Master Directions - Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) Directions, 2025 (Updated as on January 19, 2026)

RBI/FIDD/2024-25/128 Master Directions FIDD.CO.PSD.BC.13/04.09.001/2024-25 March 24, 2025 (Updated as on January 19, 2026) The Chairman / Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer All Commercial Banks including Regional Rural Banks, Small Finance Banks, Local Area Banks and Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks other than Salary Earners’ Banks Madam/Dear Sir, Master Directions - Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) Directions, 2025 The Reserve Bank of India has, from time to time, issued a number of instructions/ guidelines to banks relating to Priority Sector Lending (PSL). The Master Directions enclosed incorporate the updated instructions/guidelines on the subject. 2. These Directions shall come into effect on April 01, 2025 and shall supersede the earlier Directions on the subject, namely, the Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) Directions, 2020 (Ref. FIDD.CO.Plan.BC.5/04.09.01/2020-21) dated September 04, 2020 (updated from time to time). All loans eligible to be categorised as Priority Sector Lending under the erstwhile Master Directions on PSL dated September 04, 2020 (updated from time to time) shall continue to be eligible for such categorisation under these Directions, till maturity. Yours faithfully, (Nisha Nambiar) Chief General Manager-in-Charge INDEX Para No. Particulars CHAPTER – I PRELIMINARY 1. Short Title and Commencement 2. Applicability 3. Purpose 4. Definitions/Clarifications CHAPTER – II CATEGORIES AND TARGETS UNDER PRIORITY SECTOR 5. Categories under Priority Sector 6. Computation of Adjusted Net Bank Credit 7. Targets/Sub-targets for Priority Sector 8. Adjustments for weights in PSL Achievement CHAPTER – III DESCRIPTION OF ELIGIBLE CATEGORIES UNDER PRIORITY SECTOR 9. Agriculture 10. Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises 11. Export Credit 12. Education 13. Housing 14. Social Infrastructure 15. Renewable Energy 16. Others 17. Weaker Sections CHAPTER – IV MISCELLANEOUS 18. Investments by Banks in Securitisation Notes 19. Transfer of Assets through Direct Assignment/Outright Purchase 20. Inter Bank Participation Certificates 21. Priority Sector Lending Certificates 22. Bank loans to MFIs (NBFC-MFIs, Societies, Trusts, etc.) for On-Lending 23. Bank loans to NBFCs for On-Lending 24. Bank loans to HFCs for On-Lending 24A Bank loans to NCDC for on-lending 25. Cap on On-Lending 26. Co-lending by Banks and NBFCs to priority sector 27. PSL eligibility for COVID-19 measures 28. Monitoring of Priority Sector Lending Targets 29. Non-achievement of Priority Sector Targets 30. Common guidelines for Priority Sector Loans ANNEX – I A: List of Districts with comparatively high PSL Credit ANNEX – I B: List of Districts with comparatively low PSL Credit ANNEX – II: Indicative list of eligible activities under Agriculture Infrastructure and Ancillary activities ANNEX – III: Indicative list of Permissible Activities under Food Processing Sector as shared by MoFPI ANNEX – IIIA: Priority Sector Lending Certificates - Scheme ANNEX – IV: COVID-19 measures - PSL treatment ANNEX-V: Priority Sector achievement - Calculation of shortfall/excess APPENDIX – List of Circulars Consolidated Master Directions - Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) Directions, 2025 In exercise of the powers conferred by Sections 21 and 35A read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, the Reserve Bank of India, being satisfied that it is necessary and expedient in the public interest so to do, hereby, issues the Directions hereinafter specified. CHAPTER – I PRELIMINARY 1. Short Title and Commencement 1.1 These Directions shall be called the Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) Directions, 2025. 1.2 These Directions shall come into effect on April 01, 2025, and shall supersede the earlier Directions on the subject, namely, the Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) Directions, 2020 (Ref. FIDD.CO. Plan.BC.5/04.09.01/2020-21) dated September 04, 2020 (updated from time to time). 2. Applicability The provisions of these Directions shall, unless otherwise provided, apply to every Commercial Bank [including Regional Rural Bank (RRB), Small Finance Bank (SFB), Local Area Bank (LAB)] and Primary (Urban) Co-operative Bank (UCB) other than Salary Earners’ Bank. 3. Purpose These Directions are issued with a view to delineating a framework for ensuring adequate flow of credit from the banking system to the sectors of the economy which are crucial for their contribution to socio-economic development, with focus on specific segments whose credit needs remain underserved despite being credit worthy. 4. Definitions/Clarifications 4.1 In these Directions, unless the context otherwise requires, the terms herein shall bear the meanings assigned to them below: (i) Allied activities i.e. activities allied to agriculture shall include dairy, fisheries, animal husbandry, poultry, bee-keeping, sericulture and similar activities. (ii) Non-Corporate Farmers (NCF) shall include individual farmers including Small and Marginal Farmers 1 (SMFs), proprietorship firms of farmers directly engaged in agriculture and allied activities, and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) or Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) i.e., group of individual farmers, provided banks maintain disaggregated data of such loans. (iii) “On-lending” means loans sanctioned by banks to eligible intermediaries for onward lending. Such loans, extended for creation of priority sector assets and which remain deployed in such assets, will be eligible for classification under PSL. 4.2 All other expressions, unless defined herein, shall have the same meaning as has been assigned to them under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 or the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 or any statutory modification or re-enactment thereto or as used in commercial parlance, as the case may be. 4.3 All loans categorised as Priority Sector Lending (PSL) under the erstwhile Master Directions on PSL dated September 04, 2020 (updated as on June 21, 2024) shall continue to be eligible for such categorisation under these Directions till maturity. CHAPTER – II CATEGORIES AND TARGETS UNDER PRIORITY SECTOR 5. Categories under Priority Sector The categories under priority sector are as follows: Agriculture Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Export Credit Education Housing Social Infrastructure Renewable Energy Others The details of eligible activities under the above categories are specified in Chapter III . 6. Computation of Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANBC) 6.1 For the purpose of priority sector lending, ANBC shall be computed as follows: 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) Outstanding Deposits under RIDF and other eligible funds with NABARD, NHB, SIDBI and MUDRA Ltd in lieu of non-achievement of priority sector lending targets/sub-targets + outstanding PSLCs IV Eligible amount for exemptions on issuance of long-term bonds for infrastructure and affordable housing as per [Reserve Bank of India (Resource Raising Norms) Directions, 2025 as applicable to Commercial Banks and Small Finance Banks] 2 V 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 , DBOD mailbox clarification issued on February 6, 2014 and UBD.BPD.(PCB).CIR.No.5/13.01.000/2013-14 dated August 27, 2013 read with UBD.BPD.(PCB).Cir.No.72/13.01.000/ 2013-14 dated June 11, 2014 . 3 VI Investments made by public sector banks in the Recapitalization Bonds floated by Government of India VII Other investments eligible to be treated as priority sector (e.g. investments in securitisation notes) VIII Bonds/debentures in Non-SLR categories under HTM category IX For UCBs: Investments made after August 30, 2007 in permitted non SLR bonds held under ‘Held to Maturity’ (HTM) category X ANBC (Other than UCBs) III + IV- (V+VI+VII) +VIII + IX ANBC for UCBs III + IV - VI + X * For the purpose of priority sector computation only. Banks shall not deduct / net any amount like provisions, accrued interest, etc. from NBC. 6.2 For the purpose of calculation of Credit Equivalent of Off-Balance Sheet Exposures (CEOBSE), banks shall be guided by the [ Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks - Concentration Risk Management) Directions, 2025 , and Reserve Bank of India (Prudential Norms on Capital Adequacy) Directions, 2025, as applicable to Small Finance Banks, Urban Co-operative Banks and Regional Rural Banks. In the case of Local Area Banks, for the purpose of calculation of credit risk exposure attached to off-balance sheet items, banks may refer to Reserve Bank of India (Local Area Banks – Prudential Norms on Capital Adequacy) Directions, 2025 ] 4 6.3 SFBs shall be further guided [by the following pertaining]5 to treatment of grandfathered loans, for computation of ANBC: [The provisions in Paragraph C.10.33 of Reserve Bank of India (Small Finance Banks – Licensing) Guidelines, 2025 will apply to cases where an existing NBFC/MFI sets up a SFB and transfers its business to the SFB, apart from conversion cases.. The lending banks will be permitted to avail the PSL classification for the loans made to such NBFCs, as long as the assets financed out of such loans are PSL eligible assets. This dispensation to the lending banks would be extended only up to the extent of actual outstanding balance supported by existing underlying assets as on the opening balance sheet of the SFB, and only till repayment of underlying loans. The assets financed out of the above loans from the banks would not be reckoned for the ANBC for priority sector calculation for the SFB, to the extent the lending bank enjoys PSL status on such grandfathered loans. Any fresh assets created out of such outstanding grandfathered lending or any fresh assets created by the SFB post commencement of operations, in general, would be reckoned in the ANBC of the SFBs and the PSL norms as applicable to SFBs would kick in. The above treatment would be applicable for grandfathered borrowings in the cases of converting entities as well. The first audited balance sheet as on March 31st post commencement of operations of the SFB would form the basis for the first PSL target for the SFB (for the subsequent year).] 