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Indian Currency

A) Basics of Indian Currency/Currency Management

5. What is a small coin depot?

Some banks are authorised to establish Small Coin Depots to stock and distribute small coins i.e. coins of value below Rupee One to bank branches in their area of operation. As on February 28, 2025, there were 2299 small coin depots.

All you wanted to know about NBFCs

A. Definitions

5. What are the requirements for registration with the Reserve Bank?

A ‘company’ desirous of commencing the business of non-banking financial institution as defined under Section 45 I(a) of the RBI Act, 1934 should comply with the following:

i. It should be a company incorporated under Section 3 of the companies Act, 1956 or corresponding Section under the Companies Act, 2013;

ii. It should have a minimum net owned fund of ₹10 crore. (The minimum net owned fund requirements for specialized NBFCs are NBFC-Infrastructure Finance Company (NBFC-IFC) – ₹300 crore; Infrastructure Debt Fund – NBFC (IDF-NBFC) – ₹300 crore; Mortgage Guarantee Company (MGC) – ₹100 crore; Housing Finance Company (HFC) – ₹20 crore, Standalone Primary Dealers (SPDs) which undertake only the core activities – ₹150 crore and SPDs which also undertake non-core activities – ₹250 crore; NBFC-AA – ₹2 crore; and NBFC-P2P – ₹2 crore).

Core Investment Companies

A. Definitions:

5. Can CICs issue guarantees and will this be considered part of definition of public funds?

Ans: Yes, CICs may be required to issue guarantees or take on other contingent liabilities on behalf of their group entities. Guarantees per se do not fall under the definition of public funds. However, it is possible that CICs which do not accept public funds take recourse to public funds if and when the guarantee devolves. Hence, before doing so, CICs must ensure that they can meet the obligation there under, as and when they arise. In particular, CICs which are exempt from registration requirement must be in a position to do so without recourse to public funds in the event the liability devolves. If unregistered CICs with asset size above ₹ 100 crore access public funds without obtaining a Certificate of Registration (CoR) from RBI, they will be seen as violating Master Direction DoR(NBFC).PD.003/03.10.119/2016-17 dated August 25, 2016.

FAQs on Priority Sector Lending (PSL)

H. Social Infrastructure

Query 17: How is PSL classification considered for lending to Social Infrastructure activities viz. schools etc. (prescribed limit of ₹8 crore) and health care facilities (prescribed limit of ₹12 crore), where such facilities are also eligible to be classified under MSME as per the PSL guidelines.

Clarification: Bank loans for above purposes can be classified under MSME, wherein no cap on credit has been prescribed. However, banks can classify such activities either under MSME or Social Infrastructure, and not both. It may be noted that for classification under Social Infrastructure, the associated cap on credit shall be applicable.

I. Weaker Sections

Query 18: Are all credit facilities extended to the thirteen borrower categories under ‘Weaker Sections’ eligible to be classified under ‘Weaker Sections’ category?

Clarification: For classification under ‘Weaker Sections’, the loans should first be eligible for classification under any of the eight PSL categories as per underlying activity.

Government Securities Market in India – A Primer

6. What is Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF) and whether Re-repo in Government Securities Market is allowed? +

LAF is a facility extended by RBI to the scheduled commercial banks (excluding RRBs) and PDs to avail of liquidity in case of requirement or park excess funds with RBI in case of excess liquidity on an overnight basis against the collateral of G-Secs including SDLs. Basically, LAF enables liquidity management on a day to day basis. The operations of LAF are conducted by way of repurchase agreements (repos and reverse repos – please refer to paragraph numbers 30.4 to 30.8 under question no. 30 for more details) with RBI being the counter-party to all the transactions. The interest rate in LAF is fixed by RBI from time to time. LAF is an important tool of monetary policy and liquidity management. The substitution of collateral (security) by the market participants during the tenor of the term repo is allowed from April 17, 2017 subject to various conditions and guidelines prescribed by RBI from time to time. The accounting norms to be followed by market participants for repo/reverse repo transactions under LAF and MSF (Marginal Standing Facility) of RBI are aligned with the accounting guidelines prescribed for market repo transactions. In order to distinguish repo/reverse repo transactions with RBI from market repo transactions, a parallel set of accounts similar to those maintained for market repo transactions but prefixed with ‘RBI’ may be maintained. Further market value of collateral securities (instead of face value) will be reckoned for calculating haircut and securities acquired by banks under reverse repo with RBI will be bestowed SLR status.

