TITLE: India's Reserve Bank Amends Non-Banking Financial Company Registration and Exemption Framework
BODY:
On April 29, 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued amendment directions to the Reserve Bank of India (Non-Banking Financial Companies – Registration, Exemptions and Framework for Scale Based Regulation) Directions, 2025. The amendments introduce a new regulatory classification system for non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) and establish exemption provisions for specific NBFC categories.
The amendments create two NBFC classifications: Type I NBFCs, defined as NBFCs not availing public funds and not having customer interface, and Type II NBFCs, which are all other registered NBFCs. NBFCs not availing public funds and not having customer interface with asset sizes below ₹1,000 crore are exempted from registration requirements under sections 45IA and 45IC of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, provided they meet specified conditions. These conditions include operating without public funds and customer interface as a conscious long-term business model, passing annual board resolutions confirming this commitment, and disclosing their status as "Unregistered Type I NBFC" in financial statement notes.
Existing NBFCs meeting exemption criteria may apply for deregistration within six months, by December 31, 2026, through the PRAVAAH portal. Applications must include audited financials for three years, statutory auditor certificates, board resolutions, and undertakings regarding disclosure obligations. NBFCs with asset sizes of ₹1,000 crore or above must apply for Type I NBFC registration. The amendments also clarify that exemptions apply only to sections 45IA and 45IC; exempted NBFCs remain subject to other provisions of Chapter IIIB of the RBI Act and remain subject to RBI supervisory action. Corresponding amendments have been made to thirteen related NBFC directions covering prudential norms, credit facilities, risk management, and financial statement presentation.
The amendment directions come into force on July 1, 2026.