mentioned in the Master Circular
RPCD.CO.Plan.BC10/04.09.01/2014-15 dated July 1, 2014 on Priority Sector Lending –
Targets and Classification.
The salient features of the guidelines are as under:-
(i) Categories of the priority sector: Medium Enterprises, Social Infrastructure and
Renewable Energy will form part of priority sector, in addition to the existing categories.
(ii) Agriculture: The distinction between direct and indirect agriculture is dispensed with.
(iii) Small and Marginal Farmers: A target of 8 percent of ANBC or Credit Equivalent
Amount of Off-Balance Sheet Exposure, whichever is higher, has been prescribed for Small
and Marginal Farmers within agriculture, to be achieved in a phased manner i.e., 7 percent by
March 2016 and 8 percent by March 2017.
वित्‍तीय स‍ावेिन औ‍ विकेा‍विभेग,‍कन न्द्रीय स केय सेालय स,10 िी वंजिल,‍कें रीय स केय सेालय स भिऔ, हीद भगतसांह वेगा,पोस्ट‍बॉक्ा ां. 10014,वंबई -400001
Financial Inclusion & Development Dept.,Central Office,10th Floor,Central Office Building,Shahid Bhagat Singh Marg,P.B.No.10014, Mumbai-1
टनली Tel:022-22601000 फै क्ाः 91-22-22621011/22610943/22610948 ई -वनल : cgmincfidd@rbi.org.in
ह िंदी आसान ै,इसका प्रयोग बढ़ाइए।
“चेतावनी :रिज़वव बैंक द्वािा मेल डाक, एसएमएस या फोन कॉल के जरिए हकसी की भी व्यक्तिगगत जानकािी जैसे बैंक के ााते का ्‍यौिा, पासवडव आहद न ीिं मािंगी जाती ै।
य धन िाने या देने का प्रस्ताव भी न ीिं किता ै। ेसे प्रस्तावक का हकसी भी तिीके से जवाब मत दीएजए।"
Caution: RBI never sends mails, SMSs or makes calls asking for personal information like bank account details, passwords, etc. It never
keeps or offers funds to anyone. Please do not respond in any manner to such offers.

2
(iv) Micro Enterprises: A target of 7.5 percent of ANBC or Credit Equivalent Amount of Off-
Balance Sheet Exposure, whichever is higher, has been prescribed for Micro Enterprises, to
be achieved in a phased manner i.e. 7 percent by March 2016 and 7.5 percent by March 2017.
(v) There is no change in the target of 10 percent of ANBC or Credit Equivalent Amount of
Off-Balance Sheet Exposure, whichever is higher, for Weaker Sections.
(vi) Target for Foreign Banks: Foreign Banks with 20 branches and above already have
priority sector targets and sub-targets for Agriculture and Weaker Sections, which are to be
achieved by March 31, 2018 as per the action plans submitted by them and approved by RBI.
The sub-targets for Small and Marginal Farmers and Micro Enterprises would be made
applicable post 2018 after a review in 2017. Foreign banks with less than 20 branches will
move to Total Priority Sector Target of 40 percent of ANBC or Credit Equivalent Amount of
Off-Balance Sheet Exposure, whichever is higher, on par with other banks by 2019-20, and
the sub-targets for these banks, if to be made applicable post 2020, would be decided in due
course.
(vii) Bank loans to food and agro processing units will form part of Agriculture.
(viii) Export credit: Export credit upto 32 percent of ANBC or Credit Equivalent Amount of
Off-Balance Sheet Exposure, whichever is higher, will be eligible as part of priority sector for
foreign banks with less than 20 branches. For other banks, the incremental export credit over
corresponding date of the preceding year will be reckoned upto 2 percent of ANBC or Credit
Equivalent Amount of Off-Balance Sheet Exposure, whichever is higher.
(ix) The loan limits for housing loans and MFI loans qualifying under priority sector have
been revised.
(x) The priority sector non-achievement will be assessed on quarterly average basis at the end
of the respective year from 2016-17 onwards, instead of annual basis as at present.
The revised guidelines are operational with effect from the date of this circular. The priority
sector loans sanctioned under the guidelines issued prior to this date will continue to be
classified under priority sector till repayment/maturity/renewal.
Yours faithfully,
(A. Udgata)
Principal Chief General Manager