5 6.4 While calculating Net Bank Credit as above, if banks subtract prudential write off at Corporate/Head Office level, it shall be ensured that the credit to priority sector and all sub-sectors so written off shall also be subtracted category wise from priority sector target and sub-target achievement. Investments or any other items which are treated as eligible for classification under priority sector target/sub-target achievement, shall also form part of Adjusted Net Bank Credit. 6.5 All banks shall adhere to the respective licencing and operating guidelines issued by the Department of Regulation, RBI as updated from time to time. 7. Targets/Sub-targets for Priority sector 7.1 The targets and sub-targets set under priority sector lending, to be computed on the basis of the ANBC/CEOBSE 6 as applicable as on the corresponding date of the preceding year, are as below: Categories Targets/ Sub-targets Domestic Commercial Banks (excl. RRBs & SFBs) & Foreign Banks with 20 branches and above Foreign Banks with less than 20 branches Regional Rural Banks Small Finance Banks Total Priority Sector 40 per cent of ANBC as computed in para 6 above or CEOBSE, whichever is higher. 40 per cent of ANBC as computed in para 6 above or CEOBSE, whichever is higher; out of which up to 32% can be in the form of Export Credit and not less than 8% can be to any other priority sector. 75 per cent of ANBC as computed in para 6 above or CEOBSE, whichever is higher. However, lending to Medium Enterprises, Social Infrastructure and Renewable Energy shall be reckoned for priority sector achievement up to 15 per cent of ANBC only. [60] 7 per cent of ANBC as computed in para 6 above or CEOBSE, whichever is higher. Agriculture 18 per cent of ANBC or CEOBSE, whichever is higher. Within this target, 14 percent is prescribed for Non-Corporate Farmers (NCFs), out of which a target of 10 percent is prescribed for SMFs. Not applicable 18 per cent ANBC or CEOBSE, whichever is higher. Within this target, 14 percent is prescribed for NCFs, out of which a target of 10 percent is prescribed for SMFs. 18 per cent of ANBC or CEOBSE, whichever is higher. Within this target, 14 percent is prescribed for NCFs, out of which a target of 10 percent is prescribed for SMFs. Micro Enterprises 7.5 per cent of ANBC or CEOBSE, whichever is higher Not applicable 7.5 per cent of ANBC or CEOBSE, whichever is higher 7.5 per cent of ANBC or CEOBSE, whichever is higher Advances to Weaker Sections 12 percent of ANBC or CEOBSE, whichever is higher Not applicable 15 per cent of ANBC or CEOBSE, whichever is higher 12 percent of ANBC or CEOBSE, whichever is higher 7.2 The priority sector lending targets for UCBs shall be as follows: Categories Targets as a percentage of ANBC or CEOBSE, whichever is higher Total Priority Sector 60% Micro Enterprises 7.5% Advances to Weaker Sections 12% 8. Adjustments for weights in PSL Achievement 8.1 To address regional disparities in the flow of priority sector credit at the district level, it was decided to rank districts on the basis of per capita credit flow to priority sector and build an incentive framework for districts with comparatively lower flow of credit and a dis-incentive framework for districts with comparatively higher flow of priority sector credit. With effect from FY 2024-25, a higher weight (125%) shall be assigned to the incremental priority sector credit in the identified districts where the credit flow is comparatively lower (per capita PSL less than ₹9,000), and a lower weight (90%) will be assigned for incremental priority sector credit in the identified districts where the credit flow is comparatively higher (per capita PSL greater than ₹42,000). The list of both categories of districts is given in Annexes IA and IB and will be valid up to FY 2026-27, subject to a review thereafter. The districts other than those mentioned in Annexes IA and IB will continue to have normal weightage of 100%. 8.2 The banks shall continue to report the actual outstanding amount in Quarterly Priority Sector Advances (QPSA) returns as hitherto. Adjustments for weights to incremental PSL credit will be done by RBI, based on reporting of district wise credit flow to FIDD, CO through the ADEPT database. RRBs, UCBs, LABs and foreign banks (including Wholly Owned Subsidiaries) would be exempted from adjustments of weights in PSL achievement due to their currently limited area of operation/catering to a niche segment. CHAPTER – III DESCRIPTION OF ELIGIBLE CATEGORIES UNDER PRIORITY SECTOR 9. Agriculture The lending to agriculture sector will include Farm Credit (Agriculture and Allied Activities), lending for Agriculture Infrastructure and Ancillary Activities. 9.1 Farm Credit A. Farm Credit - Individual farmers This category comprises of 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] and proprietorship firms of farmers, directly engaged in agriculture and allied activities. Such loans will include: Crop loans including loans for traditional/non-traditional plantations, horticulture and allied activities Medium and long-term loans for agriculture and allied activities (e.g. purchase of agricultural implements and machinery and developmental loans for allied activities) Loans for pre and post-harvest activities viz., spraying, harvesting, grading and transporting of own farm produce Loans to distressed farmers indebted to non-institutional lenders Loans under the Kisan Credit Card Scheme Loans to small and marginal farmers (SMFs) for purchase of land for agricultural purposes Loans against pledge/hypothecation of agricultural produce (including warehouse receipts) for a period not exceeding 12 months subject to a limit up to ₹90 lakh against Negotiable Warehouse Receipt (NWRs)/Electronic Negotiable Warehouse Receipt (eNWRs) and up to ₹60 lakh against warehouse receipts other than NWRs/eNWRs Loans to farmers for installation of stand-alone solar agriculture pumps and for solarisation of grid connected agriculture pumps Loans to farmers for installation of solar power plants on barren/fallow land or in stilt fashion on agriculture land owned by farmer B. Farm Credit - Corporate farmers, Farmer Producer Organisations/ Companies (FPOs)/(FPCs) of Individual Farmers, Partnership firms and Co-operatives of farmers engaged in Agriculture and Allied Activities (a) Loans for the following activities, subject to an aggregate limit of ₹4 crore per borrowing entity, will be eligible: Crop loans to farmers which will include traditional/non-traditional plantations and horticulture and loans for allied activities Medium and long-term loans for agriculture and allied activities (e.g., purchase of agricultural implements, technological solutions, machinery and developmental loans for allied activities) Loans for pre and post-harvest activities viz., spraying, harvesting, grading and transporting of their own farm produce (b) Loans up to ₹4 crore against pledge/hypothecation of agricultural produce (including warehouse receipts) for a period not exceeding 12 months against NWRs/eNWRs and up to ₹2.5 crore against warehouse receipts other than NWRs/eNWRs (c) Loans up to ₹10 crore per borrowing entity to FPOs/FPCs undertaking farming with assured marketing of their produce at a pre-determined price (d) Loans up to ₹10 crore for purchase of the produce of members directly engaged in agriculture and allied activities Note: UCBs are not permitted to lend to co-operatives of farmers. 9.2 Agriculture Infrastructure Loans for agriculture infrastructure will be subject to an aggregate sanctioned limit of ₹100 crore per borrower from the banking system. List of activities is furnished in Annex II (Item I). 9.3 Ancillary Services The following shall be eligible to be classified in this category: Loans specified in Annex II (Item 2) Loans up to ₹50 crore to Start-ups 8 that are engaged in agriculture and allied services Loans for Food and Agro-processing up to an aggregate sanctioned limit of ₹100 crore per borrower from the banking system (eligible activities as given in Annex III ) [********] 9 Outstanding deposits under RIDF and other eligible funds with NABARD on account of priority sector shortfall 9.4 Eligibility criteria for categorization as lending to Small and Marginal Farmers (SMFs) For the purpose of computation of achievement of the sub-target, SMFs will include the following: Farmers with landholding of up to 1 hectare (Marginal Farmers) Farmers with a landholding of more than 1 hectare and up to 2 hectares (Small Farmers) Landless agricultural labourers, tenant farmers, oral lessees and share-croppers whose share of landholding is within the limits prescribed for SMFs Self Help Groups (SHGs) or Joint Liability Groups (JLGs), i.e., groups of individual SMFs directly engaged in agriculture and allied activities, provided banks maintain disaggregated data of such loans Loans up to ₹2.5 lakh to individuals solely engaged in allied activities without any accompanying land holding criteria Loans to FPOs/FPCs of individual farmers and co-operatives of farmers directly engaged in agriculture and allied activities where the land-holding share of SMFs is not less than 75 per cent, subject to loan limits prescribed in para 9.1 (B) Note: UCBs are not permitted to lend to co-operatives of farmers. 9.5 Lending by banks to NBFCs and MFIs for on-lending in agriculture (i) Bank credit extended to registered NBFC-MFIs and other MFIs (Societies, Trusts etc.) which are members of RBI recognised SRO for the sector, for on-lending to individuals and also to members of SHGs/JLGs will be eligible for categorisation as priority sector advance under respective categories of agriculture subject to conditions specified in para 22. (ii) Bank credit to registered NBFCs (other than MFIs) towards on-lending for ‘term lending’ component under agriculture will be eligible for PSL classification up to ₹10 lakh per borrower subject to conditions specified in para 23 and 25. Note: The provisions of para 9.5 shall not be applicable to RRBs, UCBs, SFBs and LABs. 10. Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) The definition of MSMEs shall be as given in the FIDD.MSME & NFS.12/06.02.31/2017-18 dated July 24, 2017 as updated from time to time. All bank loans to MSMEs shall qualify for classification under priority sector lending. Loans up to ₹50 crore to Start-ups 10 , that conform to the definition of MSME, shall also be eligible to be classified under this category. 