Tregard to the content and coverage of the Best Practices Code (BPC), the Reserve Bank has prepared guidelines for banks to keep in view while preparing the BPC. The BPC should -

Banks which have already prepared the BPC may carry out the necessary changes in the document in the light of these guidelines.

The Reserve Bank had, in May 2002, commended to banks implementation of the BPC as a measure to prevent frauds. On an examination of the BPC developed by certain select banks, it was observed that there was no uniformity in their content and coverage. The documents were not prepared as envisaged by the Mitra Committee. The BPC, as envisaged by the Mitra Committee, relates to detailed procedural rules for entering into transactional relations. The main objective is that such procedures, especially those in all fraud-prone areas, should be well documented, compared with national and international best practices, experimented with, and improved upon in the light of the experience gained. Preparation of BPC should involve examination of all procedures, processes, products, activities and systems, existing and future (as and when a new product/ process is introduced). The BPC should be integrated with the overall risk management strategy of the bank. Apart from it being viewed in the context of prevention of frauds, it should also be considered as a part of the strategy to mitigate all possible operational risk losses.

The Reserve Bank has advised the state level bankers’ committees (SLBCs) to allocate the state-wise credit mobilisation targets indicated by the government, under the swar njayanti gram swarozgar yojana (SGSY), among commercial banks, co-operative banks and regional rural banks. The SLBCs have been further advised to finalise the targets of individual banks on the basis of acceptable parameters like resources, number of rural/semi-urban branches, etc., so that each bank would be in a position to arrive at its corporate target. The Reserve Bank would monitor the achievement of the credit targets by banks.

Banks have been advised to put in all efforts to achieve the credit targets, minimum subsidy credit ratio fixed and maintain per family investment of Rs. 25000.

Lead Banks have been advised to review the performance of credit mobilisation at regular intervals in each state/union territory through the respective SLBC/District Consultative Committee (DCC).

All scheduled commercial banks (except regional rural banks) have been advised that the cut-off date for lapsing of sanctions and completion of disbursement for the programme year 2003-2004 under the prime minister’s rozgar yojana (PMRY) have been extended to September 30, 2004.

Banks have been advised to issue necessary instructions to all their branches/controlling offices in this regard and ensure achievement of target for the programme year 2003-2004 under the PMRY.

Reiterating its instructions of June 2, 1993, the Reserve Bank has clarified to urban co-operative banks (UCBs) that they may sanction advances against the security of Relief Bonds issued in different series subject to the conditions detailed below :

UCBs have also been advised to exercise caution and keep the following aspects in view while sanctioning loans against relief bonds/certificates :

It had been observed that many banks had not got the relief bonds/certificates transferred in their own names before disbursal of loans. Some banks had also reported that the bonds pledged with them but not transferred in their name had been lost. A few instances of fake bonds/certificates had also come to the Reserve Bank’s notice. Recently, there was a case where a person, reporting himself to be an agent of the bond holder, had submitted a colour xerox copy of the bond for signature verification of the bond holder.

Hence, UCBs are advised to be vigilant and put in place necessary safeguards to ensure that such irregularities do not take place.

The Reserve Bank, in consultation with a few primary (urban) co-operative banks (UCBs), has revised the formats of the off-site surveillance (OSS) returns to be submitted by UCBs. The revision has been done with the objective of reducing the volume of data required to be reported by UCBs, while increasing the breadth and depth of information being obtained from these returns. As such, the earlier set of 10 OSS forms has been rationalised and condensed into 8 returns. Out of the 8 returns, the periodicity of one return, viz., Statement on Bank Profile (Return No. 8) is annual and the remaining seven are required to be submitted at quarterly intervals.

UCBs have been advised that the OSS returns required to be submitted at quarterly intervals, should be prepared with reference to the financial position as on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 every year. The Statement on Bank Profile, being an annual return, should be prepared only once every year, with reference to the position as on March 31, i.e., at the end of each financial year.

UCBs have been further advised that all OSS returns should be submitted within one month of the close of the relative quarter/ year. If the returns relating to the quarter/year ended March 31 are based on un-audited financial position, a revised set of OSS returns should be submitted as on that date, within 3 weeks of completion of the statutory audit. As such, for the quarter/year ended March 31, UCBs should submit two sets of OSS returns, the first before April 30 and the second within 3 weeks of completion of audit.

The OSS returns should be approved by the board of directors/chief executive officer of the UCB and sent to the Urban Banks Department of the Reserve Bank’s regional office under whose jurisdiction the UCB functions and to which the UCB submits other regulatory returns. It is further advised that the Reserve Bank attaches utmost importance to this reporting system and expects UCBs to submit the OSS returns correctly compiled and within the prescribed time.

UCBs may designate and authorise one or two senior official/ s who would be responsible for the correct compilation and timely submission of these returns and who would be fully responsible for the information furnished. Such designated authorised reporting official/s (ARO/s) should liase with the officials of the OSS Division of the Reserve Bank’s Urban Banks Department. UCBs should indicate the names and designations of the ARO/ s to the Reserve Bank’s concerned Regional Office while forwarding the OSS returns.

