Full Form of PLR

Full formBanking & Finance
PLRstands for

Prime Lending Rate

What is PLR?

Prime Lending Rate (PLR) is the benchmark interest rate that commercial banks in India charge their most creditworthy borrowers, typically large corporations or high-net-worth individuals. It serves as a reference rate for pricing various loans, including home loans, personal loans, and working capital facilities. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) does not set PLR directly; instead, each bank determines its own PLR based on factors such as the cost of funds, operating expenses, and profit margins. Historically, PLR was the primary benchmark for floating-rate loans in India, but since 2016, the RBI introduced the Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate (MCLR) and later the external benchmarking system linked to the repo rate to improve transmission of monetary policy. However, PLR remains relevant for legacy loans and certain fixed-rate products. In the Indian banking context, PLR is frequently discussed in regulatory circulars, loan agreements, and financial news. For competitive exams like the RBI Grade B, SEBI, and banking sector exams, candidates are often tested on the evolution of lending rate benchmarks, including PLR, MCLR, and repo rate-linked loans. Understanding PLR helps students grasp how banks price risk and how monetary policy affects borrowing costs in the economy.

PLR का फुल फॉर्म

प्राइम लेंडिंग रेट

Example

The State Bank of India reduced its PLR by 25 basis points to 12.25% effective next month, bringing relief to existing home loan customers.

PLR — frequently asked questions

What is the full form of PLR?
The full form of PLR is Prime Lending Rate, which is the benchmark interest rate banks charge their most creditworthy borrowers.
How does PLR affect home loans in India?
Many home loans in India are linked to PLR; when PLR changes, the EMI amount for borrowers with floating-rate loans linked to PLR also changes.
Is PLR still used in India?
Yes, PLR is still used for older loans and some fixed-rate products, though MCLR and repo rate-linked loans are now more common for new lending.
Browse all Banking & Finance full forms →