Once a remittance is made for an amount upto USD 25,000 during the calendar year, he would not be eligible to make any further remittances under this route, even if the proceeds of the investments have been brought back into the country.

The interest rate directives on bank advances will not be applicable to loans or advances or other financial accommodation made or provided or renewed by a scheduled bank, inter alia, to its own employees. Where the advances are provided by the bank to co-operative credit societies formed by the bank’s staff members for lending to constituents ( i.e. Staff of the bank ) the interest rate directives of the RBI will not apply to such advances.

Yes.  As Relief/Savings Bonds are Government securities, nomination facility is available for these as explained at Question Nos. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 & 22 above.

The entities/individuals belonging to the Promoters/Promoter Group, which would participate in the voting equity shares of the NOFHC, would have to provide theMemorandum and Articles of Association, financial statements for past ten years and IT returns for last three years, as appropriate, at the time of submission of their application. The last available financial statements in respect of other Group entities, which do not participate in the voting equity shares of the NOFHC will also have to be furnished. The details of the Promoters’ direct and indirect interest in various entities/companies/industries and details of credit/other facilities availed by the Promoters/Promoter Group would be required of all entities. [ para 3 of Annex II to the guidelines]

Considering that a large number of customer complaints emanate on account of unsuccessful or ‘failed’ transactions, RBI has issued a circular dated September 20, 2019 on Harmonisation of Turn Around Time (TAT) and customer compensation for failed transactions using authorised Payment Systems wherein the TAT is prescribed for reversing the funds in case of failed transactions. Further, the circular also prescribes a compensation mechanism if there is a delay on the part of Regulated Entity to reverse the funds. The details of the circular are available at /en/web/rbi/-/notifications/harmonisation-of-turn-around-time-tat-and-customer-compensation-for-failed-transactions-using-authorised-payment-systems-11693.

Ans. The holders of such PPIs shall be permitted to redeem the outstanding balance in the PPI, if for any reason the scheme is being wound-up or is directed by RBI to be discontinued.

The remittances can be in any currency equivalent to USD 25,000 in a calendar year.

No.

Indian parties which have majority share holding in a foreign entity abroad are required to seek specific approval of Reserve Bank of India for setting up of a second generation company in case:the foreign entity has been in operation for a period of less than two years; orthe Indian party has not repatriated the amount of dividends, fees and royalties due to it from the foreign entity; orproceeds of exports to the foreign entity have not been realised in accordance with the Foreign Exchange Management (Export of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2000; oradditional capital contribution is required from India.

The entities/individuals belonging to the Promoters/Promoter Group, which would participate in the voting equity shares of the NOFHC, would have to provide theMemorandum and Articles of Association, financial statements for past ten years and IT returns for last three years, as appropriate, at the time of submission of their application. The last available financial statements in respect of other Group entities, which do not participate in the voting equity shares of the NOFHC will also have to be furnished. The details of the Promoters’ direct and indirect interest in various entities/companies/industries and details of credit/other facilities availed by the Promoters/Promoter Group would be required of all entities. [ para 3 of Annex II to the guidelines]

Yes.  The facility of automatic redemption, i.e., the facility to receive maturity proceeds along with interest accruing thereon on due date without the hassle of visiting the RBI/Agency Bank and submitting physical discharge in respect of the maturing Relief/Savings Bonds is available to all the Relief/Savings Bond investors as explained at Question Nos. 36 & 37 above.

Customers must report to the bank immediately after noticing any unauthorized transactions in their accounts. Delay in reporting reduces their chance of getting the money back.

In terms of RBI circular on Limiting Liability of Customers in Unauthorised Electronic Banking Transactions dated July 06, 2017, zero liability of the customer shall arise if:

1. Contributory fraud/ negligence/ deficiency is there on the part of the bank (irrespective of whether or not the transaction is reported by the customer).

2. Third party breach where the deficiency lies neither with the bank nor with the customer but lies elsewhere in the system, and the customer notifies the bank within three working days of receiving the communication from the bank regarding the unauthorised transaction.

