New FAQ Page 2 - আরবিআই - Reserve Bank of India
Foreign Exchange Facilities for Residents (As on June 30, 2004)
Introduction
The legal framework for administration of exchange control in India is provided by the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999. Under the Act, freedom has been granted for buying and selling of foreign exchange for undertaking current account transactions. However, the Central Government has been vested with powers in consultation with Reserve Bank to impose reasonable restrictions on current account transactions. Accordingly, the Government has issued Notifications GSR.381(E) dated May 3, 2000, and S.O. 301(E) dated March30, 2001, imposing certain restrictions on current account transactions in public interest.
These details are available on the Bank’s website besides with the authorised dealers and regional offices of the Exchange control Department. Our experience so far has been that the residents like to get information on several matters relating to various current account transactions and other incidental issues. This pamphlet contains answers to all such questions in simple language. While preparing replies to questions, special care has been taken to ensure that the replies are drafted in simple words and reference to technical details are avoided.
The Foreign Exchange Management Act,1999 (FEMA), has come into force with effect from June 1, 2000. With introduction of the new Act (in place of FERA) certain structural changes have been introduced and now all transactions involving foreign exchange have been classified either as Capital or Current Account transactions. All transactions undertaken by a resident that do not alter his assets or liabilities outside India are current account transactions. In terms of Section 5 of the FEMA, persons are free to buy or sell foreign exchange for any current account transaction except for those transactions on which Central Government has imposed restrictions, vide its Notification No.G.S.R.381(E) dated May 3, 2000 (as amended from time to time). Full text of the said Notification is available in the Official Gazette. Incidentally, no release of foreign exchange is admissible for any kind of travel to Nepal and Bhutan or for any transaction with persons resident in Nepal and Bhutan.
Some of the commonly or frequently asked questions by residents in connection with foreign exchange facilities or restrictions have been answered in following paragraphs.
EXCHANGE CONTROL DEPARTMENT NON RESIDENT FOREIGN ACCOUNTS DIVISION
Ans. An NBFC-IFC is a non-deposit taking NBFC which has a minimum of 75% of its total assets deployed towards infrastructure lending. For this purpose, the term ‘infrastructure lending’ means a credit facility extended by an NBFC to a borrower, by way of term loan, project loan subscription to bonds/ debentures/ preference shares/ equity shares in a project company acquired as a part of the project finance package such that subscription amount to be “in the nature of advance” or any other form of long term funded facility for exposure in the infrastructure sub-sectors as notified by the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, from time to time.
Circular dated April 11, 2023 on ‘Framework for acceptance of Green Deposits’
It is not mandatory but in case REs intend to raise green deposits from their customers they should follow the framework prescribed therein.
বৰ্তমান সমস্ত ‘নো ফ্ৰিল’ অ্যাকাউন্ট যেগুলো ডিবিওডি.নং.এলইজি.বিসি.44/09.07.005/2005-06 11 নভেম্বর 2005 সালের সাৰ্কুলারে থাকা নিৰ্দেশ অনুযায়ী খোলা হয়েছে, সেই সমস্ত অ্যাকাউণ্ট ডিবিওডি.নং.এলইজি.বিচি.35/09.07.005/20012-13 10 আগষ্ট 2012 সালের সাৰ্কুলার অনুযায়ী বিএসবিডিএ অ্যাকাউন্টে পরিবৰ্তিত করা হবে সঙ্গে এই সাৰ্কুলার মতে নতুন করে খোলা সমস্ত অ্যাকাউন্ট বিএসবিডিএ হিসাবে গণ্য করা হবে। উচিত মূল্যে যে অ্যাকাউন্টগুলোতে অতিরিক্ত সুবিধা উপলব্ধ রয়েছে, বিশেষ করে বিএসবিডিএ অ্যাকাউন্টের গ্ৰাহকের জন্য, সেই অ্যাকাউন্টগুলো বিএসবিডিএ হিসাবে গণ্য করা হবে।
Ans: Yes. The banks will have to maintain amount of specified securities for the amount received in TLTRO in its HTM book at all times till maturity of TLTRO.
Ans: Cards can be classified on the basis of their issuance, usage and payment by the card holder. There are three types of cards (a) debit, (b) credit, and (c) prepaid.