RBI vide its notification FMRD.DIRD.01/14.03.038/2018-19 dated July 24, 2018 has issued Repurchase Transactions (Repo) (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2018 applicable to all the persons eligible to participate or transact business in market repurchase transactions (repos).

Scheduled commercial banks, Primary Dealers along with Mutual Funds and Insurance Companies (subject to the approval of the regulators concerned) maintaining Subsidiary General Ledger account with RBI are permitted to re-repo the government securities, including SDLs and Treasury Bills, acquired under reverse repo, subject to various conditions and guidelines prescribed by RBI time to time.

Foreign Investment in India

Q.6: What is meant by Foreign Investment, Foreign Direct Investment and Foreign Portfolio Investment ? +

Answer: Foreign Investment means any investment made by a person resident outside India on a repatriable basis in capital instruments of an Indian company or to the capital of an LLP.Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is the investment through capital instruments by a person resident outside India (a) in an unlisted Indian company; or (b) in 10 percent or more of the post issue paid-up equity capital on a fully diluted basis of a listed Indian company.Foreign Portfolio Investment is any investment made by a person resident outside India in capital instruments where such investment is (a) less than 10 percent of the post issue paid-up equity capital on a fully diluted basis of a listed Indian company or (b) less than 10 percent of the paid up value of each series of capital instruments of a listed Indian company.

Domestic Deposits

I. Domestic Deposits

6. Whether banks can prematurely repay the term deposit on their own? +

The term deposit is a contract between the bank and the customer for a definite term and it cannot be paid prematurely at bank’s option-. Term deposit can be paid prematurely at the request of the customer.

External Commercial Borrowings (ECB) and Trade Credits

C. CURRENCY OF ECB

6. Can INR denominated ECB be converted into foreign currency ECB? +

Any entity raising INR denominated ECB is not permitted to convert the liability arising out of INR ECB into foreign currency liability in any manner or assuming foreign currency risk is any manner by either entering into a derivative contract or otherwise.

Remittances (Money Transfer Service Scheme (MTSS) and Rupee Drawing Arrangement (RDA))

Rupee Drawing Arrangement (RDA)

6. Can cash payment be made to the beneficiary under RDA ? +

No cash disbursement of remittances is allowed under RDA. The remittances have to be credited to the bank account of the beneficiary.

Coordinated Portfolio Investment Survey – India

Details for survey launch

Q6. What is the launch timeline of the CPIS? +

Ans: The CPIS is conducted by the Reserve Bank half yearly to collect the required details of the reporting entities as on end-March and end-September of a FY. In general, the survey is launched for end-March and end-September position on June 01 and December 01 of that year respectively.

FAQs on Non-Banking Financial Companies

Definition of public deposits

6. Whether deposits received from relatives and friends of the directors are reckoned as public deposits? +

Money received by a private limited NBFC from relatives and friends of directors who are not its shareholders, is public deposit. In the case of public limited companies, the deposits received from shareholders also are public deposit.

Business restrictions imposed on Paytm Payments Bank Limited vide Press Releases dated January 31 and February 16, 2024

Bank Accounts with Paytm Payments Bank

6. I receive a subsidy or certain direct benefit transfers linked to my Aadhar from the Government in my account with Paytm Payments Bank. Can I continue to receive it into this account? +

No. After March 15, 2024, you will not be able to receive any such credit into your account with Paytm Payments Bank. Please arrange to change your linked account to another bank before March 15, 2024 to avoid any inconvenience or disruption.

Framework for Compromise Settlements and Technical Write-offs

A. COMPROMISE SETTLEMENT IN WILFUL DEFAULT AND FRAUD CASES

6. As per Prudential Framework for Resolution of Stressed Assets dated June 7, 2019, lenders are not permitted to restructure borrower accounts classified as fraud or wilful defaulter, except in case of change in ownership. Why a different treatment is prescribed for compromise settlements for such borrowers?

Restructuring in general entails the lenders having a continuing exposure to the borrower entity even after restructuring and hence, in case of borrowers classified as fraud or wilful defaulter, permitting lenders to continue their credit relationship with the borrower entity would be fraught with moral hazard. On the other hand, a compromise settlement entails a complete detachment of the lender with the borrower. Therefore, permitting lenders to settle with the borrowers as per their commercial judgement would enhance recovery prospects.