10.1 Factoring Transactions ‘With recourse’ factoring transactions by banks which carry out the business of factoring departmentally wherever the ‘assignor’ is a Micro, Small or Medium Enterprise would be eligible for classification under MSME category on the reporting dates. Factoring transactions pertaining to MSMEs taking place through the Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) shall also be eligible for classification under priority sector. Note: The provisions of para 10.1 are not applicable to RRBs and UCBs 10.2 Other Loans eligible to be classified under PSL in the MSME category These include: All loans to units in the Khadi and Village Industries sector, which shall be categorised as lending to micro enterprises. Loans to entities involved in assisting the decentralized sector in the supply of inputs and marketing of output of artisans, village and cottage industries. Loans to co-operatives of producers in the decentralized sector viz., artisans, village and cottage industries (not applicable to UCBs). [******] 11 Loans by banks to NBFC-MFIs and other MFIs (Societies, Trusts, etc.) which are members of RBI recognised SRO for the sector, for on-lending to the MSME sector, borrowers being individuals and members of SHGs/ JLGs as per the conditions specified in paragraph 22 of these Master Directions (not applicable to RRBs, SFBs and UCBs) Loans to registered NBFCs (other than MFIs) for on-lending to micro and small enterprises up to Rs.20 lakh per borrower as per conditions specified in para 23 of these Master Directions (not applicable to RRBs, SFBs and UCBs) Overdraft to Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) account holders as per limits and conditions prescribed by Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance from time to time, which shall be categorised as lending to Micro Enterprises. Outstanding deposits with SIDBI and MUDRA Ltd. on account of priority sector shortfall. 11. Export Credit Export credit includes pre-shipment and post-shipment export credit (excluding off-balance sheet items) as defined in [Reserve Bank of India (Credit Facilities) Directions, 2025, as applicable to Commercial Banks, Small Finance Banks and Urban Co-operative Banks.] 12 Export credit to agriculture and MSMEs shall be eligible for classification as PSL in the respective categories [and subject to the aggregate limits mentioned therein.] 13 Export Credit (other than that classified under agriculture and MSME) shall be eligible for classification as priority sector lending as per the following table: Domestic banks/WoS of Foreign banks/SFBs/UCBs 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 per cent of ANBC or CEOBSE whichever is higher, subject to a sanctioned limit of up to ₹50 crore per borrower. Incremental export credit over corresponding date of the preceding year, up to 2 percent of ANBC or CEOBSE whichever is higher. Export credit up to 32 per cent of ANBC or CEOBSE whichever is higher. Note: The provisions of para 11 are not applicable to RRBs and LABs. 12. Education Loans to individuals for educational purposes, including vocational courses, not exceeding ₹25 lakh will be considered as eligible for priority sector classification. 13. Housing 13.1. Bank loans to Housing sector as per limits prescribed below are eligible for priority sector classification: i. Loans to individuals for purchase/construction of a dwelling unit per family subject to the following limits: (Amount in ₹ lakh) Category Loan Limit# Maximum Cost of Dwelling Unit# Centres with population of 50 lakh and above 50 63 Centres with population of 10 lakh and above but below 50 lakh 45 57 Centres with population below 10 lakh 35 44 #to be eligible, the loan to satisfy both the criteria ii. Housing loans to banks’ own employees will not be eligible for classification under the priority sector. iii. Housing loans which are backed by long term bonds shall not be classified under priority sector, as they are exempted from inclusion in ANBC. Investments made by UCBs in bonds issued by NHB/HUDCO on or after April 1, 2007 shall not be eligible for classification under priority sector. 13.2. Loans for repairs to damaged dwelling units shall be eligible for priority sector classification subject to the following limits: (Amount in ₹ lakh) Category Loan Limit# Maximum Cost of Dwelling Unit# Centres with population of 50 lakh and above 15 63 Centres with population of 10 lakh and above but below 50 lakh 12 57 Centres with population below 10 lakh 10 44 #to be eligible, the loan to satisfy both the criteria 13.3. Bank loans to any governmental agency for construction of dwelling units or for slum clearance and rehabilitation of slum dwellers subject to dwelling units with carpet area of not more than 60 sq.m. 13.4. Bank loans for affordable housing projects using at least 50% of FAR/FSI for dwelling units with carpet area of not more than 60 sq.m. 13.5. Outstanding deposits with NHB on account of priority sector shortfall [ Note: Banks may refer to the population at the level of ‘Urban Agglomerations’ (U.A.s)/ Towns as given in the Table “A-04” of the Census 2011 for determining adherence to the population-based classifications. For housing loans to properties situated in villages/rural areas (which are not part of the Table A-04 of the Census 2011), the loan limits as per “Centres with population below 10 lakh” may be adhered to.] 14 14. Social Infrastructure Bank loans to social infrastructure sector as per limits prescribed below are eligible for priority sector classification. 14.1. Loans up to a limit of ₹8 crore per borrower for setting up schools, drinking water facilities and sanitation facilities including construction/refurbishment of household toilets and water improvements at household level, etc. 14.2. Loans up to a limit of ₹12 crore per borrower for building health care facilities in Tier II to Tier VI centres. In case of UCBs, the equivalent centres are those [with population of less than 1 lakh.] 15 14.3. Loans (other than by RRBs, UCBs and SFBs) to MFIs extended for on-lending to individuals and also to members of SHGs/JLGs for water and sanitation facilities subject to the criteria laid down in paragraph 22 of these Master Directions. 15. Renewable Energy Bank loans up to a limit of ₹35 crore to borrowers for renewable energy-based power generators and for renewable energy based public utilities, viz., street lighting systems, remote village electrification etc., will be eligible for priority sector classification. For individual households, the loan limit will be ₹10 lakh per borrower. 16. Others The following loans up to the prescribed limits are eligible for priority sector classification: i. [Microfinance] 16 loans provided directly by banks to individuals and individual members of SHGs/JLGs satisfying the criteria as prescribed in [Reserve Bank of India (Credit Facilities) Directions, 2025, as applicable to Commercial Banks, Small Finance Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Urban Co-operative Banks and Local Area Banks.] 17 ii. Loans not exceeding ₹2.00 lakh provided by banks to SHG/JLG for activities other than agriculture or MSME, viz., loans for meeting social needs, construction or repair of house, construction of toilets or any viable common activity started by SHGs iii. Loans to distressed persons [other than distressed farmers indebted to non-institutional lenders] not exceeding ₹1.00 lakh per borrower to prepay their debt to non-institutional lenders iv. 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 v. Loans up to ₹50 crore to Start-ups 18 , that are engaged in activities other than agriculture or MSME 17. Weaker Sections 17.1 Priority sector loans to the following borrowers will be considered as lending to Weaker Sections (overlapping category): (i) Small and Marginal Farmers (ii) Artisans, village and cottage industries where individual credit limits do not exceed ₹2 lakh (iii) Beneficiaries under Government Sponsored Schemes such as National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), [****] 19 and Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS) (iv) Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (v) Beneficiaries of Differential Rate of Interest (DRI) scheme (vi) Self Help Groups/Joint Liability Groups (vii) Individuals and individual members of SHGs/JLGs [availing microfinance loans satisfying the criteria as prescribed in Reserve Bank of India (Credit Facilities) Directions, 2025, as applicable to Commercial Banks, Small Finance Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Urban Co-operative Banks and Local Area Banks.] 20 (viii) Individual women beneficiaries up to ₹2 lakh per borrower (the limit of ‘₹2 lakh per borrower’ is not applicable to UCBs) (ix) Distressed farmers indebted to non-institutional lenders (x) Distressed persons other than farmers, with loan amount not exceeding ₹1 lakh per borrower to prepay their debt to non-institutional lenders (xi) Persons with disabilities (xii) Transgenders (xiii) Minority communities as may be notified by Government of India from time to time. 17.2 Overdraft availed by PMJDY account holders as per limits and conditions prescribed by Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance from time to time may be classified under loans to Weaker Sections. 17.3 In States, where one of the minority communities notified is, in fact, in majority, item (xiii) will cover only the other notified minorities. These States/Union Territories are Punjab, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Lakshadweep and Jammu & Kashmir. CHAPTER IV MISCELLANEOUS 18. Investments by banks in Securitisation Notes Investments by banks in ‘Securitisation Notes’, representing loans to various priority sector categories, except 'others' category, are eligible for classification under the respective categories depending on the underlying assets, subject to the following conditions: The assets are originated by banks and financial institutions and are eligible to be classified as priority sector advances prior to securitisation and fulfil the [provisions of Reserve Bank of India (Securitisation Transactions) Directions, 2025, as applicable to the various entities.] 21 Investment by banks in securitisation notes with loans against gold jewellery originated by NBFCs as underlying, are not eligible for priority sector status. [ 18A. To ascertain priority sector status of the underlying portfolio, banks may rely on a combination of any external auditors’ certification provided by the originating entity and conduct of sample check by their own staff or by an auditor for the purpose. This may be specified in their internal policy.] 