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I. Categories under priority sector
(i) Agriculture
(ii) Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
(iii) Export Credit
(iv) Education
(v) Housing
(vi) Social Infrastructure
(vii) Renewable Energy
(viii) Others
The details of eligible activities under the above categories are specified in paragraph III.
II. Targets /Sub-targets for Priority sector
(i) The targets and sub-targets set under priority sector lending for all scheduled commercial
banks operating in India are furnished below:
Categories Domestic scheduled commercial banks
and Foreign banks with 20 branches
and above
Foreign banks with less than
20 branches
Total Priority
Sector
40 percent of Adjusted Net Bank Credit
[ANBC defined in sub paragraph (iii)] or
Credit Equivalent Amount of Off-Balance
Sheet Exposure, whichever is higher.
Foreign banks with 20 branches and
above have to achieve the Total Priority
Sector Target within a maximum period
of five years starting from April 1, 2013
and ending on March 31, 2018 as per the
action plans submitted by them and
approved by RBI.
40 percent of Adjusted Net
Bank Credit [ANBC defined in
sub paragraph (iii)] or Credit
Equivalent Amount of Off-
Balance Sheet Exposure,
whichever is higher; to be
achieved in a phased manner
by 2020 as indicated in sub
paragraph (ii) below.
Agriculture 18 percent of ANBC or Credit Equivalent
Amount of Off-Balance Sheet Exposure,
whichever is higher.
Within the 18 percent target for
agriculture, a target of 8 percent of ANBC
or Credit Equivalent Amount of Off-
Balance Sheet Exposure, whichever is
higher is prescribed for Small and
Marginal Farmers, to be achieved in a
phased manner i.e., 7 per cent by March
2016 and 8 per cent by March 2017.
Not applicable

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above have to achieve the Agriculture
Target within a maximum period of five
years starting from April 1, 2013 and
ending on March 31, 2018 as per the
approved by RBI. The sub-target for
Small and Marginal farmers would be
made applicable post 2018 after a review
in 2017.
Micro
Enterprises
7.5 percent of ANBC or Credit Equivalent
whichever is higher to be achieved in a
phased manner i.e. 7 per cent by March
2016 and 7.5 per cent by March 2017.
The sub-target for Micro Enterprises for
foreign banks with 20 branches and
above would be made applicable post
2018 after a review in 2017.
Not Applicable
Advances to
Weaker Sections
10 percent of ANBC or Credit Equivalent
whichever is higher.
above have to achieve the Weaker
Sections Target within a maximum period
of five years starting from April 1, 2013
and ending on March 31, 2018 as per the
approved by RBI.
Not Applicable
(ii) The Total Priority Sector target of 40 percent for foreign banks with less than 20 branches
has to be achieved in a phased manner as under:-
Financial Year The Total Priority Sector as percentage of
ANBC or Credit Equivalent Amount of Off-
Balance Sheet Exposure, whichever is higher
2015-16 32
2016-17 34
2017-18 36
2018-19 38
2019-20 40
The additional priority sector lending target of 2 percent of ANBC each year from 2016-17 to
2019-20 has to be achieved by lending to sectors other than exports. The sub targets for these
banks, if to be made applicable post 2020, would be decided in due course.
(iii) The computation of priority sector targets/sub-targets achievement will be based on the
ANBC or Credit Equivalent Amount of Off-Balance Sheet Exposures, whichever is higher, as
on the corresponding date of the preceding year. For the purpose of priority sector lending,
ANBC denotes the outstanding Bank Credit in India [As prescribed in item No.VI of Form

