The study examines the impact of the Reserve Bank of India’s Terms of Engagement Regulations on the liquidity of Indian commercial banks in relation to non-performing assets (NPAs). It adopts a quantitative research approach using panel data from 5 publicly listed commercial banks for the period 2015–2024. The independent variables, representing the banks’ asset quality and serving as proxies for service quality, include gross and net NPA ratios. Liquidity is captured through the credit-deposit ratio and the liquid-assets-to-total-assets ratio, while profitability is measured using the return on assets and operating expense ratios. The capital adequacy ratio (CAR), along with bank size and system sustainability, functions as a moderating variable. Descriptive Statistics and Pearson Correlation analyses provide preliminary insights into the relationships among variables, while fixed effects panel regressions are employed to explore the deeper associations between NPAs and liquidity. The regression models assess the extent of average regression adjusted for CAR as strategic capital, with NPA acting as a liquidity buffer. The findings reveal significant patterns in NPA ratios, credit-deposit ratios, and liquid assets relative to gross profit and overall asset quality. Higher NPA ratios indicate insufficient provisioning and a reduction in low-cost liquid assets. Credit flows, adjusted upward, contribute to maintaining a minimal liquidity buffer. The results show a negative relationship between NPAs and liquidity, with CAR playing a supportive role in mitigating the cascading effects of liquidity pressure. This research extends prior studies by incorporating novel liquidity indicators, profitability controls, and the moderating effects of regulatory NPAs. The findings offer valuable insights for enhancing preparedness and guiding bank policymakers toward stronger prudential frameworks for NPA management, thereby improving liquidity resilience and sustaining system-wide stability.