Banks can extend collateral-free loan up to Rs 25 lakh to MSEs with good track record

The RBI said banks can extend collateral-free loans up to Rs 25 lakh to Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) units on the basis of their good track record and financial position.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has amended the directions related to 'Lending to Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) Sector'.

The amendments have been carried out to enhance the extant Collateral-Free Loan Limit for Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) to Rs 20 lakh, it said.

"Banks may, on the basis of good track record and financial position of the MSE units, increase the limit to dispense with the collateral requirement for loans up to Rs 25 lakh as per their internal policy," the RBI said.

Also, banks may avail the benefit of Credit Guarantee Scheme cover, where applicable, it added.

"However, accepting gold and silver as collateral pledged voluntarily by borrowers for loans sanctioned by the banks upto the collateral-free limit, will not be construed as a violation of the above mandate," said the amended directions.

On the need for the amendments, the RBI further said the objective is to strengthen last-mile credit delivery for Micro and Small Enterprises with limited assets to provide as collateral.

The amended Directions shall come into effect from April 01, 2026.

A large segment of India’s micro and small enterprises continue to face credit access constraints despite multiple policy interventions. According to estimates, over 95% of MSMEs operate in the micro and small category, many of which lack formal assets or land records required for traditional collateral-based lending.

The relaxation builds on existing policy measures such as the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE), which allows lenders to extend collateral-free loans backed by government guarantees, thereby reducing credit risk.

The RBI’s decision also aligns with its broader push to improve credit flow to priority sectors through better risk assessment, cash-flow–based lending, and use of digital financial data.

(With inputs from PTI)