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‘A’ under Section 42 (2) of the RBI Act, 1934] minus bills rediscounted with RBI and other
approved Financial Institutions plus permitted non SLR bonds/debentures under Held to
Maturity (HTM) category plus other investments eligible to be treated as part of priority
sector lending (e.g. investments in securitised assets). The outstanding deposits under RIDF
and other funds with NABARD, NHB and SIDBI in lieu of non-achievement of priority
sector lending targets/sub-targets will form part of ANBC. Advances extended in India
against the incremental FCNR (B)/NRE deposits, qualifying for exemption from CRR/SLR
requirements, as per the Reserve Bank’s circulars DBOD.No.Ret.BC.36/12.01.001/2013-14
dated August 14, 2013 read with DBOD.No.Ret.BC.93/12.01.001/2013-14 dated January 31,
2014 and DBOD mailbox clarification issued on February 6, 2014 will be excluded from the
ANBC for computation of priority sector lending targets, till their repayment. The eligible
amount for exemption on account of issuance of long-term bonds for infrastructure and
affordable housing as per Reserve Bank’s circular DBOD.BP.BC.No.25/08.12.014/2014-15
dated July 15, 2014 will also be excluded from the ANBC for computation of priority sector
lending targets. For the purpose of calculation of Credit Equivalent Amount of Off-Balance
Sheet Exposures, banks may be guided by the Master Circular on Exposure Norms issued by
our Department of Banking Regulation.
Computation of Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANBC)
Bank Credit in India [As prescribed in item No.VI of Form ‘A’ under Section 42 (2)
of the RBI Act, 1934].
I
Bills Rediscounted with RBI and other approved Financial Institutions II
Net Bank Credit (NBC)* III (I-II)
Bonds/debentures in Non-SLR categories under HTM category+ other investments
eligible to be treated as priority sector +Outstanding Deposits under RIDF and other
eligible funds with NABARD, NHB and SIDBI on account of priority sector
shortfall + outstanding PSLCs
IV
Eligible amount for exemptions on issuance of long-term bonds for infrastructure
and affordable housing as per circular DBOD.BP.BC.No.25/08.12.014/2014-15
dated July 15, 2014.
V
Eligible advances extended in India against the incremental FCNR (B)/NRE
deposits, qualifying for exemption from CRR/SLR requirements.
VI
ANBC III+IV-V-
VI
* For the purpose of priority sector computation only. Banks should not deduct / net any
amount like provisions, accrued interest, etc. from NBC.
It has been observed that some banks are subtracting prudential write off at Corporate/Head
Office level while reporting Bank Credit as above. In such cases it must be ensured that bank
credit to priority sector and all other sub-sectors so written off should also be subtracted
category wise from priority sector and sub-target achievement.

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All types of loans, investments or any other items which are treated as eligible for
classification under priority sector target/sub-target achievement should also form part of
Adjusted Net Bank Credit.
III. Description of the eligible categories under priority sector
1. Agriculture
The present distinction between direct and indirect agriculture is dispensed with. Instead, the
lending to agriculture sector has been re-defined to include (i) Farm Credit (which will
include short-term crop loans and medium/long-term credit to farmers) (ii) Agriculture
Infrastructure and (iii) Ancillary Activities. A list of eligible activities under the three sub-
categories is indicated below:
1.1 Farm credit A. Loans to individual farmers [including Self Help Groups (SHGs) or
Joint Liability Groups (JLGs), i.e. groups of individual farmers,
provided banks maintain disaggregated data of such loans], directly
engaged in Agriculture and Allied Activities, viz., dairy, fishery,
animal husbandry, poultry, bee-keeping and sericulture. This will
include:
(i) Crop loans to farmers, which will include traditional/non-traditional
plantations and horticulture, and, loans for allied activities.
(ii) Medium and long-term loans to farmers for agriculture and allied
activities (e.g. purchase of agricultural implements and machinery,
loans for irrigation and other developmental activities undertaken in
the farm, and developmental loans for allied activities.)
(iii) Loans to farmers for pre and post-harvest activities, viz., spraying,
weeding, harvesting, sorting, grading and transporting of their own
farm produce.
(iv) Loans to farmers up to `50 lakh against pledge/hypothecation of
agricultural produce (including warehouse receipts) for a period not
exceeding 12 months.
(v) Loans to distressed farmers indebted to non-institutional lenders.
(vi) Loans to farmers under the Kisan Credit Card Scheme.
(vii) Loans to small and marginal farmers for purchase of land for
agricultural purposes.
B. Loans to corporate farmers, farmers' producer
organizations/companies of individual farmers, partnership firms and