Limited Liability of a Customer

A customer shall be liable for the loss occurring due to unauthorized transactions in the following cases:

1. In cases where the loss is due to negligence by a customer, such as where he/she has shared the payment credentials, the customer will bear the entire loss until the unauthorized transaction was reported to the bank. Any loss occurring after the reporting of the unauthorized transaction shall be borne by the bank.

2. In cases where the responsibility for the unauthorized electronic banking transaction lies neither with the bank nor with the customer, but lies elsewhere in the system and when there is a delay (of four to seven working days after receiving the communication from the bank) on the part of the customer in notifying the bank of such a transaction, the per transaction liability of the customer shall be limited as given in the circular.

Ans. Refunds in case of failed / returned / rejected / cancelled transactions shall be applied to the respective PPI immediately, to the extent that payment was made initially by debit to the PPI, even if such application of funds results in exceeding the limits prescribed for that type / category of PPI.

The stipulation that investors could invest in equities of overseas listed firms that hold at least 10% in a listed Indian firm which was made in terms of our A.P.(DIR Series) Circular No.66 dated January 13, 2003 continues as an additional facility. Under the current Liberalised Remittance Scheme, no such stipulation has been made.

No.

The shares of a JV/WOS can be pledged as a security for availing fund based or non-fund based facility for the concerned entity or for the JV/WOS from an authorised dealer/ public financial institution in India.

Relief/Savings Bonds provide the investors to opt for cumulative/non-cumulative interest payment. In case of cumulative bonds, the interest is payable along with the principal at the time of redemption. However, in case of non-cumulative bonds, the same is paid at half-yearly intervals. If an investor requires regular income flow then it is suggested that he/she should opt for non-cumulative mode of interest payment. Interest can be paid through interest warrants delivered through registered post or can be credited to the investor's bank account on due date, in case the investor has submitted the bank details as per the ECS Mandate form available in the offices of RBI and the Agency Banks. (A model format is given at the end of these FAQs).

A. The NOFHC has to be wholly owned by a single Promoter/Promoter Group ( as per the definition given in the Annex I to the guidelines) and the pattern of shareholding would be as per the provisions laid down at para 2 ( C ) ( ii ) & ( iii) of the guidelines. Two or more separate Groups cannot combine together to set up a NOFHC.

In terms of Master circular on Customer Service in Banks dated July 1, 2015 , banks are advised to have a board approved policy providing infrastructure facilities by branches by bestowing particular attention to providing adequate space, proper furniture, drinking water facilities, with specific emphasis on pensioners, senior citizens, disabled persons, etc. Further, Banks are advised to include senior citizens preferably in Branch Level Customer Service Committee.

In terms of Statement on Developmental and Regulatory Policies - October 4, 2017- Banking Facility for Senior Citizens and Differently abled Persons dated November 9, 2017 banks are required to put in place appropriate mechanism with the following specific provisions:

1. Dedicated Counters/Preference to Senior Citizens, differently abled persons - Banks are advised to provide a clearly identifiable dedicated counter or a counter which provides priority to senior citizens and people who are differently abled including visually impaired persons.

2. Ease of submitting Life Certificate - banks shall ensure that when a Life Certificate is submitted in any branch, including a non-home branch, of the pension paying bank, the same is updated/ uploaded promptly in CBS by the receiving branch itself, to avoid any delay in credit of pension.

3. Cheque Book Facility - Banks shall not insist on physical presence of any customer including senior citizens and differently abled persons for getting cheque books.

4. Automatic conversion of status of accounts - Banks are advised that a fully KYC compliant account should automatically be converted into a ‘Senior Citizen Account’ based on the date of birth available in bank’s records.

5. Ease of filing Form 15G/H - Banks are advised to provide senior citizens and differently abled persons Form 15G/H once in a year (preferably in April) to enable them to submit the same, where applicable, within the stipulated time.

6. Door Step Banking - banks are advised to make concerted effort to provide basic banking facilities, such as pick up of cash and instruments against receipt, delivery of cash against withdrawal from account, delivery of demand drafts, submission of Know Your Customer (KYC) documents and Life certificate at the premises/ residence of such customers.

The Scheme does not restrict such transactions, provided the transactions are within the limit of USD 25,000 per calendar year and is otherwise in order.