Section 42:
Cash reserves of scheduled banks to be kept with the Bank.
1[(1) Every bank included in
the Second Schedule shall maintain with the Bank an average daily balance the amount of which shall not be less than 2[such per cent. of the total of the demand and time liabilities in India of such bank as shown
in the return referred to in sub-section (2), as the Bank may from time to time, having regard to the needs
of securing the monetary stability in the country, notify in the Gazette of India]:
3* * * * *
Explanation.--For the purposes of this section,--
(a) average daily balance shall mean the average of the balances held at the close of business of
each day 4[of a fortnight];
5[(b) fortnight shall mean the period from Saturday to the second following Friday, both days
inclusive;]
6[(c) liabilities shall not include--
(i) the paid-up capital or the reserves or any credit balance in the profit and loss account of
the bank;
(ii) the amount of any loan taken from the Bank 7*** 8[or from the Exim Bank] 9[or from the
Reconstruction Bank] 10[or from the National Housing Bank] or from the 11[National Bank] 12[or
from the Small Industries Bank] 13[or from the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and
Development or from the other development financial institution] 14***;
(iii) in the case of a State co-operative bank, also any loan taken by such bank from a State
Government 15[or from the National Co-operative Development Corporation established under
the National Co-operative Development Corporation Act, 1962 (26 of 1962)] and any deposit of
money with such bank representing the reserve fund or any part thereof 16*** maintained with it
by any co-operative society within its area of operation;]
17[(iv) in the case of a State co-operative bank, which has granted an advance against any
balance maintained with it, such balance to the extent of the amount outstanding in respect of
such advance;]
15[(v) in the case a Regional Rural Bank, also any loan taken by such bank from its Sponsor
Bank;]
15[(d) the aggregate of the liabilities of a Scheduled bank which is not a State co-operative
bank, to,--
(i) the State Bank;
(ii) a subsidiary bank as defined in section 2 of the State Bank of India (Subsidiary Banks)
Act, 1959 (38 of 1959);
(iii) a corresponding new bank constituted by section 3 of the Banking Companies
(Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970 (5 of 1970);
15[(iiia) a corresponding new bank constituted by section 3 of the Banking Companies
(Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1980 (40 of 1980);]
(iv) a banking company as defined in clause (c) section 5 of the Banking Regulation Act,
1949 (10 of 1949);
(v) a co-operative bank; or
(vi) any other financial institution notified by the Central Government in this behalf,
shall be reduced by the aggregate of the liabilities of all such banks and institutions to the scheduled bank;
(e) the aggregate of the liabilities of a scheduled bank which is a State co-operative bank, to,--
(i) the State Bank;
(ii) a subsidiary bank as defined in section 2 of the State Bank of India (Subsidiary Banks)
Act, 1959 (38 of 1959);
(iii) a corresponding new bank constituted by section 3 of the Banking Companies
(Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970 (5 of 1970);
15[(iiia) a corresponding new bank constituted by section 3 of the Banking Companies
(Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1980 (40 of 1980);]
(iv) a banking company as defined in clause (c) of section 5 of the Banking Regulation Act,
1949 (10 of 1949); or
(v) any other financial institution notified by the Central Government in, this behalf,shall be reduced by the aggregate of the liabilities of all such banks and institutions to the State cooperative bank.]
(1A) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the Bank may, by notification in the
Gazette of India, direct that every scheduled bank shall, with effect from such date as may be specified in the notification, maintain with the Bank, in addition to the balance prescribed by or under sub-section (1),
an additional average daily balance the amount of which shall not be less than the 18[rate specified in the
notification, such additional balance being calculated with reference to the excess of the total of the
demand and time liabilities of the bank as shown in the return referred to in sub-section (2) over the total
of its demand and time liabilities] at the close of business on the date specified in the notification as
shown by such return so however, that the additional balance shall, in no case, be more than such excess:
19[Provided that the Bank may, by a separate notification in the Gazette of India, specify different
dates in respect of a Bank subsequently included in the Second Schedule].
20* * * * *
15[1(C) The Bank may, for the purposes of this section, specify from time to time with reference to any
transaction or class of transactions that such transaction or transactions shall be regarded as liability in
India of a scheduled bank, and if any question arises as to whether any transaction or class of transactions
shall be regarded, for the purposes of this section, as liability in India of a scheduled bank, the decision of
the Bank thereon shall be final.]