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co-operatives of farmers directly engaged in Agriculture and Allied
Activities, viz., dairy, fishery, animal husbandry, poultry, bee-keeping
and sericulture up to an aggregate limit of `2 crore per borrower. This
will include:
(i) Crop loans to farmers which will include traditional/non-traditional
plantations and horticulture, and, loans for allied activities.
(ii) Medium and long-term loans to farmers for agriculture and allied
activities (e.g. purchase of agricultural implements and machinery,
loans for irrigation and other developmental activities undertaken in
the farm, and developmental loans for allied activities.)
(iii) Loans to farmers for pre and post-harvest activities, viz.,
spraying, weeding, harvesting, sorting, grading and transporting of
their own farm produce.
(iv) Loans up to `50 lakh against pledge/hypothecation of agricultural
produce (including warehouse receipts) for a period not exceeding 12
months.
1.2. Agriculture
infrastructure
i) Loans for construction of storage facilities (warehouses, market
yards, godowns and silos) including cold storage units/ cold storage
chains designed to store agriculture produce/products, irrespective of
their location.
ii) Soil conservation and watershed development.
iii) Plant tissue culture and agri-biotechnology, seed production,
production of bio-pesticides, bio-fertilizer, and vermi composting.
For the above loans, an aggregate sanctioned limit of `100 crore per
borrower from the banking system, will apply.
1.3.Ancillary
activities
(i) Loans up to `5 crore to co-operative societies of farmers for
disposing of the produce of members.
(ii) Loans for setting up of Agriclinics and Agribusiness Centres.
(iii) Loans for Food and Agro-processing up to an aggregate
sanctioned limit of `100 crore per borrower from the banking system.
(iv) Bank loans to Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS),
Farmers’ Service Societies (FSS) and Large-sized Adivasi Multi-
Purpose Societies (LAMPS) for on-lending to agriculture.
(v) Loans sanctioned by banks to MFIs for on-lending to agriculture
sector as per the conditions specified in paragraph IX of this circular
(vi) Outstanding deposits under RIDF and other eligible funds with
NABARD on account of priority sector shortfall.

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For the purpose of computation of 7 percent/ 8 percent target, Small and Marginal Farmers
will include the following:-
- Farmers with landholding of up to 1 hectare are considered as Marginal Farmers.
Farmers with a landholding of more than 1 hectare and upto 2 hectares are considered
as Small Farmers.
- Landless agricultural labourers, tenant farmers, oral lessees and share-croppers.
- Loans to Self Help Groups (SHGs) or Joint Liability Groups (JLGs), i.e. groups of
individual Small and Marginal farmers directly engaged in Agriculture and Allied
Activities, provided banks maintain disaggregated data of such loans.
- Loans to farmers' producer companies of individual farmers, and co-operatives of
farmers directly engaged in Agriculture and Allied Activities, where the membership
of Small and Marginal Farmers is not less than 75 per cent by number and whose
land-holding share is also not less than 75 per cent of the total land-holding.
2. Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)
2.1. The limits for investment in plant and machinery/equipment for manufacturing / service
enterprise, as notified by Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, vide
S.O.1642(E) dated September 9, 2006 are as under:-
Manufacturing Sector
Enterprises Investment in plant and machinery
Micro Enterprises Does not exceed twenty five lakh rupees
Small Enterprises More than twenty five lakh rupees but does not
exceed five crore rupees
Medium Enterprises More than five crore rupees but does not exceed
ten crore rupees
Service Sector
Enterprises Investment in equipment
Micro Enterprises Does not exceed ten lakh rupees
Small Enterprises More than ten lakh rupees but does not exceed two
crore rupees
Medium Enterprises More than two crore rupees but does not exceed
five crore rupees
Bank loans to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, for both manufacturing and service
sectors are eligible to be classified under the priority sector as per the following norms:
2.2. Manufacturing Enterprises
The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises engaged in the manufacture or production of
goods to any industry specified in the first schedule to the Industries (Development and

