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On April 29, 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks – Responsible Business Conduct) Amendment Directions, 2026, exercising powers conferred under sections 21 and 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. The amendment introduces new provisions in Chapter V (Financial Inclusion and Accessibility) establishing protocols for banking services during declared calamities. The new section 121A permits banks to operate calamity-affected branches from temporary premises under advice to the relevant RBI Regional Office. For temporary premises operations exceeding 30 days, banks must obtain specific approval from their respective Regional Office. Banks are also required to establish satellite offices, extension counters, or mobile banking facilities in affected areas under RBI intimation. Section 121B mandates immediate action for restoring automated teller machine (ATM) services and requires banks to provide alternative arrangements addressing immediate cash requirements in affected areas. Section 121C allows banks to open small accounts—as stipulated in the Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks – Know Your Customer) Directions, 2025—for persons displaced or adversely affected by calamity who lack access to identification and personal records. Section 121D grants banks discretion to provide relief measures, including waiver or reduction of various fees and charges for customers in calamity-declared areas, for a period not exceeding one year. These amendments apply to all commercial banks operating in India and aim to ensure continuity of banking services and financial inclusion during calamity situations. The amendment directions come into force with effect from July 1, 2026.