22 Note: The provisions of para 18 are not applicable to [SFBs, LABs,] 23 RRBs and UCBs 19. Transfer of Assets through Direct Assignment/Outright purchase Assignment/outright purchase of pool of assets by banks representing loans under various priority sector categories, except the ‘others’ category, will be eligible for classification under the respective categories, subject to the following conditions: (i) The assets are originated by banks and financial institutions and are eligible to be classified as priority sector advances prior to the purchase and fulfil the [provisions of the Reserve Bank of India (Transfer and Distribution of Credit Risk) Directions, 2025, as applicable to Commercial Banks and Small Finance Banks.] 24 (ii) Banks shall report the outstanding amount actually disbursed to priority sector borrowers and not the premium embedded amount paid to the seller. (iii) Loans against gold jewellery acquired by banks from NBFCs are not eligible for priority sector status. Note: The provisions of para 19 are not applicable to [LABs] 25 , RRBs and UCBs. 20. Inter Bank Participation Certificates (IBPCs) IBPCs bought by banks, on a risk sharing basis, are eligible for classification under the respective priority sector categories, provided the underlying assets are eligible to be classified under the respective categories and the banks fulfil [the relevant provisions of the Reserve Bank of India (Transfer and Distribution of Credit Risk) Directions, 2025, as applicable to Commercial Banks and Small Finance Banks.] 26 IBPCs bought by banks on risk sharing basis relating to ‘Export Credit’ as per Para 11, shall be classified from purchasing bank’s perspective for priority sector categorization. However, in such a scenario, the issuing bank shall certify that the underlying asset is ‘Export Credit’, in addition to the due diligence required to be undertaken by the issuing and the purchasing banks as per guidelines in this regard. Note: The provisions of para 20 are not applicable to [LABs, RRBs and] 27 UCBs. 21. Priority Sector Lending Certificates (PSLCs) Banks are permitted to purchase/sell PSLCs in terms of Reserve Bank of India guidelines on Priority Sector Lending Certificates [as detailed in Annex IIIA .] 28 The net nominal value of the PSLCs issued and purchased will be eligible for classification under the respective priority sector categories provided the underlying assets originated by banks are eligible to be classified as priority sector advances. SFBs [are permitted to purchase PSLCs only for the specific purpose of meeting the PSL sub-targets within the overall PSL target.] 29 22. Bank loans to MFIs (NBFC-MFIs, Societies, Trusts, etc.) for On-Lending Loans disbursed by banks to MFIs under para 22 (i) and 22 (ii) below are eligible for categorisation as priority sector advances under respective categories viz., Agriculture, MSME, Social Infrastructure and Others, provided the MFIs adhere to the conditions prescribed in [ Reserve Bank of India (Non-Banking Financial Companies – Microfinance Institution) Directions, 2025 and banks obtain external auditors’ certificates from MFIs confirming that on-lending benefit in respect of these loans has not been claimed from any other bank] 30 (i) Loans by banks other than SFBs to registered NBFC-MFIs and other MFIs (Societies, Trusts, etc.) which are members of RBI recognised Self-Regulatory Organisation (SRO) for the sector, for on-lending to individuals and also to members of SHGs/JLGs (ii) Loans by SFBs to registered NBFC-MFIs and other MFIs (Societies, Trusts, etc.) which are members of RBI recognised SRO of the sector, and which have a ‘gross loan portfolio’ (GLP) of up to ₹500 crore as on March 31 of the previous year, for the purpose of on-lending to individuals 31 . In case the GLP of the NBFC-MFIs/other MFIs exceeds the stipulated limit at a later date, all priority sector loans created prior to exceeding the GLP limit will continue to be classified by the SFBs as PSL till repayment/maturity, whichever is earlier. Bank credit as above, up to an overall limit of 10% of an individual bank’s total priority sector lending of the previous financial year, is eligible for PSL classification. Banks shall determine adherence to the prescribed cap by averaging the eligible portfolio under on-lending mechanism across four quarters of the current financial year. Note: The provisions of para 22 are not applicable to RRBs, UCBs and LABs. 23. Bank loans to NBFCs for On-Lending Bank credit to registered NBFCs (other than MFIs) for on-lending will be eligible for classification as priority sector lending under the respective categories subject to the following conditions: (i) Agriculture: Up to ₹10 lakh per borrower in respect of ‘term lending’ component under Agriculture (ii) Micro & Small enterprises: Up to ₹20 lakh per borrower provided banks maintain disaggregated data of such loans in the portfolio. [(iii) Banks shall obtain external auditors’ certificates from the NBFCs confirming that on-lending benefit in respect of such loans has not been claimed from any other bank.] 32 Note: The provisions of para 23 are not applicable to RRBs, UCBs, SFBs and LABs. 24. Bank loans to HFCs for On-Lending Bank credit 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, [will be eligible for classification as PSL] 33 subject to an aggregate loan limit of ₹20 lakh per borrower, under ‘Housing’ category. Banks shall maintain necessary borrower-wise details of the underlying portfolio [and obtain external auditors’ certificates from the HFCs, confirming that on-lending benefit in respect of such loans has not been claimed from any other bank.] 34 Note: The provisions of para 24 are not applicable to RRBs, SFBs and LABs. [24A. Bank loans to NCDC for on-lending Bank credit to National Co-operative Development Corporation (NCDC) for on-lending to co-operative societies for purposes and activities as laid down in this Master Direction will be eligible for classification as priority sector lending under the respective categories. This is subject to NCDC furnishing quarterly certificates by a CAG 35 empanelled chartered accountant firm, to the lending banks, confirming that the bank credit has been utilized for extending loans to co-operative societies for PSL eligible purposes and that on-lending benefit in respect of such loans has not been claimed from any other bank. Note: (i)The provisions of para 24A are applicable to loans sanctioned by banks to NCDC after January 19, 2026. (ii) The provisions of para 24A are not applicable to RRBs, UCBs, SFBs and LABs.] 36 25. Cap on On-Lending Bank credit to NBFCs (including HFCs) [and NCDC] 37 for on-lending as applicable in para 23, 24 [and 24A] 37 above, will be eligible for PSL classification up to an overall limit of 5% of individual bank’s total priority sector lending of the previous financial year. Banks shall determine adherence to the prescribed cap by averaging the eligible portfolio under on-lending mechanism across four quarters of the current financial year. [In case of a newly licensed bank, the cap shall be applicable on an on-going basis during its first year of operations.] 37 26. Co-lending [Banks are permitted to enter into co-lending arrangements for lending to priority sectors as per Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks – Transfer and Distribution of Credit Risk) Directions, 2025 . Loans extended as per circular FIDD.CO.Plan.BC.No.8/04.09.01/2020-21 dated November 5, 2020 on Co-lending by Banks and NBFCs to Priority Sector and as per circular No. FIDD.CO.Plan.BC.08/04.09.01/2018-19 dated September 21, 2018 on Co-origination of loans by Banks and NBFCs for lending to priority sector, shall continue to be eligible for priority sector classification till repayment/ maturity, whichever is earlier.] 38 Note: The provisions of para 26 are not applicable to RRBs, UCBs, SFBs and LABs. 27. PSL eligibility for COVID-19 measures Outstanding loans extended under policy measures to mitigate the financial impact of COVID-19, as detailed in Annex-IV , shall be eligible for classification as priority sector lending. 28. Monitoring of Priority Sector Lending Targets (i) To ensure continuous flow of credit to priority sectors, the compliance of banks will be monitored on a calendar quarter basis. (ii) The data on priority sector advances shall be furnished by banks at [ quarterly and annual ] 39 intervals as per the respective reporting format, within fifteen days and one month, respectively from the end of each quarter and financial year. (iii) In respect of RRBs, the data on priority sector advances, in the above format, shall be furnished to NABARD at quarterly and annual intervals. (iv) UCBs shall be guided by Master Direction – Reserve Bank of India (Filing of Supervisory Returns) Directions – 2024 dated February 27, 2024 , as updated from time to time, as regards submission of data on priority sector advances. 29. Non-achievement of Priority Sector Targets (i) All banks (excluding UCBs under all-inclusive directions) reporting shortfall in priority sector lending vis-à-vis the prescribed target/sub-targets shall be allocated amounts for contribution to the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) and other funds with NABARD/NHB/SIDBI/MUDRA Ltd., as decided by the Reserve Bank from time to time. Further, the terms and conditions of the funds shall be as decided by Reserve Bank of India. (ii) While computing priority sector target achievement, shortfall/excess lending for each quarter will be monitored separately. A simple average of all quarters will be arrived at and considered for computation of overall shortfall/excess at the end of the year. The same method will be followed for calculating the achievement of priority sector sub-targets. (Illustration given in Annex-V ). (iii) The interest rates payable to banks for their contribution to RIDF and other funds shall be as follows: S. No. Shortfall in overall priority sector lending target Deposit Rates 1 Less than 5 percentage points Bank Rate minus 2 percentage points 2 5 and above, but less than 10 percentage points Bank Rate minus 3 percentage points 3 10 percentage points and above Bank Rate minus 4 percentage points Further, in case of no shortfall in overall PSL target but shortfall in any sub-target, interest rate of Bank Rate minus 2 percentage points will apply. (iv) The mis-classifications in PSL, if any, identified by the Reserve Bank’s Department of Supervision (DoS) (NABARD in respect of RRBs) will be adjusted from the PSL achievement of the relevant year, to which the amount of misclassification pertains, and shortfall will be allocated to various funds in the subsequent years. (v) Non-achievement of priority sector targets and sub-targets will be taken into account while granting regulatory clearances/approvals for various purposes. 