Ways and means advances (WMA) is a mechanism used by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) under its credit policy by which provides to the States banking with it to help them to tide over temporary mismatches in the cash flow of their receipts and payments. This is guided under Section 17(5) of RBI Act, 1934, and are '..repayable in each case not later than three months from the date of making that advance'.
There are two types of WMA normal and special. While Normal WMA are clean advances, Special WMA are secured advances provided against the pledge of government of Indiadated securities. The operative limit for special WMA for a state is subject to its holdings of central government dated securities up to a maximum of limit sanctioned. In addition, the RBI has determined limits for normal and special WMA for each state as multiples of the prescribed minimum balance required to be maintained with the RBI by that state. These limits have been revised periodically.

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