Chapter II — Incorporation, Capital, Management and Business

Section 13: Meetings of the Central Board

Reviewed by CA Nikhil Gupta · Last reviewed 18 September 2026

Section 13 sets the statutory meeting framework for the Central Board.

Operative provisionOfficial sources mappedProvision-specific decode

Finin2min - Section 13 in 2 minutes

Legal effectSection 13 sets the statutory meeting framework for the Central Board.

Operative ruleThe Governor convenes meetings at least six times each year and at least once in each quarter; four Directors may require a meeting; the Governor or authorised Deputy Governor presides and has the statutory casting-vote mechanism in case of equality.

Connected lawMeeting validity should be read with Section 8 voting entitlements and the RBI General Regulations for procedural detail.

File evidenceA governance review should retain meeting notices, requisition (if any), attendance, presiding authority, votes and any casting vote.

Statutory structure and clause / subsection decode

This map separates the operative limbs of this provision so thresholds, powers, conditions and exceptions are not collapsed into a single summary.

Rule 1

The Governor convenes meetings at least six times each year and at least once in each quarter

Rule 2

four Directors may require a meeting

Rule 3

the Governor or authorised Deputy Governor presides and has the statutory casting-vote mechanism in case of equality.

Connected rule

Meeting validity should be read with Section 8 voting entitlements and the RBI General Regulations for procedural detail.

Worked practical example

Facts. If four Directors validly requisition a meeting, the issue is not whether management prefers to wait until the next scheduled meeting; Section 13 requires the Governor to convene it.

Compliance points and common mistakes

Do not decide the issue from the heading alone. Map the facts to the operative words of Section 13 and to each relevant subsection, clause, proviso or explanation shown above.
Keep the statutory question separate from the operational overlay. Meeting validity should be read with Section 8 voting entitlements and the RBI General Regulations for procedural detail.
Do not convert an exception, exemption or discretionary RBI/Government power into an automatic entitlement. Record the authority, conditions and effective date.
Where the provision is historical, omitted or repealed, state that status prominently and do not present it as a current compliance obligation.

Connected provisions and instruments

Reserve Bank of India General Regulations, 1949Delegated regulations under the RBI Act governing institutional and operational matters.

Questions and answers

What is the purpose of Section 13?

Meetings of the Central Board: Section 13 sets the statutory meeting framework for the Central Board.

Which statutory limb should be checked first?

Rule 1 - The Governor convenes meetings at least six times each year and at least once in each quarter

What is the next legal boundary?

Rule 2 - four Directors may require a meeting

What record should support the conclusion?

Section 13 file evidence: A governance review should retain meeting notices, requisition (if any), attendance, presiding authority, votes and any casting vote.

Primary sources

Source control for Section 13: use the official consolidated RBI Act for the statutory text and footnotes, then separately reconcile any post-Finance Act 2022 amendment, commencement notification or RBI instrument relevant to the event date.