Reserve Bank of India – Bulletin Weekly Statistical Supplement – Extract
Distilled Policy Brief
- The Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025 has officially redefined the reporting fortnight for scheduled commercial banks from alternate Fridays to the 15th and last calendar day of a month, effective December 15, 2025.
- India's Foreign Currency Assets computation explicitly excludes SDR holdings of the Reserve Bank of India, investments in bonds issued by IIFC (UK), currency swap arrangements under SAARC and Asian Clearing Union (ACU), and RBI's contributions to the Nexus Global Payments system.
- The Reserve Bank of India actively manages banking system liquidity through operations including the Standing Deposit Facility, Marginal Standing Facility, and Variable Rate Reverse Repo to maintain monetary stability.
🎯 Prelims High-Yield Examination Points
The statutory redefinition of a reporting fortnight under the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025, and the specific exclusions from Foreign Currency Assets (FCA) such as SAARC/ACU swaps and Nexus Global Payments funding.
⚖️ Mains Analytical & Syllabus Linkages
The transition of banking reporting periods to calendar-aligned fortnights and its impact on systemic liquidity management, monetary transmission, and data synchronization with global standards.
🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill
Consider the following statements regarding the Indian financial system and reserve management: 1. Under the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025, the reporting fortnight for scheduled commercial banks has been redefined from alternate Fridays to the 15th and last calendar day of a month. 2. The computation of Foreign Currency Assets (FCA) by the Reserve Bank of India explicitly excludes investments in bonds issued by IIFC (UK) and contributions to the Nexus Global Payments system. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- [A] 1 only
- [B] 2 only
- [C] Both 1 and 2
- [D] Neither 1 nor 2
▶ Reveal Official Answer & Analytical Explanation
Both statements are correct. Statement 1 is correct as the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025 officially redefined the reporting fortnight for scheduled commercial banks to the 15th and last calendar day of a month, effective December 15, 2025. Statement 2 is correct because the RBI's Foreign Currency Assets (FCA) computation explicitly excludes investments in IIFC (UK) bonds, contributions to the Nexus Global Payments system, SDR holdings, and amounts lent under SAARC and ACU currency swap arrangements.
🏛️ Historical Twin PYQ Anchor (2021)
Consider the following statements regarding the "National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)": 1. It is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 2. Central Pollution Control Board acts as the sole regulatory executive body.