9
Regulation) Act, 1951 and as notified by the Government from time to time. The
Manufacturing Enterprises are defined in terms of investment in plant and machinery.
2.3. Service Enterprises
Bank loans up to 5 crore per unit to Micro and Small Enterprises and `10 crore to Medium
Enterprises engaged in providing or rendering of services and defined in terms of investment
in equipment under MSMED Act, 2006.
2.4. Khadi and Village Industries Sector (KVI)
All loans to units in the KVI sector will be eligible for classification under the sub-target of 7
percent /7.5 percent prescribed for Micro Enterprises under priority sector.
2.5. Other Finance to MSMEs
(i) Loans to entities involved in assisting the decentralized sector in the supply of inputs to
and marketing of outputs of artisans, village and cottage industries.
(ii) Loans to co-operatives of producers in the decentralized sector viz. artisans, village and
cottage industries.
(iii) Loans sanctioned by banks to MFIs for on-lending to MSME sector as per the conditions
specified in paragraph IX of this circular.
(iv) Credit outstanding under General Credit Cards (including Artisan Credit Card, Laghu
Udyami Card, Swarojgar Credit Card, and Weaver’s Card etc. in existence and catering to the
non-farm entrepreneurial credit needs of individuals).
(v) Outstanding deposits with SIDBI on account of priority sector shortfall.
2.6. Considering that the MSMED Act, 2006 does not provide for any sub-categorization
within the definition of micro enterprises and that the sub-target for lending to micro
enterprises has been fixed, the current sub-categorization within the definition of micro
enterprises in the existing guidelines is dispensed with.
2.7. To ensure that MSMEs do not remain small and medium units merely to remain eligible
for priority sector status, the MSME units will continue to enjoy the priority sector lending
status up to three years after they grow out of the MSME category concerned.

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3. Export Credit
The Export Credit extended as per the details below would be classified as priority sector.
Domestic banks Foreign banks with 20 branches
and above
Foreign banks with
less than 20 branches
Incremental export credit over
corresponding date of the
preceding year, up to 2 percent of
ANBC or Credit Equivalent
Amount of Off-Balance Sheet
Exposure, whichever is higher,
effective from April 1, 2015
subject to a sanctioned limit of
`25 crore per borrower to units
having turnover of up to `100
crore.
Incremental export credit over
corresponding date of the preceding
year, up to 2 percent of ANBC or
Credit Equivalent Amount of Off-
Balance Sheet Exposure, whichever
is higher, effective from April 1,
2017 (As per their approved plans,
foreign banks with 20 branches and
above are allowed to count certain
percentage of export credit limit as
priority sector till March 2016).
Export credit will be
allowed up to 32
percent of ANBC or
Credit Equivalent
Amount of Off-
Balance Sheet
Exposure, whichever
is higher.
Export credit includes pre-shipment and post shipment export credit (excluding off-balance
sheet items) as defined in Master Circular on Rupee / Foreign Currency Export Credit and
Customer Service to Exporters issued by our Department of Banking Regulation.
4. Education
Loans to individuals for educational purposes including vocational courses upto ` 10 lakh
irrespective of the sanctioned amount will be considered as eligible for priority sector.
5. Housing
(i) Loans to individuals up to ` 28 lakh in metropolitan centres (with population of ten lakh
and above) and loans up to ` 20 lakh in other centres for purchase/construction of a dwelling
unit per family provided the overall cost of the dwelling unit in the metropolitan centre and at
other centres should not exceed ` 35 lakh and ` 25 lakh respectively. The housing loans to
banks’ own employees will be excluded. As housing loans which are backed by long term
bonds are exempted from ANBC, banks should either include such housing loans to
individuals up to ` 28 lakh in metropolitan centres and ` 20 lakh in other centres under
priority sector or take benefit of exemption from ANBC, but not both.
(ii) Loans for repairs to damaged dwelling units of families up to ` 5 lakh in metropolitan
centres and up to ` 2 lakh in other centres.
(iii) Bank loans to any governmental agency for construction of dwelling units or for slum