Annual Return on Foreign Liabilities and Assets (FLA) under FEMA 1999

Eligible entities and requirements to submit the FLA return

Q6. If the old/new entity fails to fill the FLA form before the due date, can the entity submit the FLA form? +

Ans: Yes, entities can fill the FLA return even after due date, after taking approval from RBI. But in that case, penalty clause may be invoked on the entity for late submission.

Biennial survey on Foreign Collaboration in Indian Industry (FCS)

Details of survey launch

Q6. How do I know that the survey is launched? +

Ans.: The Reserve Bank will send emails to all the eligible entities from generic email IDs of the Reserve Bank to notify them about the launch of the FCS survey for the latest reference period. Entities are required to fill in the latest survey schedule attached along with the mail and send to the generic email IDs of the Reserve Bank as per the instruction given in the survey schedule.

Retail Direct Scheme

Scheme related queries

6. Whether Retail Direct Gilt (RDG) account can be opened in a joint name? +

The RDG account can be opened singly or jointly with another retail investor who meets the eligibility criteria.

Housing Loans

6. What is monthly reducing balances method? +

Borrowers benefit more from a loan that's calculated on a monthly reducing basis than on an annual basis. In case of monthly resets, interest is calculated on the outstanding principal balance for that month. The principal paid is deducted from the opening principal outstanding balance to arrive at the opening principal for the next month and interest is computed on the new, reduced principal outstanding. In case of annual resets, principal paid is adjusted only at the end of the year. Hence, you continue to pay interest on a portion of the principal that has been paid back to the lender.

Targeted Long Term Repo Operations (TLTROs)

Q6: What happens if a bank fails to deploy the funds availed under TLTRO scheme in specified securities within the stipulated timeframe? +

Ans: The banks have already been given sufficient time to deploy funds availed under TLTRO scheme. It has now been decided to allow up to 30 working days for deployment in specified securities for those banks who have availed funds under the first tranche of TLTRO conducted on March 27, 2020. However, if a bank fails to deploy funds within the specified time frame, the interest rate on un-deployed funds will increase to prevailing policy repo rate plus 200 bps for the number of days such funds remain un-deployed. This incremental interest will have to be paid along with regular interest at the time of maturity.

Indian Currency

A) Basics of Indian Currency/Currency Management

6. What is the role of the Reserve Bank of India in currency management?

In terms of Section 22 of the Act, Reserve Bank has the sole right to issue banknotes in India. Section 25 states that the design, form and material of bank notes shall be such as may be approved by the Central Government after consideration of the recommendations made by the Central Board of RBI.

The Reserve Bank, in consultation with the Central Government and other stake holders, estimates the quantity of banknotes that are likely to be needed denomination-wise in a year and places indents with the various currency printing presses for supply of banknotes. The Reserve Bank, in terms of its clean note policy, endeavours to ensure circulation of good quality banknotes to the members of public. With this objective in view, the banknotes received back from circulation at its Issue Offices and Currency Chests are examined and only notes considered fit for circulation are reissued while the others (soiled and mutilated) are destroyed.

In respect of coins, the role of RBI is limited to distribution of coins that are supplied by Government of India (GoI). The GoI is responsible for designing and minting of coins in various denominations as per the Coinage Act, 2011.

All you wanted to know about NBFCs

A. Definitions

6. What is the procedure for application to the Reserve Bank for Registration? +

The applicant company is required to apply online on https://pravaah.rbi.org.in and also submit a physical copy of the application along with the necessary documents as per the process prescribed by the Reserve Bank vide its Press Release 2015-2016/2935 dated June 17, 2016 to the Chief General Manager-in-Charge, Department of Regulation, Reserve Bank of India, Central Office, 2nd Floor, Main Office Building, Shahid Bhagat Singh Marg, Fort, Mumbai-400 001.

Core Investment Companies

A. Definitions:

6. What is a Group company?

Ans: For the purposes of determining whether a company is a CIC, ‘companies in the group’ have been exhaustively defined in para 3 (1) (v) of of Master Direction DoR(NBFC).PD.003/03.10.119/2016-17 dated August 25, 2016 as “an arrangement involving two or more entities related to each other through any of the following relationships: Subsidiary – parent (defined in terms of AS 21), Joint venture (defined in terms of AS 27), Associate (defined in terms of AS 23), Promoter–promotee [as provided in the SEBI (Acquisition of Shares and Takeover) Regulations, 1997] for listed companies, a related party (defined in terms of AS 18), common brand name, and investment in equity shares of 20 percent and above.”

