Are New Banking Laws Set to Transform the Sector from August 1?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- New Banking Laws will enhance governance standards.
- Increased protection for depositors and investors.
- Audit quality in public sector banks will be improved.
- Director tenures in cooperative banks extended.
- Public sector banks can transfer unclaimed assets.
New Delhi, July 30 (NationPress) The Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025, designed to enhance governance protocols in the banking industry and provide greater protection for both depositors and investors, will officially take effect on August 1, according to a statement from the Finance Ministry on Wednesday.
This Act, which was announced on April 15 of this year, also aims to elevate audit standards in public sector banks while extending the tenure of Directors (excluding the Chairperson and full-time Directors) in cooperative banks.
Notably, the Act revises the definition of 'substantial interest' from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 2 crore, a threshold that has not been updated since 1968.
In addition, these amendments bring the tenures of Directors in cooperative banks in line with the 97th Constitutional Amendment, raising the maximum tenure from 8 years to 10 years (excluding the Chairperson and full-time Director).
Furthermore, public sector banks will now be authorized to transfer unclaimed shares, interest, and bond redemption amounts to the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF), aligning their practices with those of companies under the Companies Act. The revisions also allow public banks to compensate statutory auditors, which will enhance the quality of audit practices.
The introduction of these provisions signifies a major advancement in fortifying the legal, regulatory, and governance framework of the Indian banking industry, as per the ministry’s declaration.
The Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025 encompasses a total of 19 amendments across five legislative acts—the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, the State Bank of India Act, 1955, and the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act of 1970 and 1980.
The Central Government has confirmed August 1, 2025 as the date when the provisions of sections 3, 4, 5, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20 of the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025 (16 of 2025) will come into force, as detailed in the Gazette Notification dated July 29, 2025.