Skip to main content

Credit rating agencies eligible for risk weighting banks’ claims

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has revised the list of domestic credit rating agencies accredited for the purpose of risk weighting banks' claims for capital adequacy purposes.

What is Credit Rating Agency (CRA)?

A Credit Rating Agency (CRA) is a company that assigns credit ratings for a debtor's ability to pay back debt and the likelihood of default.

What is the list of credit rating agencies eligible for risk weighting banks’ claims?

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has undertaken the detailed process of identifying the eligible credit rating agencies, whose ratings may be used by banks for assigning risk weights for credit risk. Where the facility provided by the bank possesses rating assigned by an eligible credit rating agency, the risk weight of the claim will be based on this rating. 

Banks may use the ratings of the following domestic credit rating agencies for the purposes of risk weighting their claims for capital adequacy purposes –

  1. Acuite Ratings & Research Limited (Acuite)
  2. Brickwork Ratings India Private Limited (BRIPL)
  3. Credit Analysis and Research Limited (CARE) Ratings Limited
  4. CRISIL Ratings Limited
  5. ICRA Limited
  6. India Ratings and Research Private Limited (India Ratings)
  7. INFOMERICS Valuation and Rating Pvt Ltd. (INFOMERICS)

Banks may use the ratings of the following international credit rating agencies for the purposes of risk weighting their claims on different foreign entities  for capital adequacy purposes where specified –

  1. Fitch
  2. Moody's
  3. Standard & Poor’s
(Updated on July 10, 2025)

Banks have been permitted to also use the ratings of M/s CareEdge Global IFSC Limited for risk weighting their claims on non-resident corporates originating at International Financial Services Centre (IFSC).

What is the recent update in the guidelines?

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) had cancelled the Certificate of Registration (CoR) granted to BRIPL as a Credit Rating Agency (CRA), vide order dated October 6, 2022. 

In view of the above, Regulated Entities / Market Participants were advised that in respect of ratings / credit evaluations required in terms of any guidelines issued by RBI, no fresh ratings / evaluations shall be obtained from BRIPL. 

Banks were later permitted to use the ratings of BRIPL for risk weighting their claims for capital adequacy purposes, subject to the following –

  • In respect of fresh rating mandates, rating may be obtained from the CRA for bank loans not exceeding ₹250 crore.
  • In respect of existing ratings, the CRA may undertake rating surveillance irrespective of the rated amount, till the residual tenure of such loans.
  • In case of existing ratings assigned to working capital facilities exceeding ₹250 crore, the CRA shall undertake rating surveillance only till the next renewal of such facility by the banks.

(Updated on June 09, 2025)

The restrictions / limits placed on the use of ratings of BRIPL by the banks have been removed.


References

Reserve Bank of India. (2022, October 12). 'Cancellation of the CoR of Brickwork Ratings India Private Limited by SEBI'. Retrieved from https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_PressReleaseDisplay.aspx?prid=54531

Reserve Bank of India. (2023, January 09). 'Basel III Capital Regulations - Eligible Credit Rating Agencies'. Retrieved from https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=12435&Mode=0

Reserve Bank of India. (2024, July 10). 'Basel III Capital Regulations - Eligible Credit Rating Agencies (ECAI)'. Retrieved from https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=12700&Mode=0

Reserve Bank of India. (2025, June 09). 'Basel III Capital Regulations - External Credit Assessment Institution (ECAI)'. Retrieved from https://website.rbi.org.in/web/rbi/-/notifications/basel-iii-capital-regulations-external-credit-assessment-institution-ecai-

Reserve Bank of India. (2025, July 10). 'Basel III Capital Regulations – External Credit Assessment Institutions (ECAIs) – CareEdge Global IFSC Limited'. Retrieved from https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=12880&Mode=0

Reserve Bank of India. (2025, April 01). 'Master Circular – Basel III Capital Regulations'. Retrieved from https://website.rbi.org.in/documents/87730/39710850/Master+Circular-Basel+III+Capital+Regulations_2025.pdf/2a2c63f6-4b43-d4c1-f49d-8a4850d8c0ef?t=1743495829304