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clearance and rehabilitation of slum dwellers subject to a ceiling of ` 10 lakh per dwelling
unit.
(iv) The loans sanctioned by banks for housing projects exclusively for the purpose of
construction of houses for economically weaker sections and low income groups, the total
cost of which does not exceed ` 10 lakh per dwelling unit. For the purpose of identifying the
economically weaker sections and low income groups, the family income limit of ` 2 lakh
per annum, irrespective of the location, is prescribed.
(v) Bank loans to Housing Finance Companies (HFCs), approved by NHB for their refinance,
for on-lending for the purpose of purchase/construction/reconstruction of individual dwelling
units or for slum clearance and rehabilitation of slum dwellers, subject to an aggregate loan
limit of ` 10 lakh per borrower.
The eligibility under priority sector loans to HFCs is restricted to five percent of the
individual bank’s total priority sector lending, on an ongoing basis. The maturity of bank
loans should be co-terminus with average maturity of loans extended by HFCs. Banks should
maintain necessary borrower-wise details of the underlying portfolio.
(vi) Outstanding deposits with NHB on account of priority sector shortfall.
6. Social infrastructure
Bank loans up to a limit of ` 5 crore per borrower for building social infrastructure for
activities namely schools, health care facilities, drinking water facilities and sanitation
facilities in Tier II to Tier VI centres.
7. Renewable Energy
Bank loans up to a limit of ` 15 crore to borrowers for purposes like solar based power
generators, biomass based power generators, wind mills, micro-hydel plants and for non-
conventional energy based public utilities viz. street lighting systems, and remote village
electrification. For individual households, the loan limit will be ` 10 lakh per borrower.
8. Others
8.1. Loans not exceeding ` 50,000/- per borrower provided directly by banks to individuals
and their SHG/JLG, provided the individual borrower’s household annual income in rural
areas does not exceed ` 100,000/- and for non-rural areas it does not exceed ` 1,60,000/-.
8.2. Loans to distressed persons [other than farmers already included under III (1.1) A (v)]

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not exceeding ` 100,000/- per borrower to prepay their debt to non-institutional lenders.
8.3. Overdrafts extended by banks upto ` 5,000/- under Pradhan Mantri Jan-DhanYojana
(PMJDY) accounts provided the borrowers household annual income does not exceed
` 100,000/- for rural areas and ` 1,60,000/- for non-rural areas.
8.4. Loans sanctioned to State Sponsored Organisations for Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled
Tribes for the specific purpose of purchase and supply of inputs and/or the marketing of the
outputs of the beneficiaries of these organisations.
IV. Weaker Sections
Priority sector loans to the following borrowers will be considered under Weaker Sections
category:-
No. Category
1. Small and Marginal Farmers
2. Artisans, village and cottage industries where individual credit limits do not
exceed ` 1 lakh
3. Beneficiaries under Government Sponsored Schemes such as National Rural
Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM)
and Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers
(SRMS)
4. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
5. Beneficiaries of Differential Rate of Interest (DRI) scheme
6. Self Help Groups
7. Distressed farmers indebted to non-institutional lenders
8. Distressed persons other than farmers, with loan amount not exceeding ` 1 lakh
per borrower to prepay their debt to non-institutional lenders
9. Individual women beneficiaries up to ` 1 lakh per borrower
10. Persons with disabilities
11. Overdrafts upto ` 5,000/- under Pradhan Mantri Jan-DhanYojana (PMJDY)
accounts, provided the borrowers’ household annual income does not exceed
` 100,000/- for rural areas and ` 1,60,000/- for non-rural areas
12. Minority communities as may be notified by Government of India from time to
time
V. Investments by banks in securitised assets
(i) Investments by banks in securitised assets, representing loans to various categories of
priority sector, except 'others' category, are eligible for classification under respective
categories of priority sector depending on the underlying assets provided:
(a) the securitised assets are originated by banks and financial institutions and are eligible to
be classified as priority sector advances prior to securitisation and fulfil the Reserve Bank of

