RBI Revises Leverage Ratio Requirements for Banks in India

The leverage ratio is calibrated to act as a credible supplementary measure to the risk-based capital requirements and is intended to constrain the build-up of leverage in the banking sector to avoid destabilizing deleveraging processes, which can damage the broader financial system and the economy. The leverage ratio is also intended to reinforce the risk-based requirements with a simple, non-risk based “backstop” measure. The capital measure used for the leverage ratio at a point in time is the tier 1 capital measure applying at that time under the risk-based framework. The exposure measure for the leverage ratio should generally follow the accounting value and amounts to the sum of on-balance sheet exposures, derivative exposures, securities financing transaction exposures, and off- balance sheet items. Both the capital measure and the exposure measure, along with the leverage ratio, are to be disclosed on a quarter-end basis. However, banks must meet the minimum leverage ratio requirement at all times.

Effective Date: Quarter Commencing October 01, 2019

Keywords: Asia Pacific, India, Banking, Basel III, Leverage Ratio, Regulatory Capital, D-SIBs, Systemic Risk, RBI