Updated for 2026 Syllabus Detailed Explanations High-Yield Core Concepts

Bank Promotion Exam Guide

Banking Awareness | Banking Knowledge | for all Bank Exams

Module: | Priority Sector, Consumer Protection & Digital Lending

Q71: Identify the INCORRECT statement regarding the classification of securities for SLR:

A
Securities acquired under the "Held to Maturity" (HTM) category can be counted towards SLR.
B
Cash Management Bills (CMBs) issued by the Government of India are eligible for SLR.
C
Encumbered securities (those already pledged) can be counted towards SLR if the pledge is to another bank.
D
Treasury Bills (T-Bills) of 91, 182, and 364 days are eligible SLR assets.
✅ Correct Answer: C
The correct answer is C. This statement is fundamentally incorrect.
For any asset to qualify for the Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR), it must be absolutely unencumbered.
This means the bank must have clear, unhindered ownership without any lien, pledge, or external claim.
If a bank pledges a government security to another commercial bank to secure a loan, that security is immediately encumbered.
Because the bank cannot liquidate it instantly during a crisis without paying off the loan first, it completely loses its SLR eligibility.
Statements A, B, and D are perfectly correct.
Securities in the HTM (Held to Maturity) portfolio, short-term Cash Management Bills (CMBs), and all tenors of Treasury Bills (T-Bills) are fully eligible approved securities for SLR computation.