This circular has been superseded by Short Sale (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2018 dated July 25, 2018.

RBI/2014-15/251
IDMD.PCD.06/14.03.07/2014-15

September 30, 2014

All market participants

Dear Sir/Madam

Secondary market transactions in Government Securities - Short Selling

This has reference to circular IDMD.No.03/11.01.01(B)/2005-06 dated February 28, 2006 and updated vide circulars IDMD.No/11.01.01(B)/2006-07 dated January 31, 2007, IDMD.DOD.No. 3165/ 11.01.01(B) / 2007-08 dated January 1, 2008, IDMD.PCD.14/14.03.07/2011-12 dated December 28, 2011 and IDMD.PCD.21/14.03.07/2011-12 dated June 21, 2012 on the captioned subject.

2. The guidelines relating to short selling have been reviewed and it has been decided to permit scheduled commercial banks and Primary Dealers (PDs) in Government securities to:

(i) execute the sale leg of short sale transactions in the OTC market, in addition to the NDS-OM platform; and

(ii) undertake short position (face value) in any security subject to the following limits:

1. Liquid securities: 0.75% (enhanced from the existing limit of 0.50%) of the total outstanding stock issued of each security or Rs. 600 crore, whichever is lower.
2. Illiquid securities: 0.25% of the total outstanding stock issued of each security.

At no point of time, a bank/PD should accumulate a short position in any security in excess of the above mentioned limits.

3. In case a liquid security becomes illiquid during the period of short sale resulting in a lower short sale limit, a bank/PD can continue to hold the already executed short position till it is closed out. Any fresh short position in such securities, however, should be undertaken within the applicable limits for illiquid securities.

4. The short sale position executed in the OTC market should be reported on the NDS-OM platform within 15 minutes of the execution of the trade. Banks and PDs undertaking short sale and related cover transactions should indicate the same through proper tagging on the platform.

5. Participants may review their systems and controls to ensure strict compliance with all regulatory requirements of short sale and cover transactions. Any violation of regulatory guidelines noticed in this regard should immediately be reported to the Chief General Manager, Internal Debt Management Department, Reserve Bank of India, Mumbai.

6. Default in payment of cash or delivery of security shall be viewed seriously and would be subject to penal measures as prescribed in RBI circular IDMD. DOD.17/11.01.01(B)/2010-11 dated July 14, 2010 as amended from time to time. Reserve Bank may also take any action including temporary or permanent debarment of the SGL account holder from the short sale market as it may deem fit, for violation/circumvention of the regulatory guidelines or if Reserve Bank is of the view that the bank or PD has attempted to manipulate the market, involved in market abuse, or provided information that was incorrect, inaccurate, or incomplete.

7. Banks / PDs should submit a report of the daily security-wise short sale position, as per the format in Annex, to the Principal Chief General Manager, Financial Market Department, Reserve Bank of India, Mumbai on a monthly basis, on the first working day of the succeeding month.

8. All other terms and conditions contained in the aforementioned circulars remain unchanged.

9. These guidelines shall come into effect from October 7, 2014. The guidelines will be reviewed based on experience.

Yours faithfully

(Rekha Warriar)
Chief General Manager

Monthly reporting of Short Sale transaction in GOI Securities
Report for the month of_____________

Name of bank/PD:________________________

Security:_______________                                                    Regulatory Limit#_______________

1. Age (in number of days) of the oldest uncovered short sale transaction as on the last day of the month: _________days.

2. Age (in number of days) of the oldest short sale transaction covered during the month: ________days.

Certified that there were no violations of extant regulatory guidelines on short sale in GOI Securities.

[Concurrent / Internal Auditor]