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    Question

    Under Section 15 of the Credit Information Companies

    (Regulation) Act, 2005, a Regional Rural Bank (RRB) was established as a credit institution on March 15, 2025. As per the statutory framework, which of the following correctly determines the RRB's obligations and legal status concerning CIC membership?
    A The RRB must become a member of at least one CIC within a period of six months from establishment, and failure to do so does not result in statutory liability under the Act Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    B The RRB must become a member of at least one CIC within a period of three months from establishment, or such extended period as the Reserve Bank may allow upon application and satisfaction of reasons for extension Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    C The RRB is not legally bound to become a CIC member if it operates only in rural areas with limited credit exposure; membership applies only to metropolitan and scheduled banks Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    D The RRB may voluntarily join any CIC without Reserve Bank approval, and the three-month period is merely advisory and non-binding Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    E The RRB becomes automatically a member of all CICs upon establishment without any formal application or compliance procedure required Correct Answer Incorrect Answer

    Solution

    Explanation: Section 15(1) of the CICRA, 2005 explicitly provides: "Every credit institution in existence on the commencement of this Act, before the expiry of three months from such commencement or within such extended period, as the Reserve Bank may allow on its application and subject to being satisfied about the reason for extension, shall become member of at least one credit information company." For entities established after the commencement (like the RRB in the question), Section 15(2) applies: "Every credit institution which comes into existence after the commencement of this Act, before the expiry of three months from its coming into existence, or within such extended period, as the Reserve Bank may allow on its application, shall become member of at least one credit information company." The statute clearly mandates membership (not voluntary), specifies a three-month window, and allows discretionary extension by RBI on justified application. The RRB's status as a regional/rural entity does NOT exempt it from this requirement. Thus, option (B) correctly applies Section 15(1)-(2).

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