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India guidelines on securitisation.
(b) the all inclusive interest charged to the ultimate borrower by the originating entity should
not exceed the Base Rate of the investing bank plus 8 percent per annum.
The investments in securitised assets originated by MFIs, which comply with the guidelines in
Paragraph IX of this circular are exempted from this interest cap as there are separate caps
on margin and interest rate.
(ii) Investments made by banks in securitised assets originated by NBFCs, where the
underlying assets are loans against gold jewellery, are not eligible for priority sector status.
VI. Transfer of Assets through Direct Assignment /Outright purchases
(i) Assignments/Outright purchases of pool of assets by banks representing loans under
various categories of priority sector, except the 'others' category, will be eligible for
classification under respective categories of priority sector provided:
(a) the assets are originated by banks and financial institutions which are eligible to be
classified as priority sector advances prior to the purchase and fulfil the Reserve Bank of
India guidelines on outright purchase/assignment.
(b) the eligible loan assets so purchased should not be disposed of other than by way of
repayment.
(c) the all inclusive interest charged to the ultimate borrower by the originating entity should
not exceed the Base Rate of the purchasing bank plus 8 percent per annum.
The Assignments/Outright purchases of eligible priority sector loans from MFIs, which
comply with the guidelines in Paragraph IX of this circular are exempted from this interest
rate cap as there are separate caps on margin and interest rate.
(ii) When the banks undertake outright purchase of loan assets from banks/ financial
institutions to be classified under priority sector, they must report the nominal amount
actually disbursed to end priority sector borrowers and not the premium embedded amount
paid to the sellers.
(iii) Purchase/ assignment/investment transactions undertaken by banks with NBFCs, where
the underlying assets are loans against gold jewellery, are not eligible for priority sector
status.

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VII. Inter Bank Participation Certificates
Inter Bank Participation Certificates (IBPCs) bought by banks, on a risk sharing basis, are
eligible for classification under respective categories of priority sector, provided the
underlying assets are eligible to be categorized under the respective categories of priority
sector and the banks fulfil the Reserve Bank of India guidelines on IBPCs.
VIII. Priority Sector Lending Certificates
The outstanding priority sector lending certificates (after the guidelines are issued in this
regard by the Reserve Bank of India) bought by the banks will be eligible for classification
under respective categories of priority sector provided the assets are originated by banks, and
are eligible to be classified as priority sector advances and fulfil the Reserve Bank of India
guidelines on priority sector lending certificates.
IX. Bank loans to MFIs for on-lending
(a) Bank credit to MFIs extended for on-lending to individuals and also to members of SHGs
/ JLGs will be eligible for categorisation as priority sector advance under respective
categories viz., Agriculture, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, and 'Others', as indirect
finance, provided not less than 85 percent of total assets of MFI (other than cash, balances
with banks and financial institutions, government securities and money market instruments)
are in the nature of “qualifying assets”. In addition, aggregate amount of loan, extended for
income generating activity, should be not less than 50 percent of the total loans given by
MFIs.
(b) A “qualifying asset” shall mean a loan disbursed by MFI, which satisfies the following
criteria:
(i) The loan is to be extended to a borrower whose household annual income in rural areas
does not exceed ` 1,00,000/- while for non-rural areas it should not exceed ` 1,60,000/-.
(ii) Loan does not exceed ` 60,000/- in the first cycle and ` 100,000/- in the subsequent
cycles.
(iii) Total indebtedness of the borrower does not exceed ` 1,00,000/-.
(iv) Tenure of loan is not less than 24 months when loan amount exceeds ` 15,000/- with
right to borrower of prepayment without penalty.
(v) The loan is without collateral.
(vi) Loan is repayable by weekly, fortnightly or monthly installments at the choice of the
borrower.

15
(c) Further, the banks have to ensure that MFIs comply with the following caps on margin
and interest rate as also other ‘pricing guidelines’, to be eligible to classify these loans as
priority sector loans.
(i) Margin cap: The margin cap should not exceed 10 percent for MFIs having loan portfolio
exceeding ` 100 crore and 12 percent for others. The interest cost is to be calculated on
average fortnightly balances of outstanding borrowings and interest income is to be
calculated on average fortnightly balances of outstanding loan portfolio of qualifying assets.
(ii) Interest cap on individual loans: With effect from April 1, 2014, interest rate on
individual loans will be the average Base Rate of five largest commercial banks by assets
multiplied by 2.75 per annum or cost of funds plus margin cap, whichever is less. The
average of the Base Rate shall be advised by Reserve Bank of India.
(iii) Only three components are to be included in pricing of loans viz., (a) a processing fee not
exceeding 1 percent of the gross loan amount, (b) the interest charge and (c) the insurance
premium.
(iv) The processing fee is not to be included in the margin cap or the interest cap.
(v) Only the actual cost of insurance i.e. actual cost of group insurance for life, health and
livestock for borrower and spouse can be recovered; administrative charges may be recovered
as per IRDA guidelines.
(vi) There should not be any penalty for delayed payment.
(vii) No Security Deposit/ Margin are to be taken.
(d) The banks should obtain from MFI, at the end of each quarter, a Chartered Accountant’s
Certificate stating, inter-alia, that the criteria on (i) qualifying assets, (ii) the aggregate
amount of loan, extended for income generation activity, and (iii) pricing guidelines are
followed.
X. Monitoring of Priority Sector Lending targets
To ensure continuous flow of credit to priority sector, there will be more frequent monitoring
of priority sector lending compliance of banks on ‘quarterly’ basis instead of annual basis as
of now. The data on priority sector advances have to be furnished by banks at quarterly and
annual intervals as per revised reporting formats, the guidelines for which will be issued
separately.

