The Reserve Bank of India on Friday issued the Reserve Bank of India (Trade Relief Measures) Directions, 2025, outlining temporary relief measures for exporters impacted by global trade disruptions. The Directions, effective immediately, apply to all regulated entities, including Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, State Co-operative Banks and Central Co-operative Banks.
As per the framework, cooperative banks may extend a moratorium on term-loan instalments-covering principal and interest-falling due between September 1 and December 31, 2025.
For working-capital facilities like cash credit and overdraft, banks may defer recovery of interest during the same period. Interest will continue to accrue on a simple-interest basis, and the accumulated amount may be converted into a funded interest term loan repayable by September 30, 2026.
Cooperative banks providing export finance may also permit an extended credit period of up to 450 days for pre- and post-shipment export credit disbursed till March 31, 2026. Packing credit sanctioned on or before August 31, 2025 may be liquidated through legitimate alternate sources, including domestic sale proceeds.
The RBI has clarified that moratorium or deferment granted under these Directions will not be treated as restructuring, and banks must maintain a 5% general provision on eligible standard accounts. Fortnightly reporting through the RBI’s DAKSH platform has been mandated.
