Introduction: A Quiet but Powerful Reform Most lending discussions focus on MSMEs and personal loans. Yet a major shift is taking place in capital-market credit. In October, the RBI announced major reforms  to Loans Against Securities (LAS) . Effective April 1, 2026, they redefine how banks lend against securities such as shares, bonds, and mutual funds. By raising limits, expanding eligible collateral, and adding real-time monitoring, the RBI has made LAS a mainstream credit

Introduction Gold has always been more than a precious metal for India. It is a store of value, a family asset, and often a quick source of credit. Loans against gold help households and small businesses meet short-term needs. By 2025, India’s organised gold-loan market had touched ₹12 trillion and was on track to reach ₹15 trillion by March 2026. This rapid growth also brought uneven practices. Lenders used different rules for valuation and documentation. Borrower protection

Introduction India’s banking system is changing quietly but decisively. Over the past year, several mid-sized lenders - RBL Bank, Yes Bank, Federal Bank, and IDFC First Bank - have seen major foreign investors enter their ownership structure. The latest is a Blackstone affiliate buying almost 10% of Federal Bank . There are also recent reports of the government’s plan to raise the FDI cap in PSU banks to 49%. At the same time, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed broa

Why Re-KYC is Back in Focus Re-KYC, or periodic KYC updation, has long been part of India’s banking framework. But in 2024–25, it returned to focus. In June 2025, the Reserve Bank of India updated its Master Direction on KYC , setting clearer timelines, communication steps, and operational rules for banks and NBFCs. The regulator also launched a national drive to refresh customer records. Over 1.4 lakh re-KYC camps were held, updating more than 3.5 million accounts by August

Introduction When the Reserve Bank of India released its draft Directions on Expected Credit Loss (ECL)  on October 7, 2025, it started one of the biggest updates to India’s banking rules in decades. The draft replaces the old “incurred loss” system with a forward-looking, data-based approach  to credit risk. The goal is simple: help banks spot stress early, protect capital, and make the system stronger. The framework will start on April 1, 2027 , with a transition period un