16
XI. Non-achievement of Priority Sector targets
Scheduled Commercial Banks having any shortfall in lending to priority sector shall be
allocated amounts for contribution to the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF)
established with NABARD and other Funds with NABARD/NHB/SIDBI, as decided by the
Reserve Bank from time to time. For the year 2015-16, the shortfall in achieving priority
sector target/sub-targets will be assessed based on the position as on March 31, 2016. From
financial year 2016-17 onwards, the achievement will be arrived at the end of financial year
based on the average of priority sector target /sub-target achievement as at the end of each
quarter.
The interest rates on banks’ contribution to RIDF or any other Funds, tenure of deposits, etc.
shall be fixed by Reserve Bank of India from time to time.
The misclassifications reported by the Reserve Bank’s Department of Banking Supervision
would be adjusted/ reduced from the achievement of that year, to which the amount of
declassification/ misclassification pertains, for allocation to various funds in subsequent
years.
Non-achievement of priority sector targets and sub-targets will be taken into account while
granting regulatory clearances/approvals for various purposes.
XII. Common guidelines for priority sector loans
Banks should comply with the following common guidelines for all categories of advances
under the priority sector.
1. Rate of interest
The rates of interest on bank loans will be as per directives issued by our Department of
Banking Regulation from time to time.
2. Service charges
No loan related and adhoc service charges/inspection charges should be levied on priority
sector loans up to ` 25,000.
3. Receipt, Sanction/Rejection/Disbursement Register
A register/ electronic record should be maintained by the bank, wherein the date of receipt,
sanction/rejection/disbursement with reasons thereof, etc., should be recorded. The
register/electronic record should be made available to all inspecting agencies.

17
4. Issue of Acknowledgement of Loan Applications
Banks should provide acknowledgement for loan applications received under priority sector
loans. Bank Boards should prescribe a time limit within which the bank communicates its
decision in writing to the applicants.
XIII. Amendments
These guidelines are subject to any further instructions that may be issued by the RBI from
time to time.
XIV. Definitions/Clarifications
1. On-lending: Loans sanctioned by banks to eligible intermediaries for onward lending only
for creation of priority sector assets. The average maturity of priority sector assets thus
created should be broadly co-terminus with maturity of the bank loan.
2. Contingent liabilities/off-balance sheet items do not form part of priority sector target
achievement. However, foreign banks with less than 20 branches have an option to reckon the
credit equivalent of off-balance sheet items, extended to borrowers for eligible priority sector
activities, along with priority sector loans for the purpose of computation of priority sector
target achievement. In that case, the credit equivalent of all off-balance sheet items (both
priority sector and non-priority sector excluding interbank) should be added to the ANBC in
the denominator for computation of Priority Sector Lending targets.
3. Off-balance sheet interbank exposures are excluded for computing Credit Equivalent of
Off -Balance Sheet Exposures for the priority sector targets.
4. The term “all inclusive interest” includes interest (effective annual interest), processing
fees and service charges.
5. Banks should ensure that loans extended under priority sector are for approved purposes
and the end use is continuously monitored. The banks should put in place proper internal
controls and systems in this regard.

RBI notification of Priority Sector Lending

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RBI notification of Priority Sector Lending