Skip to main content

Recognition of Self-Regulatory Organisations (SROs) for Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) (Updated on October 03, 2025)

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has invited applications for recognition of Self-Regulatory Organisations (SROs) for Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs).

What is the basis of Self-Regulatory Organisations (SROs) for Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs)?

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had issued ‘Omnibus Framework for recognition of Self-Regulatory Organisations for Regulated Entities of the Reserve Bank’ dated March 21, 2024, wherein broad parameters, viz., objectives, responsibilities, eligibility criteria, governance standards, application process, etc., were specified. It was also stated that other sector-specific guidelines like number of SROs, membership, etc., shall be issued separately whenever a sectoral SRO is intended to be set up.

RBI has now invited applications for recognition of SROs for the NBFC sector under the aegis of the aforesaid omnibus framework. 

What are the membership criteria for the SRO for NBFCs?

  • The SRO for NBFC sector is primarily envisaged for NBFCs in the categories of Investment and Credit Companies (NBFC-ICCs), Housing Finance Companies (HFCs) and Factors (NBFC-Factors). However, the SRO may also have other categories of NBFCs as its members.
  • The recognized SRO shall have a good mix of NBFC-ICCs, HFCs and NBFC-Factors as its members. 
  • To ensure fair representation to smaller NBFCs, the SRO shall have at least 10% of the total number of NBFCs in the Base Layer as per Scale Based Regulatory Framework and categorised as NBFC-ICC and NBFC-Factor, as its members. 
  • Failure to achieve the aforesaid membership, within 2 years of the grant of recognition as SRO, would render the SRO liable for revocation of the recognition granted.

What are other terms of recognition of SRO?

  • The applicant should achieve a minimum net worth of ₹2 crore within 1 year after recognition as an SRO by RBI, or before commencement of operations as an SRO, whichever is earlier. Thereafter, the SRO shall maintain this on an ongoing basis.
  • A maximum of 2 SROs for the NBFC sector will be recognised.
  • The guidelines as given in the omnibus framework for recognition of SRO for REs of RBI, shall be adhered to.
  • Different verticals / divisions within the SRO may be set up for catering to different categories of NBFCs, as considered necessary.

Which entity has been recognised as SRO for NBFCs?

(Updated on October 03, 2025)

Finance Industry Development Council (FIDC) has been recognised as an SRO for NBFCs.


References

Reserve Bank of India. (2024, June 19). 'Invitation of applications for recognition of Self-Regulatory Organisations (SROs) for NBFCs'. Retrieved from https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_PressReleaseDisplay.aspx?prid=58123

Reserve Bank of India. (2024, March 21). 'Omnibus Framework for recognising Self-Regulatory Organisations (SROs) for Regulated Entities (REs) of the Reserve Bank of India'. Retrieved from https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=12636&Mode=0

Reserve Bank of India. (2024, March 21). 'Omnibus Framework for recognition of Self-Regulatory Organisations for Regulated Entities of the Reserve Bank'. Retrieved from https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_PressReleaseDisplay.aspx?prid=57534

Reserve Bank of India. (2025, October 03). 'Recognition of Self-Regulatory Organisation for NBFCs'. Retrieved from https://rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_PressReleaseDisplay.aspx?prid=61353


Follow at - Telegram   Instagram   LinkedIn   X   Facebook

Comments

Popular Posts

Regulatory Measures for the Foreign Exchange Market

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced regulatory measures for the foreign exchange market. Cancellation and rebooking / rollovers of foreign exchange derivative contracts An Authorised Dealer shall not permit users to rebook any foreign exchange derivative contract involving the INR, whether deliverable or non-deliverable, which has been cancelled with any of the Authorised Dealers. An Authorised Dealer may, however, continue to permit users to rollover foreign exchange derivative contracts on maturity, subject to compliance with the extant directions. Threshold limit for taking positions without requirement to establish the existence of underlying Authorised Dealers were permitted to allow users to take positions upto USD 100 million equivalent of notional value (outstanding at any point of time), across all Authorised Dealers, for hedging contracted exposure without the requirement to establish the existence of underlying exposure.  Further, a user was allowed to take positio...

Credit Facilities to Scheduled Castes (SCs) & Scheduled Tribes (STs)

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued guidelines on credit facilities to Scheduled Castes (SCs) & Scheduled Tribes (STs). What are the guidelines on credit facilities to SCs & STs? District Level Consultative Committees formed under the Lead Bank Scheme should continue to be the principal mechanism of co-ordination between banks and development agencies.  National Scheduled Tribes Finance & Development Corporation and National Scheduled Castes Finance & Development Corporation have been set up under the administrative control of Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, respectively. Banks should advise their branches / controlling offices to render all the necessary institutional support to enable these institutions to achieve the desired objectives. Loans sanctioned to State Sponsored Organisations for Scheduled Castes / Scheduled Tribes for the specific purpose of purchase and supply of inputs and / or the marketing of the out...

Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) and Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) (Updated as on September 11, 2026)

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...

What is Ways and Means Advances (WMA)? (Updated as on September 25, 2026)

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recently announced the Ways and Means Advances (WMA) limit for the Government of India. So, what is WMA? What is Ways and Means Advances (WMA)? Ways and Means Advances (WMA) is a collateral free clean advance availed by the Central and State Governments from RBI, to tide over temporary mismatches in the receipts and payments. Section 17(5) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 empowers RBI to grant WMA to Central and State Governments, as and when required by them. What is Special WMA / Special Drawing Facility (SDF)? In addition to WMA, State Governments are also eligible for a Special Drawing Facility (SDF), which is granted against collateral of Government Securities held by the State Governments.  SDF availed by State Governments / UTs is linked to the quantum of their investments in marketable securities issued by the Government of India, including Auction Treasury Bills (ATBs).  (Updated as on June 28, 2024) Based on the recommendations m...

Framework for Self-Regulatory Organisations in the FinTech Sector (Updated on September 10, 2026)

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released the framework for self-regulatory organisations in the FinTech sector. What are FinTechs? For the purpose of membership of an Self-Regulatory Organisations for FinTech Sector (SRO-FT), FinTechs may be defined as entities that provide technological solutions for delivery of financial products and services to businesses and consumers or encompass regulatory and supervisory compliance in partnership with traditional financial institutions or otherwise.  What is the need of Self-Regulatory Organisations for FinTech Sector? FinTechs play a pivotal role in redefining financial services by saving time, enhancing access, and lowering costs. While the FinTechs bring various innovations, the FinTech sector also raises concerns relating to customer protection, data privacy, cyber security, grievance handling, internal governance, financial system integrity, etc. A judicious balance between maximising the creative potential of FinTechs, while minimising...