FAQs on Priority Sector Lending (PSL)

I. Weaker Sections

Query 19: In case of partnership firms/ private limited companies, can the loan granted be tagged as SMF and Weaker Section, if any of the partner/director is holding Agriculture land upto 2 hectares.

Clarification: As per extant guidelines, SMF includes individuals, SHGs, JLGs, Farmers’ Producer Companies (FPC) and Co-operatives of farmers with the accompanying criteria of membership by number and land-holding. Therefore, loans to partnership firms/co-borrowers or any director of a company holding agriculture land upto 2 hectares are not eligible to be classified under the SMF category of PSL.

Query 20: In case of a partnership firm, if majority of the partners belong to one or the other of the specified minority communities, can the advances granted to the firm be treated as advances granted to minority communities. Further, in case of a private/public limited company, if any of the directors belong to Minority Community, can the loan be classified under weaker section category ?

Clarification: As per extant guidelines, priority sector loans are eligible for classification as loans to minority communities as per the list notified by the GoI from time to time. The same may be read with Master Circular- Credit Facilities to Minority Communities which at para 2.2 states “In the case of a partnership firm, if the majority of the partners belong to one or the other of the specified minority communities, advances granted to such partnership firms may be treated as advances granted to minority communities. Further, if the majority beneficial ownership in a partnership firm belongs to the minority community, then such lending can be classified as advances to the specified communities. A company has a separate legal entity and hence advances granted to it cannot be classified as advances to the specified minority communities”

Query 21: Can banks rely on customer’s declaration for Minority/SC/ST category to be included under Weaker section?

Clarification: Declaration by the customer in the application form would suffice for classifying credit facilities to Minorities/SCs/STs under Weaker Sections. However, it needs to be ensured that, the loans should first be eligible for classification under priority sector lending as per underlying activity.

J. Investment by Banks in securitized assets / Transfer of Assets through Direct Assignment/ Outright Purchase

Query 22: How should banks ensure due diligence to ascertain priority sector status of PTC portfolio?

Clarification: Banks may rely on a combination of auditors’ certification provided by the originating entity and conduct of sample check by their own staff or by an auditor for the purpose. This may be suitably built into their internal policy.

Coordinated Portfolio Investment Survey – India

Details for survey launch

Q7. What is the due date for participating in CPIS? +

Ans: In general, the due date for participating in CPIS for end-March and end-September position is July 15 and December 31 of that year respectively.

Government Securities Market in India – A Primer

7. How and in what form can G-Secs be held? +

7.1 The Public Debt Office (PDO) of RBI, acts as the registry and central depository for G-Secs. They may be held by investors either as physical stock or in dematerialized (demat/electronic) form. From May 20, 2002, it is mandatory for all the RBI regulated entities to hold and transact in G-Secs only in dematerialized (SGL) form.

a. Physical form: G-Secs may be held in the form of stock certificates. A stock certificate is registered in the books of PDO. Ownership in stock certificates cannot be transferred by way of endorsement and delivery. They are transferred by executing a transfer form as the ownership and transfer details are recorded in the books of PDO. The transfer of a stock certificate is final and valid only when the same is registered in the books of PDO.

b. Demat form: Holding G-Secs in the electronic or scripless form is the safest and the most convenient alternative as it eliminates the problems relating to their custody, viz., loss of security. Besides, transfers and servicing of securities in electronic form is hassle free. The holders can maintain their securities in dematerialsed form in either of the two ways:

SGL Account: Reserve Bank of India offers SGL Account facility to select entities who can hold their securities in SGL accounts maintained with the Public Debt Offices of the RBI. Only financially strong entities viz. Banks, PDs, select UCBs and NBFCs which meet RBI guidelines (please see RBI circular IDMD.DOD.No. 13/10.25.66/2011-12 dt Nov 18, 2011) are allowed to maintain SGL with RBI.
Gilt Account: As the eligibility to open and maintain an SGL account with the RBI is restricted, an investor has the option of opening a Gilt Account with a bank or a PD which is eligible to open a CSGL account with the RBI. Under this arrangement, the bank or the PD, as a custodian of the Gilt Account holders, would maintain the holdings of its constituents in a CSGL account (which is also known as SGL II account) with the RBI. The servicing of securities held in the Gilt Accounts is done electronically, facilitating hassle free trading and maintenance of the securities. Receipt of maturity proceeds and periodic interest is also faster as the proceeds are credited to the current account of the custodian bank / PD with the RBI and the custodian (CSGL account holder) immediately passes on the credit to the Gilt Account Holders (GAH).