30. Common guidelines for Priority Sector Loans Banks shall also comply with the following common guidelines for all categories of priority sector advances. (i) Rate of interest: The rates of interest charged on loans shall be in accordance with the [Reserve Bank of India (Interest Rate on Advances) Directions, 2025, as applicable to Commercial Banks, Small Finance Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Local Area Banks and Urban Co-operative Banks.] 40 (ii) Service charges: No loan related [charges (including guarantee fees of credit guarantee schemes),] 41 and ad hoc service charges/inspection charges shall be levied on priority sector loans up to ₹50,000. In the case of eligible priority sector loans to SHGs/JLGs, this limit will be applicable per member and not to the group as a whole. (iii) Record of Receipt, Sanction/Rejection/Disbursement: Record shall be maintained by the bank of the date of receipt, sanction, disbursement, rejection with reasons thereof, etc. (iv) Acknowledgement of loan applications: Banks shall provide acknowledgement of receipt of applications for priority sector loans. Bank Boards shall prescribe the time limit within which the bank communicates its decision in writing to the applicants. (v) Banks shall ensure that loans categorised as priority sector lending are granted for approved purposes and the end use is monitored, by putting in place proper internal systems and controls. (vi) Each priority sector loan shall be classified only in any one of the eight identified categories specified in para 5 of these Master Directions. Annex - I A List of Districts with comparatively high PSL credit Sl. No State District name 1 Andaman & Nicobar Islands South Andaman 2 Andhra Pradesh Bapatla 3 Andhra Pradesh Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema 4 Andhra Pradesh East Godavari 5 Andhra Pradesh Eluru 6 Andhra Pradesh Guntur 7 Andhra Pradesh Kakinada 8 Andhra Pradesh Krishna 9 Andhra Pradesh NTR 10 Andhra Pradesh Palnadu 11 Andhra Pradesh Prakasam 12 Andhra Pradesh Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore 13 Andhra Pradesh Tirupati 14 Andhra Pradesh Visakhapatnam 15 Andhra Pradesh West Godavari 16 Andhra Pradesh Y.S.R. 17 Arunachal Pradesh Papumpare 18 Assam Kamrup Metropolitan 19 Bihar Patna 20 Chandigarh Chandigarh 21 Chhattisgarh Bilaspur 22 Chhattisgarh Raipur 23 Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu Dadra & Nagar Haveli 24 Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu Daman 25 Goa North Goa 26 Goa South Goa 27 Gujarat Ahmedabad 28 Gujarat Bharuch 29 Gujarat Gandhinagar 30 Gujarat Jamnagar 31 Gujarat Kachchh 32 Gujarat Mahesana 33 Gujarat Morbi 34 Gujarat Porbandar 35 Gujarat Rajkot 36 Gujarat Surat 37 Gujarat Vadodara 38 Gujarat Valsad 39 Haryana Ambala 40 Haryana Faridabad 41 Haryana Fatehabad 42 Haryana Gurugram 43 Haryana Hisar 44 Haryana Jhajjar 45 Haryana Jind 46 Haryana Kaithal 47 Haryana Karnal 48 Haryana Kurukshetra 49 Haryana Panchkula 50 Haryana Panipat 51 Haryana Rewari 52 Haryana Rohtak 53 Haryana Sirsa 54 Haryana Sonipat 55 Haryana Yamunanagar 56 Himachal Pradesh Kulu 57 Himachal Pradesh Shimla 58 Himachal Pradesh Sirmaur 59 Himachal Pradesh Solan 60 Jammu and Kashmir Jammu 61 Jammu and Kashmir Pulwama 62 Jammu and Kashmir Shopian 63 Jammu and Kashmir Srinagar 64 Jharkhand Ranchi 65 Karnataka Bengaluru Rural 66 Karnataka Bengaluru Urban 67 Karnataka Chikkamagaluru 68 Karnataka Dakshin Kannad 69 Karnataka Dharwad 70 Karnataka Hassan 71 Karnataka Kodagu 72 Karnataka Mysuru 73 Karnataka Ramanagara 74 Karnataka Shivamogga 75 Karnataka Udipi 76 Kerala Alapuzha 77 Kerala Ernakulam 78 Kerala Idukki 79 Kerala Kannur 80 Kerala Kasaragod 81 Kerala Kollam 82 Kerala Kottayam 83 Kerala Kozhikode 84 Kerala Palakkad 85 Kerala Pathanamthitta 86 Kerala Thiruvananthapuram 87 Kerala Thrissur 88 Kerala Wayanad 89 Ladakh Leh Ladakh 90 Madhya Pradesh Bhopal 91 Madhya Pradesh East Nimar 92 Madhya Pradesh Gwalior 93 Madhya Pradesh Harda 94 Madhya Pradesh Indore 95 Madhya Pradesh Jabalpur 96 Madhya Pradesh Narmadapuram 97 Madhya Pradesh Ratlam 98 Madhya Pradesh Ujjain 99 Maharashtra Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar 100 Maharashtra Kolhapur 101 Maharashtra Mumbai 102 Maharashtra Mumbai Suburban 103 Maharashtra Nagpur 104 Maharashtra Nasik 105 Maharashtra Pune 106 Maharashtra Raigad 107 Maharashtra Thane 108 NCT of Delhi Central Delhi 109 NCT of Delhi East Delhi 110 NCT of Delhi New Delhi 111 NCT of Delhi North Delhi 112 NCT of Delhi Shahdara 113 NCT of Delhi South Delhi 114 NCT of Delhi South-East Delhi 115 NCT of Delhi West Delhi 116 Odisha Khurda 117 Puducherry Karaikal 118 Puducherry Mahe 119 Puducherry Puducherry 120 Puducherry Yanam 121 Punjab Amritsar 122 Punjab Barnala 123 Punjab Bathinda 124 Punjab Faridkot 125 Punjab Fatehgarh Sahib 126 Punjab Fazilka 127 Punjab Jalandhar 128 Punjab Kapurthala 129 Punjab Ludhiana 130 Punjab Mansa 131 Punjab Moga 132 Punjab Muktsar 133 Punjab Patiala 134 Punjab Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar 135 Punjab Sangrur 136 Rajasthan Ajmer 137 Rajasthan Bhilwara 138 Rajasthan Bikaner 139 Rajasthan Ganganagar 140 Rajasthan Hanumangarh 141 Rajasthan Jaipur 142 Rajasthan Jodhpur 143 Rajasthan Kota 144 [******] 42 145 Tamil Nadu Ariyalur 146 Tamil Nadu Chengalpattu 147 Tamil Nadu Chennai 148 Tamil Nadu Coimbatore 149 Tamil Nadu Cuddalore 150 Tamil Nadu Dharmapuri 151 Tamil Nadu Dindigul 152 Tamil Nadu Erode 153 Tamil Nadu Kallakurichi 154 Tamil Nadu Kanyakumari 155 Tamil Nadu Karur 156 Tamil Nadu Krishnagiri 157 Tamil Nadu Madurai 158 Tamil Nadu Mayiladuthurai 159 Tamil Nadu Namakkal 160 Tamil Nadu Nilgiris 161 Tamil Nadu Perambalur 162 Tamil Nadu Pudukkottai 163 Tamil Nadu Ramanathapuram 164 Tamil Nadu Ranipet 165 Tamil Nadu Salem 166 Tamil Nadu Sivaganga 167 Tamil Nadu Tenkasi 168 Tamil Nadu Thanjavur 169 Tamil Nadu Theni 170 Tamil Nadu Thiruvallur 171 Tamil Nadu Thiruvarur 172 Tamil Nadu Tiruchirapalli 173 Tamil Nadu Tirunelvali 174 Tamil Nadu Tiruppur 175 Tamil Nadu Tiruvannamalai 176 Tamil Nadu Toothukudi 177 Tamil Nadu Virudhunagar 178 Telangana Hanumakonda 179 Telangana Hyderabad 180 Telangana Jangaon 181 Telangana Medchal-Malkajgiri 182 Telangana Rangareddi 183 Telangana Sangareddy 184 Telangana Suryapet 185 Uttar Pradesh Agra 186 Uttar Pradesh Gautam Buddha Nagar 187 Uttar Pradesh Ghaziabad 188 Uttar Pradesh Kanpur Nagar 189 Uttar Pradesh Lucknow 190 Uttar Pradesh Meerut 191 Uttarakhand Dehra Dun 192 Uttarakhand Haridwar 193 Uttarakhand Nainital 194 Uttarakhand Udham Singh Nagar 195 West Bengal Alipurduar 196 West Bengal Darjiling 197 West Bengal Kalimpong 198 West Bengal Kolkata Annex – I B List of Districts with comparatively low PSL credit Sl. No State District name 1 Andaman & Nicobar Islands Nicobar 2 Andhra Pradesh Alluri Sitharama Raju 3 Arunachal Pradesh Anjaw 4 Arunachal Pradesh Chunglang 5 Arunachal Pradesh East Kameng 6 Arunachal Pradesh East Siang 7 Arunachal Pradesh Kamle 8 Arunachal Pradesh Kra Daadi 9 Arunachal Pradesh Kurung Kumey 10 Arunachal Pradesh Leparada 11 Arunachal Pradesh Lohit 12 Arunachal Pradesh Longding 13 Arunachal Pradesh Lower Dibang Valley 14 Arunachal Pradesh Lower Siang 15 Arunachal Pradesh Lower Subansiri 16 Arunachal Pradesh Namsai 17 Arunachal Pradesh Pakke Kessang 18 Arunachal Pradesh Shi-Yomi 19 Arunachal Pradesh Siang 20 Arunachal Pradesh Tawang 21 Arunachal Pradesh Tirap 22 Arunachal Pradesh Upper Siang 23 Arunachal Pradesh Upper Subansiri 24 Arunachal Pradesh West Siang 25 Assam Bajali 26 Assam Baksa 27 Assam Charaideo 28 Assam Chirang 29 Assam Dhemaji 30 Assam Dhubri 31 Assam Dima Hasao 32 Assam Goalpara 33 Assam Hailakandi 34 Assam Hojai 35 Assam Karbi Anglong 36 Assam Karimganj 37 Assam Kokrajhar 38 Assam Majuli 39 Assam Morigaon 40 Assam Nagaon 41 Assam South Salmara-Mankachar 42 Assam Udalguri 43 Assam West Karbi Anglong 44 Bihar Arwal 45 Bihar Banka 46 Bihar Bhojpur 47 Bihar Buxar 48 Bihar Gopalganj 49 Bihar Jamui 50 Bihar Jehanabad 51 Bihar Kaimur 52 Bihar Khagaria 53 Bihar Lakhisarai 54 Bihar Madhepura 55 Bihar Madhubani 56 Bihar Munger 57 Bihar Nalanda 58 Bihar Nawada 59 Bihar Paschimi Champaran 60 Bihar Saran 61 Bihar Sheikhpura 62 Bihar Sheohar 63 Bihar Sitamarhi 64 Bihar Siwan 65 Bihar Supaul 66 Chhattisgarh Balrampur 67 Chhattisgarh Dakshin Bastar Dantewada 68 Chhattisgarh Gariyaband 69 Chhattisgarh Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi 70 Chhattisgarh Jashpur 71 Chhattisgarh Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai 72 Chhattisgarh Kondagaon 73 Chhattisgarh Koriya 74 Chhattisgarh Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur 75 Chhattisgarh Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chouki 76 Chhattisgarh Narayanpur 77 Chhattisgarh Sakti 78 Chhattisgarh Sarangarh-Bilaigarh 79 Chhattisgarh Sukma 80 Chhattisgarh Surajpur 81 Chhattisgarh Surguja 82 Gujarat Dangs 83 Haryana Nuh 84 Jharkhand Chatra 85 Jharkhand Dumka 86 Jharkhand Garhwa 87 Jharkhand Godda 88 Jharkhand Gumla 89 Jharkhand Jamtara 90 Jharkhand Khunti 91 Jharkhand Latehar 92 Jharkhand Palamau 93 Jharkhand Sahebganj 94 Jharkhand Simdega 95 Madhya Pradesh Alirajpur 96 Madhya Pradesh Anuppur 97 Madhya Pradesh Bhind 98 Madhya Pradesh Dindori 99 Madhya Pradesh Niwari 100 Madhya Pradesh Panna 101 Madhya Pradesh Sidhi 102 Madhya Pradesh Tikamgarh 103 Madhya Pradesh Umaria 104 Maharashtra Gadchiroli 105 Manipur Bishenpur 106 Manipur Chandel 107 Manipur Churachandpur 108 Manipur Imphal East 109 Manipur Jiribam 110 Manipur Kakching 111 Manipur Kamjong 112 Manipur Kangpokpi 113 Manipur Noney 114 Manipur Pherzawal 115 Manipur Senapati 116 Manipur Tamenglong 117 Manipur Tengnoupal 118 Manipur Thoubal 119 Manipur Ukhrul 120 Meghalaya East Garo Hills 121 Meghalaya East Jaintia Hills 122 Meghalaya Eastern West Khasi Hills 123 Meghalaya North Garo Hills 124 Meghalaya South Garo Hills 125 Meghalaya South West Garo Hills 126 Meghalaya South West Khasi Hills 127 Meghalaya West Garo Hills 128 Meghalaya