Ans: It is clarified that treatment advised in the relevant clause (revised clause 77A) for investment by a transferor in SRs backed by stressed loans transferred by it are applicable to all SR investments outstanding as on the date of issuance of the MD. However, lenders other than specified at clause 3(a) & (e) shall be guided by the proviso added to the clause 77A.

Response: Customer-initiated process indicating intent to use a credit card such as PIN generation, modification of transaction control, Interactive Voice Response, recorded call to the customer care centre and SMS may be considered as activation. However, if the card is not activated by the cardholder for more than 30 days from the date of issuance, card-issuers shall seek One Time Password (OTP) based consent in line with para 6(a)(vi) of the MD.

ANS: All unclaimed deposits/accounts that are part of Depositor Education and Awareness (DEA) Fund of RBI can be searched in UDGAM portal. [Please refer to FAQs on DEA Fund scheme, 2014].

ANS: The banks are required to transfer the credit balance in the accounts referred in Q No 2 above, to the DEA Fund on the last working day of the month subsequent to the month of completing 10 years of its continuous inoperative or unclaimed status.
For example, the deposits becoming due to be transferred to DEA Fund (i.e., unclaimed for 10 years), in the month of April shall be transferred to the DEA Fund on the last working day in the month of May.

Ans: The SARFAESI Act, 2002 does not classify possession as symbolic or physical, and these are conventions that have evolved. Accordingly, the REs shall display information on secured assets possessed under Section 13 (4) of the SARFAESI Act, 2002. This includes the display of both symbolically and physically possessed assets on the website of REs.

An EEFC account can be held only in the form of a current account. No interest is payable on EEFC accounts.

Release of foreign exchange for studies abroad up to the estimate given by an institution abroad or US$30,000 per academic year, whichever is higher, does not require prior permission from the Reserve Bank.

Resident individuals are permitted to make overseas portfolio investments without any limit in listed overseas companies that have at least 10% share in an Indian company listed in a recognized stock exchange in India as on 1st January of the year of investment.

Yes, the tourists can freely make local payments by debit to the NRO account.

From exchange control point of view, no monitoring is required. However, the banks are free to put in place such administrative arrangements as considered necessary for a smooth conduct of accounts, especially in cases where it is likely that a request for repatriation of funds outside India will be made.