7.2 Investors also have the option of holding G-Secs in a dematerialized account with a depository (NSDL / CDSL, etc.). This facilitates trading of G-Secs on the stock exchanges.

Domestic Deposits

I. Domestic Deposits

7. Whether banks can refuse premature withdrawal of term deposits? +

Banks may not normally refuse premature withdrawal of term deposits of individuals and Hindu Undivided Families (HUF), irrespective of the size of the deposit. However, the bank at its discretion, may disallow premature withdrawal of large deposits held by entities other than individuals and Hindu Undivided Families. Banks should notify such depositors of its policy of disallowing premature withdrawals in advance i.e. at the time of acceptance of deposits.

Annual Return on Foreign Liabilities and Assets (FLA) under FEMA 1999

Eligible entities and requirements to submit the FLA return

Q7. If an old/new entity wants to fill the previous year FLA form, can they do so? +

Ans: Yes, entities can fill the FLA return even after due date, after taking approval from RBI. But in that case, penalty clause may be invoked on the entity for late submission.

External Commercial Borrowings (ECB) and Trade Credits

D. RECOGNISED LENDERS/ INVESTORS

7. Is the minimum equity holding requirement of foreign equity holder (direct/indirect) applicable where the end uses is other than general corporate purpose/working capital/repayment of Rupee loans? +

The foreign equity holders as defined at Paragraph 1.11 of the Master Direction No. 5 on ‘External Commercial Borrowings, Trade Credits and Structured Obligations dated March 26, 2019 (MD) are eligible to lend for the end-uses given at Paragraph 2.1.viii(d), 2.1.viii(e) and 2.1.viii(f) of the MD. For end-uses, other than those in the negative list, recognised lenders are given at Paragraph 2.1.iv of the MD.

Remittances (Money Transfer Service Scheme (MTSS) and Rupee Drawing Arrangement (RDA))

Rupee Drawing Arrangement (RDA)

7. Can the remittance be credited to the bank account of the beneficiary even if the bank does not have any tie-up with a non-resident Exchange House ? +

Yes, foreign inward remittances received by the AD Category-I Bank having RDA with a Non Resident Exchange House may be credited directly to the account of the beneficiary held with a bank other than the AD Category-I Bank through electronic mode, such as, NEFT, IMPS, etc.Money Transfer Service Scheme (MTSS)

FAQs on Non-Banking Financial Companies

Definition of public deposits

7. What is the status of optionally fully convertible debentures in `public deposits? +

A. Optionally Fully Convertible Debentures (OFCDs), which were brought within the purview of Regulations in the year 1996, have now (in 1998) been taken out of the Regulations. Any money raised by issue of OFCDs is not to be treated as public deposit.

Business restrictions imposed on Paytm Payments Bank Limited vide Press Releases dated January 31 and February 16, 2024

Bank Accounts with Paytm Payments Bank

7. My monthly electricity bill is paid automatically from my bank account with Paytm Bank Limited? Can this continue? +

Withdrawal/debit mandates (such as National Automated Clearing House (NACH) mandates) will continue to get executed till there is balance available in your account. However, after March 15, 2024, credit or deposit in your accounts will not be allowed. Therefore, to avoid inconvenience, it is suggested that you make alternative arrangements through another bank, before March 15, 2024

Framework for Compromise Settlements and Technical Write-offs

B. TECHNICAL WRITE-OFF

7. The circular also permits the lenders to undertake technical write-offs of amount outstanding relating to borrowers in default. Doesn’t such a practice encourage default behavior, as the costs of default are borne entirely by the lenders and defaulting borrowers do not face any consequences? +

No. As defined in the circular, technical write-off refers to cases where the NPAs remain outstanding at borrowers’ loan account level, but are derecognised by the lenders only for accounting purposes. Technical write-off is a normal banking practice undertaken by the lenders to cleanse the balance sheets of bad debts which are either considered unrecoverable or whose recovery is likely to consume disproportionate resources of the lenders. However, such technical write-offs do not entail any waiver of claims against the borrower and thus the lenders’ right to recovery is not undermined in any manner. Therefore, the defaulting borrowers are not benefited in any manner and their legal obligation as well as the costs of such defaults for them remain unchanged vis-à-vis the position prior to technical write-offs.

