The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on November 28, 2025, issued the Reserve Bank of India (Rural Co-operative Banks – Financial Statements: Presentation and Disclosures) Directions, 2025.
The following has been stated namely: -
• It sets out the framework that all banks, including rural cooperative banks, shall follow when preparing their balance sheets, profit & loss accounts, and accompanying notes (applicable from FY ending March 31, 2023, and onwards).
• The direction mandates standardized formats for presentation and requires disclosure of specified information in the notes to accounts, aiming to promote consistency, comparability, and transparency in financial reporting.
• For rural/co-operative banks, key updates include incorporating accounting standards specified by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and aligning their statements with the formats and schedules issued by RBI.
• The document also clarifies that disclosures should be detailed where they enhance understanding of the bank’s financial position, and that the English version of the direction prevails in case of any discrepancy with a Hindi version.
• Overall, the direction ensures that rural cooperative banks provide comprehensive, clear, and uniform financial disclosures, thereby strengthening the regulatory and supervisory framework for these institutions.
• This shall come into force from November 28, 2025.
[Notification no. - RBI/DOR/2025-26/314 DOR.ACC.REC.No.233/21.04.018/2025-26]