West Jaintia Hills 129 Meghalaya West Khasi Hills 130 Mizoram Champhai 131 Mizoram Hnahthial 132 Mizoram Kolasib 133 Mizoram Lawngtlai 134 Mizoram Lunglei 135 Mizoram Mamit 136 Mizoram Saitual 137 Mizoram Serchhip 138 Mizoram Siaha 139 Nagaland Chumoukedima 140 Nagaland Kiphire 141 Nagaland Longleng 142 Nagaland Mokokchung 143 Nagaland Mon 144 Nagaland Niuland 145 Nagaland Noklak 146 Nagaland Peren 147 Nagaland Phek 148 Nagaland Shamator 149 Nagaland Tseminyu 150 Nagaland Tuensang 151 Nagaland Wokha 152 Nagaland Zunheboto 153 NCT of Delhi North-East Delhi 154 Odisha Malkangiri 155 Odisha Nawrangpur 156 Rajasthan Deeg 157 [*****] 43 158 [*****] 43 159 Rajasthan Salumber 160 [*****] 43 161 Sikkim Gyalshing 162 Sikkim Soreng 163 Telangana Adilabad 164 Tripura Dhalai 165 Tripura Gomati 166 Tripura Khowai 167 Tripura North Tripura 168 Tripura Sepahijala 169 Uttar Pradesh Amroha 170 Uttar Pradesh Azamgarh 171 Uttar Pradesh Ballia 172 Uttar Pradesh Balrampur 173 Uttar Pradesh Banda 174 Uttar Pradesh Basti 175 Uttar Pradesh Chitrakoot 176 Uttar Pradesh Farrukhabad 177 Uttar Pradesh Gonda 178 Uttar Pradesh Jaunpur 179 Uttar Pradesh Kanpur Dehat 180 Uttar Pradesh Kaushambi 181 Uttar Pradesh Kushi Nagar 182 Uttar Pradesh Maharajganj 183 Uttar Pradesh Mau 184 Uttar Pradesh Sant Kabir Nagar 185 Uttar Pradesh Shravasti 186 Uttar Pradesh Sidharthanagar 187 Uttar Pradesh Sitapur 188 Uttar Pradesh Sultanpur 189 Uttar Pradesh Unnao 190 Uttarakhand Bageshwar 191 Uttarakhand Chamoli 192 Uttarakhand Pithoragarh 193 Uttarakhand Rudraprayag 194 Uttarakhand Tehri Garhwal 195 West Bengal Jhargram 196 West Bengal Puruliya Annex – II Indicative list of eligible activities under Agriculture Infrastructure and Ancillary activities 1) Agriculture infrastructure i) Loans for construction of storage facilities (warehouse, market yards, godowns and silos) including cold storage units/cold storage chains designed to store agriculture produce/products, irrespective of their location ii) Loans for soil conservation and watershed development iii) Loans for plant tissue culture and agri-biotechnology, seed production, production of bio-pesticides, bio-fertilizer, and vermi composting iv) Loans for construction of oil extraction/processing units for production of bio-fuels, their storage and distribution infrastructure along with loans to entrepreneurs for setting up Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) plants 2) Ancillary activities (i) Loans for setting up of Agri-clinics and Agri-business centres (ii) Loans to Custom Service Units managed by individuals, institutions or organizations who maintain a fleet of tractors, bulldozers, well-boring equipment, threshers, combines, etc., and undertake farm work for farmers on contract basis (iii) Loans to Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), Farmers’ Service Societies (FSS) and Large-sized Adivasi Multi-Purpose Societies (LAMPS) for on-lending to agriculture (iv) Loans sanctioned by banks to MFIs for on-lending to agriculture sector as per the conditions specified in paragraph 22 of these Master Directions (v) Loans sanctioned by banks to registered NBFCs (other than MFIs) as per conditions specified in paragraph 23 of these Master Directions Annex - III Indicative list of Permissible Activities under Food Processing Sector as shared by Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) Cleaning, Air Cooling (Field Heat Removal), Sorting, Grading/Sizing, Packaging, Warehousing, Distribution of Fruits & Vegetables etc. Transportation including in refrigerated van/Cold Chain infrastructure system Packaging and storage including techniques like Silo, Hermetic storage; pest management. Storage at low temperature/Cold Storage/Modified/Controlled Atmosphere packaging, Refrigeration/Chilling etc. Primary and/or Minimal Processing of F&V: - Blanching (Vegetables), Peeling, Cutting, Storage, Distribution at Low temperature, vacuum packaging etc. Sun Drying and Mechanical Drying: - Solar Drying, Hot air drying, Dehydration, hybrid drying, fluidized bed drying, refractive window drying, drum drying, radio frequency drying, Lyophilisation (Freeze Drying), Vacuum Drying, Spray Drying, De-hydro-freezing etc. Preservation through various methods; both traditional and modern. Frozen Products: Individually Quick Frozen ( 10 F) of Fruit, Vegetables, Meat, Fish, Sea Foods etc. Milk and Milk products processing, including their transportation, packaging and storage. Canning of Fruit, Vegetables including Mushrooms, Meat, Fish, crustaceans, molluscs, other Sea Foods etc. Milling Grains, Legumes & Pulses, Preparation of their by-products such as Bran Oil, Cattle Feed/Poultry feed etc. Processing of F&V into different products such as juices, concentrates, sauces, jam, jellies, marmalades, Chips, Flakes, Powders etc. Processing of Grains & Pulses, Fish, Meat, Poultry, Sea Foods, Egg etc. into their different products including extruded, popped, puffed and flaked products and their packaging and storage including fumigation, Smoking etc. Oil seed Extraction- Rendering, Pressing, Hydrogenation, Refining with Extraction, Filling/packaging etc. Spices, Seasoning and Condiments - Grinding, Crushing, Milling, Sieving, Mixing, Blending, Roasting, Packaging, Storage, Distribution. Production of fermented Products and Alcoholic- Wines, Vinegar, Milk products, Prebiotics, Probiotics etc. Production of beverages - Juices, RTS, Nectar, Squash, Cordial, Syrups/Sherbets, Soups, Carbonated Beverages etc. Production of Cocoa, Coffee, Chicory and Tea Products; including Cocoa Butter, Cocoa Powder, Chocolates, wafers etc. Production of Bakery and Confectionary Products - Biscuits, Bread, Cakes, Cookies, Toffee etc. Production of Jaggery, Sugar, Khandasari etc from Sugarcane, Beet, Palm etc. Production of apiary products (honey processing; both natural and artificial honey). Production of Starch and Starch Products - Sago, Tapioca, Corn, Noodles, Macroni, Vermicelli etc, Slaughtering of animals/ruminants/birds etc. and their processing. Nuts Processing; coconut-based product processing such as water, nuts etc. Processing of other products such as Instant Mixes, Ready to Eat (RTE) retort-based products, ready to cook and Beverages etc. Nutraceutical products/functional foods/fortified food/enriched food preparation. Production of Organic food products. Processing of algal and fungal products (eg Spirulina, Mushrooms etc), including packaging and enhancement of shelf life. Processing plantation crops, packaging, storage and enhancement of shelf life. Production of food grade packaging material such as laminates, tetra packs, bottles, tin containers etc. Annex – IIIA Priority Sector Lending Certificates - Scheme i) Purpose: To enable banks to achieve the priority sector lending target and sub-targets by purchase of these instruments in the event of shortfall and at the same time incentivize the surplus banks; thereby enhancing lending to the categories under priority sector. ii) Nature of the Instruments: The seller will be selling fulfilment of priority sector obligation and the buyer would be buying the same. There will be no transfer of risks or loan assets. iii) Modalities: The PSLCs will be traded through the CBS portal (e-Kuber) of RBI. The detailed operational instructions for carrying out the trades are available through the e-Kuber portal. iv) Sellers/Buyers: Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs), Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Local Area Banks (LABs), Small Finance Banks (SFBs) and Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs) who have originated PSL eligible category loans subject to such regulations as may be issued by the Bank. v) Types of PSLCs: There would be four kinds of PSLCs :– i) PSLC Agriculture: Counting for achievement towards the total agriculture lending target. ii) PSLC SF/MF: Counting for achievement towards the sub-target for lending to Small and Marginal Farmers. iii) PSLC Micro Enterprises: Counting for achievement towards the sub target for lending to Micro Enterprises. iv) PSLC General: Counting for achievement towards the overall priority sector target. As stated in the Master Directions - Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) Directions, 2025, Priority Sector comprises several categories, including Agriculture and Micro Enterprises. In addition to the overall target and sectoral targets for lending to agriculture and micro enterprises, banks are required to achieve specified sub-target for lending to Small and Marginal Farmers. Accordingly, to avoid computational issues in assessing the achievement/shortfall of PSL targets, it is advised that the above four types of certificates will represent specific loans and count for specific sub-targets/targets as indicated hereunder: S. No. Type of PSLCs Representing Counting for 1. PSLC - Agriculture All eligible Agriculture loans except loans to SF/MF for which separate certificates are available Achievement of agriculture target and overall PSL target 2. PSLC - SF/MF All eligible loans to small/marginal farmers Achievement of SF/MF sub-target, Weaker Sections sub-target, NCF sub-target, agriculture target and overall PSL target 3. PSLC - Micro Enterprises All PSL Loans to Micro Enterprises Achievement of micro-enterprise sub-target and overall PSL target 4. PSLC - General The residual priority sector loans i.e. other than loans to agriculture and micro enterprises for which separate certificates are available Achievement of overall PSL target Thus, a bank having shortfall in achievement of any sub-target (e.g. SF/MF, Micro), will have to buy the specific PSLC to achieve the target. However, if a bank is having shortfall in achievement of the overall target only, as applicable to it, may buy any of the available PSLCs. vi) Computation of PSL achievement: A bank’s PSL achievement would be computed as the sum of outstanding priority sector loans, and the net nominal value of the PSLCs issued and purchased. Such computation will be done separately where sub targets are prescribed as on the reporting date. vii) Amount eligible for issue: Normally PSLCs will be issued against the underlying assets. However, with the objective of developing a strong and vibrant market for PSLCs, a bank is permitted to issue PSLCs upto 50 percent of previous year’s PSL achievement without having the underlying in its books. However, as on the reporting date, the bank must have met the priority sector target by