The circular only provides clarity on definition of technical write-off and a broad guidance on the process to be followed by the lenders for technical write-offs, which will ensure consistency in the approach followed by various lenders.

Biennial survey on Foreign Collaboration in Indian Industry (FCS)

Details of survey launch

Q7. How do I know whether my response has been submitted successfully or not? +

Ans.: After sending the duly filled in survey schedule (excel based) to the generic email IDs of the Reserve Bank as per the instruction in the survey schedule, the respondent will receive the system-generated acknowledgement. No separate mail will be sent in this regard. If some error is mentioned in the acknowledgement, then the respondent is required to resubmit the form by rectifying the mentioned error. After corrections, the respondent should receive a successful processing acknowledgement email.

Foreign Investment in India

Q.7: What is meant by capital on a fully diluted basis ? +

Answer: Fully diluted basis means the total number of shares that would be outstanding if all possible sources of conversion are exercised.

Retail Direct Scheme

Scheme related queries

7. What are the facilities available on the RBI Retail Direct Portal? +

The RBI Retail Direct Online Portal will facilitate the following:

Buying Government securities through primary auctions (non-competitive segment only).
Buying and selling Government securities in the secondary market.
Buying and selling Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs) in the primary and secondary market.
Investor services such as account statement, nomination facility, pledge/lien, gift transactions, grievance redressal, and managing profile like contact details etc.

Housing Loans

7. How does tenure affect cost of loan? +

The longer the tenure of the loan, the lesser will be your monthly EMI outflow. Shorter tenures mean greater EMI burden, but your loan is repaid faster. If you have a short-term cash flow mismatch, your bank may increase the tenure of the loan, and your EMI burden comes down. But longer tenures mean payment of larger interest towards the loan and make it more expensive.

Targeted Long Term Repo Operations (TLTROs)

Q7: Under TLTRO scheme, the specified eligible instruments will have to be acquired up to fifty per cent from primary market issuances and the remaining fifty per cent from the secondary market. Is this limit fungible between primary and secondary market? +

Ans: The deployment of funds availed under TLTRO in primary market cannot exceed fifty percent of the amount availed. Apart from the above stipulation, the limits are fungible between primary and secondary market deployment.

Indian Currency

A) Basics of Indian Currency/Currency Management

7. Where can one find information regarding notes/coins supplied by RBI or currently in circulation?

The information about indent and supply of notes and coins or currency/coins in circulation is available on our website www.rbi.org.in, at the following link https://website.rbi.org.in/web/rbi/publications/reports/annual_report.

All you wanted to know about NBFCs

A. Definitions

7. What are the essential documents required to be submitted along with the application form to the Reserve Bank?

The application form and an indicative checklist of the documents required to be submitted along with the application is available on Reserve Bank’s website under NBFC Forms.

Core Investment Companies

A. Definitions:

7. Whether definition of group companies should include LLPs and partnerships in the group? Whether investments in a group entity other than a Company, say partnership firms, LLPs, Trusts, Association of Persons, etc by CICs could be regarded as investments in Group Companies for the purpose of calculating 90% investment in Group Companies

Ans: LLPs and Partnerships are not companies as per Section 3 of Companies Act 2013. Hence, they cannot be included in the definition of Group Company.

Only investments in companies registered under Section 3 of the Companies Act 2013 would be regarded as investments in Group companies for the purpose of calculating 90% investment in Group companies. Moreover, in view of the loose structure and regulatory framework of LLPs/ Partnerships, CICs are prohibited from contributing capital to any partnership firm or to be partners in partnership firms including LLPs

FAQs on Priority Sector Lending (PSL)

K. PSLCs

Query 23: How can banks register for PSLC trading?

Clarification: The banks are required to submit a request to Financial Inclusion and Development Department, Central Office, RBI at fiddpsd@rbi.org.in to obtain registration for PSLC trading by submitting a) DEA Fund Code b) Customer identification number and c) RBI Current Account number.