The modified OSS Returns would come into effect from March 31, 2004.

As desired by the government, the data on progress under various government sponsored schemes, such as the Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY), Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY) and Scheme of Liberation and Rehabilitation of Scavengers (SLRS) should be obtained/ reviewed by the Reserve Bank on a monthly basis, instead of on quarterly basis.

Banks are, therefore, advised to furnish the data under these schemes to the Reserve Bank on a monthly basis (so as to reach it by the end of the next month to which the data relates). This change in periodicity would be effective from the month of April 2004 onwards and the first such monthly progress report (for the month of April 2004) should be forwarded to the Reserve Bank so as to reach it by end of May 2004. The format for submission of data remains the same.

The Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) System was put in live operations from March 26, 2004. For the time being inter-bank transactions are being put through and the customer related transfers will be enabled in due course.

After about two weeks, other banks/primary dealers will join the System in a phased manner. Depending on their full technical and other preparedness, eligible participants will join the System at an interval of a week. It is expected that all prospective RTGS participants will join the System in about three months.

It may be recalled that as a part of payment system reforms, the Reserve Bank of India had initiated several measures to reduce risks especially settlement and systemic risks, in payment systems. Prime among these initiatives is the Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) System for settling interbank transactions on transaction by transaction (i.e., gross) basis, in an online at real time mode. Trial run of the RTGS System was held for about two months with the participation of four banks. During this period, as a measure of abundant caution, the RTGS system, the policies, procedures, security and other aspects were also subjected to a review by an external group of experts.

More information on RTGS is available at the Real Time Gross Settlement System link on the Reserve Bank of India’s home page.

As a step towards further liberalisation, it has been decided to freely allow the following categories of remittances by residents.

It has been decided to allow ADs to grant rupee loans to nonresident Indians (NRIs) as per policy laid down by the bank’s board of directors. ADs may, however, ensure that the proceeds of the rupee loan are not utilised for any of the following activities : (i) business of chit fund, or (ii) nidhi company, or (iii) agricultural or plantation activities or in real estate business, or construction of farm houses, or (iv) trading in transferable development rights (TDRs), or (v) investment in capital market including margin trading and derivatives.

The repayment of the loan may be made by debit to non-resident (external) (NRE)/foreign currency non-resident (FCNR)/non-resident ordinary (NRO) accounts of the non-resident borrowers or out of inward remittances by borrowers. The quantum of loan, rate of interest, margins etc., on such loans may be decided by the ADs based on the relevant directives issued in this regard by the Reserve Bank’s Department of Banking Operations and Development.

In May 2000, ADs were allowed to grant loans in rupees to NRIs (i) for personal or business purposes against the security of shares or immovable property in India and (ii) housing loans against the security of houses/flats to be acquired for acquisition of residential accommodation in India.

It has been decided to grant general permission to Indian Companies in India to grant loans in foreign currency to the employees of their branches outside India for personal purposes in accordance with their staff welfare scheme/loan rules and other terms and conditions as applicable to their staff resident in India and abroad.

The Reserve Bank reviewed the relevance of the Foreign Inward Remittance Payment System (FIRPS) in consultation with the Foreign Exchange Dealers’ Association of India (FEDAI) and has decided to withdraw it as it is no longer used by banks in the wake of electronic credits and online transfer of funds.

It has been decided to rationalise the existing facilities for overseas borrowings and introduce a monitoring and reporting system for all authorised dealers (ADs). The earlier facilities would now be replaced by a single facility, in terms of which, all categories of overseas foreign currency borrowings including existing external commercial borrowings (ECBs) and overdrafts in nostro accounts not adjusted within five days, shall not exceed 25 per cent of their unimpaired Tier-I capital as at the close of the previous quarter, or USD 10 million (or its equivalent), whichever is higher. Fresh borrowings above this limit would require the Reserve Bank’s prior approval. Applications for fresh ECBs should be made as per the ECB policy advised by the Reserve Bank in January 2004.

The transactions indicated below would continue to be outside the limit of 25 per cent of unimpaired Tier-I Capital or USD 10 million (or its equivalent),

All ADs have been advised to report their total outstanding overseas foreign currency borrowings under all categories as on March 20, 2004 to the Chief General Manager, Foreign Exchange Department, (Forex Markets Division) Central Office, Reserve Bank of India by March 31, 2004.

Edited and published by Alpana Killawala for the Reserve Bank of India, Press Relations Division, Central Office, Shahid Bhagat Singh Marg, Mumbai-400 001 and printed by her at Alco Corporation, A-2, 72, Shah & Nahar Ind. Estate, Lower Parel (West), Mumbai - 400 013. Readers desirous of subscribing may remit the subscription, by way of cheque/DD payable at Mumbai to the Director, DRRP (Sales Section), DEAP, Reserve Bank of India, Amar Building, Sir P. M. Road, P. B. No. 1036, Mumbai - 400 001. Also available on Internet at www.cir.rbi.org.in