way of the sum of outstanding priority sector lending portfolio and net of PSLCs issued and purchased. To the extent of shortfall in the achievement of target, banks may be required to invest in RIDF/other funds as hitherto. viii) Credit Risk: There will be no transfer of credit risk on the underlying as there is no transfer of tangible assets or cash flow. ix) Expiry date: All PSLCs will expire by March 31st and will not be valid beyond the reporting date (March 31st), irrespective of the date it was first sold. x) Settlement: The settlement of funds will be done through the platform as explained in the e-Kuber portal. xi) Value and Fee: The nominal value of PSLC would represent the equivalent of the PSL that would get deducted from the PSL portfolio of the seller and added to the PSL portfolio of the buyer. The buyer would pay a fee to the seller which will be market determined. xii) Lot Size: The PSLCs would have a standard lot size of ₹25 lakh and multiples thereof. xiii) Accounting: The fee paid for purchase of the PSLC would be treated as an ‘Expense’ and the fee received for the sale of PSLCs would be treated as ‘Miscellaneous Income’. xiv) Disclosures: Both seller and buyer shall report the amount of PSLCs (category-wise) sold and purchased during the year in the ‘Disclosures to the Balance Sheet’. Illustration: 1. Bank A may sell PSLCs with a nominal value of ₹100 crores to Bank B on July 15, 2025. Bank B will reckon ₹100 crore towards its priority sector achievement as on the reporting dates of September 30, 2025, December 31, 2025 & March 31, 2026, while Bank A will subtract the same from its achievement figures for the respective reporting dates. The PSLC will expire by March 31, 2026. 2. Bank C may buy ₹100 crore PSLC on March 30, 2026 from Bank D. Bank D will subtract ₹100 crore from its PSL reporting on March 31, 2026 while Bank C will reckon the same towards its achievement. The PSLC will expire by March 31, 2026. Annex- IV COVID-19 measures - PSL treatment To mitigate the financial impact of COVID-19 related disruptions, RBI had taken several policy measures to ease the flow of credit to needy segments. Priority sector classification shall be available to outstanding credit extended under the measures specified below: In terms of press release: 2021-2022/177 dated May 7, 2021 , an on-tap liquidity window of ₹50,000 crore with tenors of up to three years at the repo rate till March 31, 2022 was opened to boost provision of immediate liquidity for ramping up COVID-related healthcare infrastructure and services in the country. Banks were expected to create a COVID loan book under the scheme. Banks were advised to deliver these loans to borrowers directly or through intermediary financial entities regulated by the RBI. These loans will continue to be classified as priority sector lending till repayment or maturity, whichever is earlier. Banks which deployed their own resources without availing funds from the RBI under the scheme for lending to the specified segments mentioned above, are also eligible for the incentives stipulated as above. In terms of press release: 2021-2022/323 dated June 4, 2021 , a separate liquidity window of ₹15,000 crore with tenors of up to three years at the repo rate till March 31, 2022 was opened for certain contact-intensive sectors i.e., hotels and restaurants; tourism - travel agents, tour operators and adventure/heritage facilities; aviation ancillary services - ground handling and supply chain; and other services that include private bus operators, car repair services, rent-a-car service providers, event/conference organisers, spa clinics, and beauty parlours/saloons. Banks were expected to create a separate COVID loan book under the scheme. Banks desirous of deploying their own resources without availing funds from the RBI under the scheme for lending to the specified segments mentioned above, were also eligible for this incentive. Annex - V Priority Sector achievement - Calculation of shortfall/excess Illustration: Tables No.1 and 2 below illustrate the method followed for computation of shortfall/excess in priority sector target achievement at the end of the financial year under the revised PSL guidelines. (Table 1) Amount in ₹ crore Quarter ended PSL targets (A) Priority Sector Amount Outstanding (B) Adjustments for weightage on incremental credit to identified districts as per para 8 of MD (C) Shortfall/ Excess (B)+(C)-(A) June 329615 316938 1625 -11052 September 308826 311945 -810 2309 December 317694 319291 -819 778 March 324560 321347 2925 -288 Total 1280695 1269521 2921 -8253 Average 320174 317380 730 -2063 (Table 2) Amount in ₹ crore Quarter ended PSL targets (A) Priority Sector Amount Outstanding (B) Adjustments for weightage on incremental credit to identified districts as per para 8 of MD (C) Shortfall/ Excess (B)+(C)-(A) June 329615 327967 1500 -148 September 308826 312378 -729 2823 December 317694 327225 975 10506 March 324560 321315 -765 -4010 Total 1280695 1288885 981 9171 Average 320174 322221 245 2293 In the example given in Table - 1 , the bank has overall shortfall of ₹2063 crore at the end of the financial year. In Table – 2 , the bank has overall excess of ₹2293 crore at the end of the financial year. The adjustments due to weightage on incremental credit in identified districts as per para 8, will be as per the data submitted by banks in the Automated Data Extraction Project (ADEPT). The same method will be followed for calculating the achievement of quarterly and yearly priority sector sub-targets. Note: 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 at the corresponding date of the preceding year. Appendix List of Circulars Consolidated Sr. # Circular No. Date Subject 1 FIDD.CO.PSD.BC.No.11 /04.09.001/2025-26 January 19, 2026 Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending) (Amendment) Directions, 2025 2 FIDD.CO.PSD.BC.No.12/04.09.001/2024-25 March 24, 2025 Priority Sector Lending Certificates 3 DOR.CRE.REC. 69/07.10.002/2024-25 March 24, 2025 Review of Priority Sector Lending (PSL) Target – Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs) 4 FIDD.CO.PSD.BC.No.7 /04.09.01/2024-25 June 21, 2024 Priority Sector Lending – Amendments to the Master Directions 5 DOR.CRE.REC.18/07.10.002/2023-24 June 8, 2023 Priority Sector Lending (PSL) targets/sub-targets and contribution against shortfall in achievement of PSL targets – Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs) - Extension of time 6 CO.FIDD.PCD.No.S725/ 04.09.001/2022-23 August 11, 2022 Priority Sector Lending (PSL)-Target for Non-Corporate Farmers FY2022-23 7 FIDD.CO.Plan.BC.No.5/04.09.001/2022-23 May 13, 2022 Lending by Commercial Banks to NBFCs and Small Finance Banks (SFBs) to NBFC-MFIs, for the purpose of on-lending to priority sectors 8 FIDD.CO.Plan.BC.No.15/04.09.01/2021-22 October 8, 2021 Priority Sector Lending- Banks’ lending to NBFCs for on-lending – Extension of facility 9 CO.FIDD.PCD.No.S414/04-09-001/2021-22 August 17, 2021 Priority Sector Lending (PSL) - Target for Non-Corporate Farmers FY2021-22 10 FIDD.CO.Plan.BC.No.10/04.09.01/2021-22 May 5, 2021 Priority Sector Lending (PSL) - On-lending by Small Finance Banks (SFBs) to NBFC-MFIs 11 FIDD.CO.Plan.BC.No.7/04.09.01/2021-22 April 7, 2021 Priority Sector Lending (PSL) – Increase in limits for bank lending against Negotiable Warehouse Receipts (NWRs) / electronic Negotiable Warehouse Receipts (eNWRs) 12 FIDD.CO.Plan.BC.No.8/04.09.01/2021-22 April 7, 2021 Priority Sector Lending (PSL) - Lending by banks to NBFCs for On-Lending 13 CO.FIDD.PCD.No.S7850/04-09-001 February 16, 2021 Priority Sector Lending (PSL) – Interest Cap on Investment by Banks in Securitised Assets/Direct Assignment 14 CO.FIDD.PCD.No.S7519/04-09-001/2020-21 February 15, 2021 Regional Rural Banks- Issue of Inter-Bank Participation Certificates 15 FIDD.CO.Plan.BC.No.8/04.09.01/2020-21 November 5, 2020 Co-Lending by Banks and NBFCs to Priority Sector 16 DOR (PCB).BPD.Cir.No.12/09.09.002/2019-20 April 24, 2020 Non-achievement of Priority Sector Lending Targets by Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs) - Contribution to the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) and other funds 17 FIDD.CO.Plan.BC.No.19/04.09.01/2019-20 March 23, 2020 Priority Sector Lending - Lending by banks to NBFCs for On-Lending 18 FIDD.CO.Plan.BC.12/04.09.01/2019-20 September 20, 2019 Priority Sector Lending (PSL)-Classification of Exports under Priority Sector 19 FIDD.CO.Plan.BC.No.11/04.09.01/2019-20 September 19,2019 Priority Sector Targets- Lending to Non-Corporate Farmers-FY 2019-20 20 FIDD.CO.Plan.BC 7/04.09.01/2019-20 August 13, 2019 Priority Sector Lending – Lending by banks to NBFCs for On-Lending 21 Master Directions FIDD.CO.Plan.BC No.08/04.09.01/2019-20 July 29, 2019 (Updated as on March 12, 2020) Master Directions – Priority Sector Lending – Small Finance Banks – Targets and Classification 22 FIDD.CO.Plan.BC.18 /04.09.01/2018-19 May 06, 2019 Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification 23 Letter to Indian Banks’ Association No. FIDD.CO.Plan.772/04.09.001/2018-19 October 4, 2018 Exemption of Special GOI Securities issued to Public Sector Banks from Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANBC) 24 FIDD.CO.Plan.BC. 08/04.09.01/2018-19 September 21, 2018 Co-origination of loans by Banks and NBFCs for lending to priority sector 25 FIDD.CO.Plan.BC.07/04.09.01/2018-19 July,12, 2018 Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification: Lending to non-corporate farmers – System wide average of last three years 26 FIDD.CO.Plan.BC.22/04.09.01/2017-18 June 19, 2018 Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification 27 DCBR.BPD (PCB).Cir.No.07/09.09.002/2017-18 May 10, 2018 Revised guidelines on lending to Priority Sector for Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs) 28 FIDD.CO.Plan.BC.18/04.09.01/2017-18 March 1, 2018 Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification 29 FIDD.CO.Plan.BC.16/04.09.01/2017-18 September 21, 2017 Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification: Lending to non-corporate farmers – System wide average of last three years 30 FIDD.CO.SFB.No.9/04.09.001/2017-18 July 6, 2017 Small Finance Banks – Compendium of Guidelines on Financial Inclusion and Development 31 FIDD.CO.Plan.BC.No.17/04.09.001/2016-17 October 6, 2016 Priority Sector Lending – Revised Reporting System 32 DBR.NBD.No.26/16.13.218/2016-17 October 6, 2016 Operating Guidelines