Coordinated Portfolio Investment Survey – India

Details for survey launch

Q8. What if the reporting entity does not receive the soft copy of the survey schedule by email?

Ans: In case the reporting entity does not receive the soft-form of the survey schedule, they may download the same from RBI website (www.rbi.org.in) under the head ‘Regulatory Reporting’-→ ‘List of Returns’-→ ‘CPIS – Survey Schedule’[ or under the head ‘Forms’ (available under ‘More Links’ at the bottom of the home page) and sub-head ‘Survey’] or send a request to the email: cpis@rbi.org.in. .

Government Securities Market in India – A Primer

8. How does the trading in G-Secs take place and what regulations are applicable to prevent abuse? Whether value free transfer of G-Secs is allowed? +

8.1 There is an active secondary market in G-Secs. The securities can be bought / sold in the secondary market either through (i) Negotiated Dealing System-Order Matching (NDS-OM) (anonymous online trading) or through (ii) Over the Counter (OTC) and reported on NDS-OM or (iii) NDS-OM-Web (para 8.5) and (iv) Stock exchanges (para 8.6)

i. NDS-OM

In August 2005, RBI introduced an anonymous screen-based order matching module called NDS-OM. This is an order driven electronic system, where the participants can trade anonymously by placing their orders on the system or accepting the orders already placed by other participants. Anonymity ensures a level playing field for various categories of participants. NDS-OM is operated by the CCIL on behalf of the RBI (Please see answer to the question no.19 about CCIL). Direct access to the NDS-OM system is currently available only to select financial institutions like Commercial Banks, Primary Dealers, well managed and financially sound UCBs and NBFCs, etc. Other participants can access this system through their custodians i.e. with whom they maintain Gilt Accounts. The custodians place the orders on behalf of their customers. The advantages of NDS-OM are price transparency and better price discovery.

8.2 Gilt Account holders have been given indirect access to the reporting module of NDS-OM through custodian institutions.

8.3 Access to NDS-OM by the retail segment, comprising of individual investors having demat account with depositories viz. NSDL and/or CDSL, desirous of participating in the G-Sec market is facilitated by allowing them to use their demat accounts for their transactions and holdings in G-Sec. This access would be facilitated through any of the existing NDS-OM primary members, who also act as Depository Participants for NSDL and/or CDSL. The scheme seeks to facilitate efficient access to retail individual investor to the same G-Sec market being used by the large institutional investor in a seamless manner.

ii. Over the Counter (OTC)/ Telephone Market

8.4 In the G-Sec market, a participant, who wants to buy or sell a G-Sec, may contact a bank / PD/financial institution either directly or through a broker registered with SEBI and negotiate price and quantity of security. Such negotiations are usually done on telephone and a deal may be struck if both counterparties agree on the amount and rate. In the case of a buyer, like an UCB wishing to buy a security, the bank's dealer (who is authorized by the bank to undertake transactions in G-Secs) may get in touch with other market participants over telephone and obtain quotes. Should a deal be struck, the bank should record the details of the trade in a deal slip (specimen given at Annex 5). The dealer must exercise due diligence with regard to the price quoted by verifying with available sources (See question number 14 for information on ascertaining the price of G-Secs). All trades undertaken in OTC market are reported on the Reported segment of NDS-OM within 15 minutes, the details of which are given under the question number 15.

iii. NDS-OM-Web

8.5 RBI has launched NDS-OM-Web on June 29, 2012 for facilitating direct participation of gilt account holders (GAH) on NDS-OM through their primary members (PM) (as risk controller only and not having any role in pricing of trade). The GAH have access to the same order book of NDS-OM as the PM. GAH are in a better position to control their orders (place/modify/cancel/hold/release) and have access to real time live quotes in the market. Since notifications of orders executed as well as various queries are available online to the GAH, they are better placed to manage their positions. Web based interface that leverages on the gilt accounts already maintained with the custodian Banks/PDs provides an operationally efficient system to retail participants. NDS OM Web is provided at no additional cost to its users. PMs, however, may recover the actual charges paid by them to CCIL for settlement of trades or any other charges like transaction cost, annual maintenance charges (AMC) etc. It has been made obligatory for the Primary Members to offer the NDS-OM-Web module to their constituent GAHs (excluding individual) for online trading in G-sec in the secondary market. Constituents not desirous of availing this facility may do so by opting out in writing. On the other hand, individual GAHs desirous of the NDS-OM-Web facility may be provided the web access only on specific request.

