TheBadPlaceundefined | RBI proposes asset-based criteria for PSU inclusion in upper layer NBFC
The Reserve Bank of India has put forward a draft amendment to its “Non‑Banking Financial Companies’ Registration, Exemptions and Framework for Scale‑Based Regulation” that would replace the existing methodology for classifying upper‑layer NBFCs with a simple asset‑size threshold. Under the proposal, any NBFC with assets of **Rs 1 lakh crore or more** would be placed in the upper‑layer (NBFC‑UL) category, and the draft also calls for the inclusion of government‑owned NBFCs that meet this criterion. This shift aims to create a more transparent and absolute basis for identification, moving away from the current multi‑parameter approach.
The move comes as the RBI’s ongoing discussions about the listing requirements for Tata Sons intensify. Tata Sons, which falls under the upper‑layer NBFCs, has not listed its shares despite the October 2025 deadline, even though it reported an asset base of **Rs 1.75 lakh crore** as of March 2025. Existing norms obligate the top‑15 NBFC‑UL entities to be listed, and the new framework would maintain that requirement while also bringing government‑owned NBFCs into the same regulatory tier under an ownership‑neutral regime.
In addition to the asset‑size rule, the RBI draft proposes that all NBFC‑UL entities be permitted to use state‑government guarantees as a credit‑risk‑transfer instrument without any preset limit, provided certain conditions are met. Governor Sanjay Malhotra had earlier signaled that a revised regulatory framework for NBFCs was forthcoming, and this amendment reflects that intent, signalling a broader move toward uniform, size‑based oversight and greater flexibility for capital‑raising mechanisms within the sector.
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