RBI will combine its current regulatory guidelines into 238 Master Directions

Current Context: On October 9, 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced that it will consolidate all its existing regulatory instructions into 238 Master Directions, replacing nearly 9,000 circulars.

• These Master Directions will cover 11 categories of regulated entities and about 30 functional areas, making compliance simpler and more transparent.
• The move aims to reduce the compliance burden on banks, NBFCs, and other financial institutions by providing a single, structured framework instead of scattered circulars.
• Drafts of the Master Directions and the list of circulars proposed for repeal have been published on the RBI website.

Question:

Q.1 Under RBI’s regulatory consolidation initiative, how many Master Directions are proposed to replace the existing circulars?
a) 238
b) 220
c) 225
d) 250

Answer: a) The RBI will issue 238 Master Directions to unify all regulatory instructions under one structure.