for Small Finance Banks 33 Master Directions DNBR PD.007 and 008/03.10.119/2016-17 September 1, 2016 (updated as on February 17, 2020) Master Directions 2016-NBFC-Non-SI-Non-deposit taking and SI-Non-Deposit and Deposit taking Company, respectively 34 FIDD.CO.Plan.BC.No.14/04.09.001/2016-17 September 1, 2016 Priority Sector Lending-Targets and Classifications: Lending to Non-corporate Farmers – System Wide Average of last three years 35 FIDD.CO.Plan.BC.No.10/04.09.001/2016-17 August 11, 2016 Priority Sector Lending Status for Factoring Transactions 36 FIDD.CO.Plan.BC.No.8/04.09.001/2016-17 July 28, 2016 PSL-Targets and Classification – Bank loans to MFIs for on-lending- Qualifying asset – Revised loan limit 37 Master Directions FIDD.CO.Plan.2/04.09.01/2016-17 July 07, 2016 (Updated as on June 18, 2019) Master Directions - Regional Rural Banks - Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification 38 FIDD.CO.Plan.BC.23/04.09.01/2015-16 April 7, 2016 Priority Sector Lending Certificates 39 DBOD Mailbox clarification March 28, 2016 Bank loans to proprietorship under Priority Sector 40 DBOD Mailbox clarification March 17, 2016 Eligibility of IBPC as Priority Sector Asset 41 FIDD.CO.Plan.BC.No.14/04.09.01/2015-16 December 03, 2015 Regional Rural Banks - Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification 42 DBOD Mailbox clarification November 27, 2015 Bank loans to SHGs/ JLGs- Processing Charges 43 FIDD.CO.Plan.BC.13/04.09.01/2015-16 November 18, 2015 Priority Sector Lending-Targets and Classification 44 DBOD Mailbox clarification September 7, 2015 Calculation of shortfall/ excess 45 DBOD Mailbox clarification August 14, 2015 Social Infrastructure and Bank loans to MFIs for on-lending - Social Infrastructure 46 FIDD.CO.Plan.BC.08/04.09.01/2015-16 July 16, 2015 Priority Sector Lending –Targets and Classification 47 DBOD Mailbox clarification June 26, 2015 Outstanding deposits with MUDRA Ltd. On account of priority sector shortfall 48 DBOD Mailbox clarification June 12, 2015 Loans to Minority Communities 49 DBOD Mailbox clarification June 11, 2015 Loans to Custom Service Units 50 FIDD.CO.Plan.BC.54/04.09.01/2014-15 April 23, 2015 Priority Sector Lending-Targets and Classification 51 DCBR.BPD.(PCB) Cir.No. 7/14.01.062/2014-15 March 19, 2015 Priority Sector Lending – Persons with Disabilities (PwD) – Inclusion under Weaker Sections 52 DCBR.BPD.(PCB) Cir.No. 5/14.01.062/2014-15 February 18, 2015 Credit Facilities to Minority Community – Inclusion of Jain Community under Section 2© of National Commission of Minorities (NCM) Act, 1982 53 UBD.BPD.(PCB).Cir.No.72/13.01.000//2013-14 June 11, 2014 Section 42(1) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 and Section 18 & 24 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (AACS)- FCNR (B)/NRE deposits – Exemption from Maintenance of CRR/SLR and Exclusion from ABC for Priority Sector Lending 54 UBD.CO.BPD.(PCB).Cir.No.13/09.22.010/2013-14 September 10, 2013 Finance for Housing Schemes - Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks - Loans for Repairs / Additions / Alterations - Enhancement of Limits 55 UBD.BPD.(PCB).CIR.No.5/13.01.000/2013-14 August 27, 2013 Section 42(1) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 and Section 18 and 24 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (AACS) - FCNR (B) / NRE Deposits - Exemption from Maintenance of CRR / SLR and Exclusion from ABC for Priority Sector Lending 56 UBD.BPD.(PCB).CIR.No.33/09.09.001/2011-12 May 18, 2012 Priority Sector Lending -Indirect Finance to Housing Sector. 57 UBD.BPD.(PCB)CIR.No.50/13.05.000(B)/2010-11 June 2, 2011 Financing of Self Help Groups (SHGs) and Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) by Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs) 58 UBD.CO.BPD.No.70/09.09.001/2009-10 June 15, 2010 Advances to MSEs engaged in exports and export credit to agriculture / allied activities 59 UBD.BPD(PCB).Cir.No.50/09.09.01/2009-10 March 25, 2010 Categorisation of activities under Services 60 UBD.PCB.Cir.No.26/09.09.001/07-08 November 30, 2007 Priority Sector lending-Revision of target - UCBs 61 UBD.PCB.Cir.No.11/09.09.01/07-08 August 30, 2007 Revised Guidelines on Lending to Priority Sector for UCBs 62 UBD.PCB.Cir.No.11(126A)/09.09.001/2007-08 August 30, 2007 Priority Sector Advances - List of minority Concentrated Districts 1 As defined in para 9.4 of this MD 2 Substituted vide Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) (Amendment) Directions, 2026 dated January 19, 2026 3 The incremental advances extended out of the resources generated from the eligible incremental FCNR(B)/NRE deposits is calculated as the difference between outstanding advances in India as on March 7, 2014 (June 13, 2014, in case of UCBs) and the Base Date (July 26, 2013). The amount to be excluded from ANBC for computation of priority sector targets will not exceed incremental FCNR (B) / NRE deposits eligible for exemption from maintenance of CRR / SLR in terms of the circulars mentioned above. In case, the difference in the amount outstanding is zero or negative, no amount would be eligible for deduction from ANBC for the purpose of arriving at the priority sector lending targets. [Inserted vide Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) (Amendment) Directions, 2026 dated January 19, 2026 ] 4 Substituted vide Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) (Amendment) Directions, 2026 dated January 19, 2026 5 Substituted vide Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) (Amendment) Directions, 2026 dated January 19, 2026 6 (i) Contingent liabilities/off-balance sheet items do not form part of priority sector achievement. However, foreign banks with less than 20 branches have an option to reckon the CEOBSE extended to borrowers for eligible priority sector activities for achievement of priority sector target, subject to the condition that the CEOBSE (both priority sector and non-priority sector excluding interbank exposure) shall be added to the ANBC in the denominator for computation of PSL targets. (ii) Off-balance sheet interbank exposures are excluded for computing CEOBSE for the priority sector targets. 7 Substituted vide Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) (Amendment) Directions, 2026 dated January 19, 2026 8 As defined by Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt. of India 9 Deleted vide Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) (Amendment) Directions, 2026 dated January 19, 2026 10 As defined by Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt. of India 11 Deleted vide Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) (Amendment) Directions, 2026 dated January 19, 2026 12 Substituted vide Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) (Amendment) Directions, 2026 dated January 19, 2026 13 Inserted vide Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) (Amendment) Directions, 2026 dated January 19, 2026 14 Inserted vide Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) (Amendment) Directions, 2026 dated January 19, 2026 15 Substituted vide Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) (Amendment) Directions, 2026 dated January 19, 2026 16 Inserted vide Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) (Amendment) Directions, 2026 dated January 19, 2026 17 Substituted vide Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) (Amendment) Directions, 2026 dated January 19, 2026 18 As per definition of Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt. of India 19 Deleted vide Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) (Amendment) Directions, 2026 dated January 19, 2026 20 Substituted vide Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) (Amendment) Directions, 2026 dated January 19, 2026 21 Substituted vide Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) (Amendment) Directions, 2026 dated January 19, 2026 22 Inserted vide Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) (Amendment) Directions, 2026 dated January 19, 2026 23 Inserted vide Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) (Amendment) Directions, 2026 dated January 19, 2026 24 Substituted vide Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) (Amendment) Directions, 2026 dated January 19, 2026 25 Inserted vide Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) (Amendment) Directions, 2026 dated January 19, 2026 26 Substituted vide Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) (Amendment) Directions, 2026 dated January 19, 2026 27 Inserted vide Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) (Amendment) Directions, 2026 dated January 19, 2026 28 Substituted vide Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) (Amendment) Directions, 2026 dated January 19, 2026 29 Substituted vide Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) (Amendment) Directions, 2026 dated January 19, 2026 30 Substituted vide Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) (Amendment) Directions, 2026 dated January 19, 2026 31 With effect from May 5, 2021 32 Inserted vide Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) (Amendment) Directions, 2026 dated January 19, 2026 33 Inserted vide Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) (Amendment) Directions, 2026 dated January 19, 2026 34 Inserted vide Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) (Amendment) Directions, 2026 dated January 19, 2026 35 Comptroller and Auditor General of India 36 Inserted vide Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) (Amendment) Directions, 2026 dated January 19, 2026 37 Inserted vide Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) (Amendment) Directions, 2026 dated January 19, 2026 38 Substituted vide Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) (Amendment) Directions, 2026 dated January 19, 2026 39 Formats updated vide Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) (Amendment) Directions, 2026 dated January 19, 2026 40 Substituted vide Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) (Amendment) Directions, 2026 dated January 19, 2026 41 Inserted vide Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) (Amendment) Directions, 2026 dated January 19, 2026 42 Deleted vide Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) (Amendment) Directions, 2026 dated January 19, 2026 43 Deleted vide Reserve Bank of India (Priority Sector Lending – Targets and Classification) (Amendment) Directions, 2026 dated January 19, 2026