RBI Raises Banks' Minimum Daily CRR Maintenance from 90% to 99% Effective 16 October 2026

9 October 2026National

The Reserve Bank of India has raised the minimum daily Cash Reserve Ratio maintenance requirement for scheduled banks from 90% to 99% of the prescribed CRR, effective 16 October 2026. The CRR rate itself stays unchanged at 3% of net demand and time liabilities (NDTL). Banks must now park almost their entire reserve requirement with the RBI every single day, instead of averaging it across the fortnightly reporting cycle. The move is aimed at absorbing surplus banking-system liquidity, which stood near Rs 3.88 lakh crore on 8 October 2026, and at making overnight money-market rates track the policy repo rate more closely.

Static GK

CRR is maintained under Section 42(1) of the RBI Act, 1934 and earns no interest for banks | SLR is governed by Section 24 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and can be held in cash, gold or approved securities | The CRR reporting fortnight runs Saturday to the second following Friday

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