The Reserve Bank of India has repealed its 2025 directions on prudential norms for Local Area Banks declaring dividends and replaced them with new 2026 directions. Both the repeal and the replacement take effect from financial year 2026-27. Actions already taken or initiated under the repealed directions will continue to be governed by those earlier provisions. Approvals or acknowledgments granted under the repealed framework will be treated as governed by the new directions. The repeal also does not affect any existing rights, obligations or liabilities, or any penalties, forfeitures, punishments, investigations, legal proceedings or remedies linked to contraventions under the earlier directions.