The Reserve Bank of India has introduced an Ombudsman Scheme for customers of Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs). The Ombudsman Scheme for Non-Banking Financial Companies, 2018 (the Scheme), is an expeditious and cost free apex level mechanism for resolution of complaints of customers of NBFCs, relating to certain services rendered by NBFCs. The Scheme is being introduced under Section 45 L of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, with effect from February 23, 2018.
Ans – Information regarding USD-INR rates for the period 1945-46 – 1970-71 is available at the following link: Exchange Rate – 1945-1971
2. Information regarding USD-INR rate for the period 1970-71 to 2013-14 is available on:
http://dbie.rbi.org.in/DBIE/dbie.rbi?site=publications -> Handbook of Statistics on the Indian Economy -> Part I -> Annual Series -> Trade & Balance of Payments -> Table 147 - EXCHANGE RATE OF THE INDIAN RUPEE VIS-À-VIS THE SDR, US DOLLAR, POUND STERLING, D. M. /EURO AND JAPANESE YEN (calendar Year – Annual Average)
3. Information for the year 2015 onwards is available on
/en/web/rbi/exchange-rate-archive
The ₹2000 denomination banknote was introduced in November 2016 under Section 24(1) of RBI Act, 1934 primarily with the objective to meet the currency requirement of the economy in an expeditious manner after withdrawal of the legal tender status of all ₹500 and ₹1000 banknotes in circulation at that time. With fulfilment of that objective and availability of banknotes in other denominations in adequate quantities, printing of ₹2000 banknotes was stopped in 2018-19. A majority of the ₹2000 denomination notes were issued prior to March 2017 and are at the end of their estimated life-span of 4-5 years. It has also been observed that this denomination is not commonly used for transactions. Further, the stock of banknotes in other denominations continue to be adequate to meet the currency requirement of the public.
In view of the above, and in pursuance of the “Clean Note Policy” of the Reserve Bank of India, it has been decided to withdraw the ₹2000 denomination banknotes from circulation.
ANS: “The Depositor Education and Awareness Fund (DEA Fund) Scheme, 2014” was formulated by the Reserve Bank of India in exercise of the powers conferred upon it under Section 26A of the Banking Regulation (BR) Act, 1949 and all the powers enabling it in this behalf. Under the provisions of this Section, RBI has established the Depositor Education and Awareness Fund (Fund). The Scheme has come into effect from May 24, 2014, i.e., the date of notification of the Scheme in the Official Gazette of India.
Ans: The circular is applicable to all equated periodic instalment based personal loans only. The circular is not applicable to other types of loans. The Reserve Bank circular DBR.No.BP.BC.99/08.13.100/2017-18 on “XBRL Returns – Harmonization of Banking Statistics” dated January 04, 2018 may be referred for the definition of personal loans.
(Usage of e₹ is currently being pilot tested in the form of some studies in the country. The pilot is being tried in the Retail (public) and Wholesale (bank and other institutions) segments.
Ans: Digital Rupee or e₹, is India’s Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). It is the digital form of India’s physical currency, the Rupee (₹). e₹ is issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in digital form and offers features similar to physical cash like convenience of use, guarantee of RBI, finality of settlement, etc. e₹ is stored in the user’s digital wallet and can be used to receive / send money, and / or make payment for transactions, just like any physical ₹ note.
The logo and tagline for India’s CBDC is as under:

Scheme for Payment of Pension to Central Government Pensioners by Authorised Banks
Payment of pension to retired government employees, including payment of basic pension, increased dearness relief (DR), and other benefits as and when announced by the governments, is governed by the relevant schemes prepared by concerned Ministries/Departments of the Government of India and State Governments. RBI has issued certain instructions in this regard which is available in the Master Circular – Disbursement of Government Pension by Agency Banks dated April 01, 2025. Clarifications, in the form of questions and answers, on certain issues related to the instructions issued by RBI is given below.
Yes, the banks should not insist on opening of a new account in case of Central Government pensioner if the spouse in whose favour an authorization for family pension exists in the Pension Payment Order (PPO) is the survivor. The family pension should be credited to the existing account without opening a new account by the family pensioner for this purpose.