Ways and means advances

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'.