Which of the following is not included in the assets of a commercial bank in India?

Deposits are classified as **liabilities** rather than assets because they represent money that a bank owes to its customers and must repay upon demand or maturity. This question tests the core concept of a **bank's balance sheet**, where assets generate income for the bank while liabilities represent its obligations. **Advances** (loans) are the most common point of confusion, but they are correctly categorized as assets because they are legal claims for repayment that generate interest income for the bank.