21[(2) Every scheduled bank shall send to the Bank a return signed by two responsible officers of such
bank showing--
(a) the amount of its demand and time liabilities and the amount of its borrowings from banks in
India, 22[classifying them into demand and time liabilities],
23* * * * *
(b) the total amount of legal tender notes and coins held by it in India,
(c) the balance held by it at the Bank in India,
(d) the balances held by it at other banks in current account and the money at call and short notice
in India,
(e) the investments (at book value) in Central and State Government securities including treasury
bills and treasury deposit receipts,
(f) the amount of advances in India,
(g) the inland bills purchased and discounted in India 24[and foreign bills purchased and
discounted].25[at the close of business on each alternate Friday, and every such return shall be sent not later than seven
days after the date to which it relates]:
26[Provided that the Bank may, by notification in the Gazette of India, delete or modify or add to any
of the particulars specified in the foregoing clauses:
Provided further that] where 27[such alternate] Friday is a public holiday under the Negotiable
Instruments Act, 1881 (26 of 1881), for one or more offices of a scheduled bank the return shall give the
preceding working days figures in respect of such office or offices, but shall nevertheless be deemed to
relate to that Friday:
28[Provided also that where the Bank is satisfied that the furnishing of a fortnightly return under this
sub-section is impracticable in the case of any scheduled bank by reason of the geographical position of
the bank and its branches, the Bank may allow such bank--
(i) to furnish a provisional return for the fortnight within the period aforesaid to be followed by a
final return not later than twenty days after the date to which it relates, or
(ii) to furnish in lieu of a fortnightly return a monthly return to be sent not later than twenty days
after the end of the month to which it relates giving the details specified in this sub-section in respect
of such bank at the close of business for the month.]]
27
[(2A) Where the last Friday of a month is not an alternate Friday for the purpose of sub-section(2),
every scheduled bank shall send to the Bank, a special return giving the details specified in sub-section
(2) as at the close of business on such last Friday or where such last Friday is a public holiday under the
Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (26 of 1881), as at the close of business on the preceding working day
and such return shall be sent not later than seven days after the date to which it relates.]
29[(3) If the average daily balance held at the Bank by a scheduled bank during any 8
[fortnight] is
below the minimum prescribed by or under sub-section (1) or sub-section (1A), such scheduled bank shall
be liable to pay to the Bank in respect of that 30[fortnight] penal interest at a rate of three per cent. above
the bank rate on the amount by which such balance with the Bank falls short of the prescribed minimum,
and if during the next succeeding 30[fortnight], such average daily balance is still below the prescribed
minimum, the rates of penal interest shall be increased to a rate of five per cent, above the bank rate in
respect of that 30[fortnight] and each subsequent 8[fortnight] during which the default continues on the
amount by which such balance at the Bank falls short of the prescribed minimum.]
31[(3A) When under the provisions of sub-section (3) penal interest at the increased rate of five per
cent, above the bank rate has become payable by a scheduled bank, 32[if thereafter the average daily
balance held at the Bank during the next succeeding 33[fortnight] is still below the prescribed minimum,--
(a) every director, manager or secretary of the scheduled bank, who is knowingly and wilfully a
party to the default, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees and with a
further fine which may extend to five hundred rupees for each subsequent 33[fortnight] during which
the default continues, and
(b) the Bank may prohibit the scheduled bank from receiving after the said 33[fortnight] any fresh
deposit,]and, if default is made by the scheduled bank in complying with the prohibition referred to in clause (b),
every director and officer of the scheduled bank who is knowingly and wilfully a party to such default or
who through negligence or otherwise contributes to such default shall in respect of each such default be
punishable with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees and with a further fine which may extend
to five hundred rupees for each day after the first on which a deposit received in contravention of such
prohibition is retained by the scheduled bank.
Explanation.--In this sub-section officer includes a 34*** manager, secretary, branch manager, and
branch secretary.]
(4) Any scheduled bank failing to comply with the provisions of sub-section (2) 35[shall be liable to
pay to the Bank] a penalty of one hundred rupees for each day during which the failure continues.