iv. Stock Exchanges

8.6 As advised by SEBI, the stock exchanges (like NSE, BSE, MCX) have been asked to create dedicated debt segment in their trading platforms. In compliance to this, stock exchanges have launched debt trading (G-Secs as also corporate bonds) segment which generally cater to the needs of retail investors. The process involved in trading of G-Secs in Demat form in stock exchanges is as follows:

a. The Gilt Account Holder (GAH), say XYZ provident fund, approaches his custodian bank, (say ABC), to convert its holding held by custodian bank in their CSGL account (to the extent he wishes to trade, say ₹ 10,000), into Demat form.

b. ABC reduces the GAH’s security balance by ₹ 10,000 and advises the depository of stock exchange (NSDL/CSDL) to increase XYZ’s Demat account by ₹ 10,000. ABC also advises to PDO, Mumbai to reduce its CSGL balance by ₹ 10,000 and increase the CSGL balance of NSDL/CSDL by ₹ 10,000.

c. NSDL/CSDL increases the Demat balance of XYZ by ₹ 10,000.

d. XYZ can now trade in G-Sec on stock exchange.

v. Regulations applicable to prevent abuse

8.7 RBI vide FMRD.FMSD.11/11.01.012/2018-19 dated March 15, 2019 issued directions to prevent abuse in markets regulated by RBI. The directions are applicable to all persons dealing in securities, money market instruments, foreign exchange instruments, derivatives or other instruments of like nature as specified from time to time.

vi. Guidelines for Value free transfer (VFT) of Government Securities

8.8 VFT of the government securities shall mean transfer of securities from one SGL/CSGL to another SGL/CSGL account, without consideration. Such transfers could be on account of posting of margins, inter-depository transfers of government securities arising from trades in exchanges between demat account holders of different depositories, gift/inheritance and change of custodians etc. VFT would also be required in the case of distribution of securities to the beneficiary demat/gilt accounts on allotment after participation in the non-competitive segment of the primary auction.

RBI vide notification IDMD.CDD.No.1241/11.02.001/2018-19 dated November 16, 2018 issued separate guidelines for VFT to enable more efficient operations in the Government securities market. Value Free Transfers between SGL/CSGL accounts not covered by these guidelines will require specific approval of the Reserve Bank. The guidelines prescribes list of permitted transactions for VFT and application for permission for VFT for any other purpose may be submitted to Public Debt Office, Mumbai Regional Office, RBI, Fort, Mumbai

Foreign Investment in India

Q.8: Whether the foreign investment will be classified as FDI or FPI based on the schedule under which the investment is being made. +

Answer: No, FDI and FPI are agnostic from the point of view of the schedule under which investment has been made. It is the percentage which defines whether it is direct or portfolio investment.

External Commercial Borrowings (ECB) and Trade Credits

D. RECOGNISED LENDERS/ INVESTORS

8. A foreign equity holder holding minimum 25% direct equity holding in the borrowing entity or minimum indirect equity holding of 51% in the borrowing entity is a recognised lender. Can the foreign equity holder dispose-off the holding once ECB is contracted? +

No, all ECB guidelines including those related to minimum equity holding, are to be fulfilled during the whole tenure of the ECB and not only at the time of contracting of ECB.

Remittances (Money Transfer Service Scheme (MTSS) and Rupee Drawing Arrangement (RDA))

Money Transfer Service Scheme (MTSS)

8. What is Money Transfer Service Scheme (MTSS) ? +

Money Transfer Service Scheme (MTSS) is a way of transferring personal remittances from abroad to beneficiaries in India. Only inward personal remittances into India such as remittances towards family maintenance and remittances favouring foreign tourists visiting India are permissible. Under the scheme there is a tie-up between reputed money transfer companies abroad known as Overseas Principals and agents in India known as Indian Agents who would disburse funds to beneficiaries in India at ongoing exchange rates.

FAQs on Non-Banking Financial Companies

Definition of public deposits

8. Whether secured debentures could be partly secured for the purpose of exemption from NBFC Directions ? What happens if the value of security behind the secured debentures declines after the date of issue ? +

For the purpose of exemption from NBFC Directions, (1998) on Acceptance of Public Deposits, the debentures are required to be fully secured on the date of issue and to the fullest satisfaction of the trustees.