Follow at - Telegram   Instagram   LinkedIn   Twitter

Comments

Popular Posts

Policies to be formulated by NBFC-BL

Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) are required to formulate various policies for effective corporate governance and operations. This article lists out some of the important policies to be formulated by the Base Layer NBFCs (NBFC-BL). Business Model Master Direction – Reserve Bank of India (Non-Banking Financial Company – Scale Based Regulation) Directions, 2023 dated October 19, 2023 Para 1.1 of Annex II – In view of the criticality of the nature of the business model in determining the classification of financial assets and restrictions on subsequent reclassification, NBFCs are advised to put in place Board approved policies that clearly articulate and document their business models and portfolios. Para 1.2 of Annex II – NBFCs shall frame their policy for sales out of amortised cost business model portfolios. Expected Credit Losses (ECL) Policy Master Direction – Reserve Bank of India (Non-Banking Financial Company – Scale Based Regulation) Directions, 2023 dated October 19, 202...

Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) and Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR)

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued the directions on maintenance of Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) and Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) by banks. To whom are the directions applicable? The directions are applicable to the following Regulated Entities (REs) – Commercial Banks  Small Finance Banks (SFBs) Payments Banks (PBs) Local Area Banks (LABs) Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs) Rural Co-operative Banks – State Co-operative Banks (StCBs) District Central Co-operative Banks (DCCBs) What is CRR? Every bank shall maintain in India by way of cash reserve, a sum equivalent to such percent of its Net Demand and Time Liabilities (NDTL) in India, as the RBI in terms of Section 42(1) of the RBI Act, 1934 (for scheduled banks) and Section 18(1) of the Banking Regulation Act (BR Act), 1949 (for non-scheduled banks) [including provisions of Section 18(1) of the BR Act as applicable to co-operative banks], may specify. What is incremental CRR? In terms of Secti...

Special Rupee Vostro Accounts (SRVAs)

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has consolidated the guidelines governing Special Rupee Vostro Accounts (SRVAs). Who can open and maintain Special Rupee Vostro Accounts (SRVAs)? Authorised Dealer (AD) banks in India may open Special Rupee Vostro Accounts (SRVAs) of its branch outside India or a bank resident outside India. Which transactions can be settled through SRVA? The settlement of cross-border trade transactions through SRVA is an additional arrangement for invoicing, payment and settlement of exports and imports in Indian Rupee (INR).  All permissible capital and current account transactions under Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) may be settled through the SRVA.  AD banks maintaining SRVA are permitted to open additional current account for exporter / importer, exclusively for settlement of export / import transactions. What can be the source and use of funds in SRVA? SRVA may be funded by way of inward remittances or transfer from other repatriable INR accounts in t...

Unique Transaction Identifier (UTI) for OTC Derivative Transactions

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued directions on Unique Transaction Identifier (UTI) for over-the-counter (OTC) derivative transactions. What are the existing norms for reporting of OTC derivative transactions? At present, all transactions in OTC markets for rupee interest rate derivatives, forward contracts in Government securities, foreign currency derivatives, foreign currency interest rate derivatives, and credit derivatives are reported to the Trade Repository managed by Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL-TR).  What are the directions on Unique Transaction Identifier (UTI) for OTC derivative transactions? Unique Transaction Identifier (UTI), a unique identifier assigned to an OTC derivative transaction, shall be generated / reported for all transactions in OTC derivatives market.  The directions shall be applicable to OTC derivative transactions entered into on or after January 01, 2027. UTI shall be generated in accordance with the UTI Technical Guidanc...

Committees to be constituted by NBFC-BL

Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) are required to constitute various committees for effective corporate governance. This article lists out some of the important committees to be constituted by the Base Layer NBFCs (NBFC-BL). Board of Directors Applicability Companies Act, 2013 Section 149(1) – Every company shall have a Board of Directors. Composition of the Board Companies Act, 2013 Section 149(1) – The Board of Directors shall consist of individuals as directors – Public company – minimum 3 directors Private company – minimum 2 directors One Person Company – minimum 1 director  Maximum 15 directors (more than 15 directors may be appointed after passing a special resolution) Section 149(4) – Every listed public company shall have at least 1/3rd of the total number of directors as independent directors. Companies (Appointment and Qualifications of Directors) Rules, 2014 Rule 3 – The following companies shall appoint at least 1 woman director – Every listed company Every other...