36[(5) (a) The penalties imposed by sub-sections (3) and (4) shall be payable within a period of
fourteen days from the date on which a notice issued by the Bank demanding the payment of the same is
served on the scheduled bank, and in the event of failure of the scheduled bank to pay the same within
such period, may be levied by a direction of the principal civil court having jurisdiction in the area where
an office of the defaulting bank is situated, such direction to be mode only upon an application made in
this behalf to the court by the Bank;
(b) when the court makes a direction under clause (a), it shall issue a certificate specifying the sum
payable by the scheduled bank and every such certificate shall be enforceable in the same manner as if it
were a decree made by the court in a suit;
(c) notwithstanding anything contained in this section, if the Bank is satisfied that the defaulting bank
and sufficient cause for its failure to comply with the provisions of sub-section (1), (1A) or (2), it may not
demand the payment of the penal interest of the penalty, as the case may be.]
37[(6) The Bank shall, save as hereinafter provided, by notification in the Gazette of India,--
(a) direct the inclusion in the Second Schedule of any bank not already so included which carries
on the business of banking 38[in India] and which--
(i) has a paid-up capital and reserve of an aggregate value of not less than five lakhs or
rupees, and
(ii) satisfies and Bank that its affairs are not being conducted in a manner detrimental to the
interests of its depositors, and
(iii) 39[is a State co-operative bank or a company] as defined 40[section 3of the Companies Act,
1956 (1 of 1956), or an institution notified by the Central Government in this behalf] or a
corporation or a company incorporated by or under any law in force in any place 41[outside India];
(b) direct the exclusion from that Schedule of any scheduled bank,--
(i) the aggregate value of whose paid-up capital and reserves becomes at any time less than
five lakhs of rupees, or
(ii) which is, in the opinion of the Bank after making an inspection under section 35 of the
42[Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (10 of 1949)], conducting its affairs to the detriment of the
interests of its depositors, or
(iii) which goes into liquidation or otherwise ceases to carry on banking business:
Provided that the Bank may, on application of the scheduled bank concerned and subject to
such conditions, if any, as it may impose, defer the making of a direction under sub-clause (i) or
sub-clause (ii) of clause (b) for such period as the Bank consider reasonable to give the scheduled
bank an opportunity of increasing the aggregate value of its paid-up capital and reserves to not
less than five lakhs of rupees or, as the case may be, of removing the defects in the conduct of its
affairs;
(c) alter the description in that Schedule whenever any scheduled bank changes its name.
Explanation.--In this sub-section the expression value means the real or exchangeable value and
not the nominal value which may be shown in the books of the bank concerned; and if any dispute arises
in computing the aggregate value of the paid-up capital and reserves of a bank, a determination thereof by
the Bank shall be final for the purposes of this sub-section.]
43[(6A) In considering whether a State co-operative bank or a regional rural bank should be included in
or excluded from the Second Schedule, it shall be competent for the Bank to act on a certificate from the
National Bank on the question whether or not a State co-operative bank or a regional rural bank, as the
case may be, satisfies the requirements as to paid-up capital and reserves or whether its affairs are not
being conducted in a manner detrimental to the interests of its depositors.]
44[(7) The Bank may, for such period and subject to such conditions as may be specified, grant to any
scheduled bank such exemptions from the provisions of this section as it thinks fit with reference to all or
any of its offices or with reference to the whole or any part of its assets and liabilities.]
Notes:
1. Subs. by Act 38 of 1956, s. 5, for sub-section (1) (w.e.f. (6-10-1956).
2. Subs. by Act 26 of 2006, s. 3, for “three per cent. of the total of the demand and time liabilities in India of such bank as shown in the return referred to in sub-section (2)” (w.e.f. 1-4-2007).
3. The proviso omitted by s. 3, ibid. (w.e.f. 1-4-2007).
4. Subs. by Act 1 of 1984, s. 6, for “of a week” (w.e.f. 29-3-1985).
5. Subs. by s. 6, ibid. for clause (b) (w.e.f. 29-3-1985).
6. Subs. by Act 23 of 1965, s. 6, for clause (c) (w.e.f. 1-3-1966).
7. The words “or from the Development Bank” omitted by Act 53 of 2003, s. 12 and the Schedule (w.e.f. 2-7-2004).
8. Ins. by Act 28 of 1981, s. 40 and the Second Schedule (w.e.f. 1-1-1982).
9. Ins. by Act 62 of 1984, s. 71 and the Third Schedule (w.e.f. 20-3-1985).
10. Ins. by Act 53 of 1987, s. 56 and the Second Schedule (w.e.f. 9-7-1988).
11. Subs. by Act 61 of 1981, s. 61 and the Second Schedule, for “Agricultural Refinance and Development Corporation” (w.e.f. 12-7-1982).
12. Ins. by Act 39 of 1989, s. 53 and the Second Schedule (w.e.f. 7-3-1990).
13. Ins. by Act 17 of 2021, s. 47 and the Second Schedule (w.e.f. 19-4-2021).
14. The words “or from the State Bank or from any other bank notified by the Central Government in this behalf, and” omitted by Act 51 of 1974, s. 11 (w.e.f. 13-12-1974).
15. Ins. by Act 1 of 1984, s. 6 (w.e.f. 29-3-1985).
16. The words “required to be” omitted by Act 51 of 1974, s. 11 (w.e.f. 13-12-1974).
17. Ins. by s. 11, ibid. (w.e.f. 13-12-1974).
18. Subs. by Act 35 of 1962, s. 3, for certain words (w.e.f. 15-9-1962).
19. Added by Act 1 of 1984, s. 6 (w.e.f. 29-3-1985).
20. Sub-sections (1AA) and (1B) omitted by Act 26 of 2006, s. 3 (w.e.f. 1-4-2007).
21. Subs. by Act 32 of 1951, s. 16, for sub-section (2) (w.e.f. 1-11-1951).
22. Subs. by Act 51 of 1974, s. 11, for “other than the State Bank and any other bank notified by the Central Government in this behalf” (w.e.f. 13-12-1974).
23. Clause (aa) omitted by Act 51 of 1974, s. 11 (w.e.f. 13-12-1974). Earlier inserted by Act 54 of 1953, s. 6 (w.e.f. 30-12-1953).
24. Ins. by Act 54 of 1953, s. 6 (w.e.f. 30-12-1953).
25. Subs. by Act 1 of 1984, s. 6, for “at the close of business on each Friday, and every such return shall be sent not later than five days after the date to which it relates” (w.e.f. 29-3-1985).
26. Subs. by Act 51 of 1974, s. 11, for “Provided that” (w.e.f. 13-12-1974).
27. Ins. by Act 1 of 1984, s. 6 (w.e.f. 29-3-1985).
28. Subs. by s. 6, ibid., for the third proviso (w.e.f. 29-3-1985).
29. Subs. by Act 38 of 1956, s. 5, for sub-section (3) (w.e.f. 6-10-1956).
30. Subs. by Act 1 of 1984, s. 6, for “week” (w.e.f. 29-3-1985).
31. Ins. by Act 38 of 1940, s. 2 (w.e.f. 27-22-1940).
32. Subs. by Act 38 of 1956, s. 5, for certain words (w.e.f. 6-10-1956).
33. Subs. by Act 1 of 1984, s. 6, for “week” (w.e.f. 29-3-1985).
34. The words “managing agent” omitted by Act 32 of 1951, s. 16 (w.e.f. 1-11-1951).
35. Subs. by s. 16, ibid., for “shall be liable to pay to the Central Government or to the Bank, as the case may be, or to each,” (w.e.f. 1-11-1951).
36. Subs. by Act 35 of 1962, s. 4, for sub-section (5) (w.e.f. 15-9-1962).
37. Subs. by Act 10 of 1949, s. 55 and the First Schedule, for sub-section (6) (w.e.f. 16-3-1949).
38. Subs. by Act 32 of 1951, s. 16, for “in any State of India” (w.e.f. 1-11-1951).
39. Subs. by Act 23 of 1965, s. 6, for “is a company” (w.e.f. 1-3-1966).
40. Subs. by Act 19 of 1957, s. 4, for “clause (2) of section 2 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (7 of 1913)” (w.e.f. 8-6-1957).
41. Subs. by Act 32 of 1951, s. 16, for “outside the States of India” (w.e.f. 1-11-1951).
42. Subs. by Act 51 of 1974, s. 3, for “Banking Companies Act, 1949” (w.e.f. 13-12-1974).
43. Ins. by Act 61 of 1981, s. 61 and the Second Schedule (w.e.f. 12-7-1982).
44. Ins. by Act 32 of 1951, s. 16 (w.e.f. 1-11-1951).