RBI/2015-16/15
DNBR (PD) CC.No.052/03.10.119/2015-16

July 01, 2015

To

(i) The Secretary, Ministry of Finance
(ii) The Chairman, Securities and Exchange Board of India
(iii) President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India
(iv) President of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India
(v) Associations of NBFCs
(vi) All Non-Banking Financial Institutions

Dear Sir/Madam,

Master Circular- Exemptions from the provisions of RBI Act, 1934

As you are aware, in order to have all current instructions on the subject at one place, the Reserve Bank of India issues updated circulars / notifications. The instructions related to the captioned subject contained in various circulars issued by RBI updated as on June 30, 2015 are reproduced below. The updated circular has also been placed on the RBI web-site (/en/web/rbi).

Yours faithfully,

(C.D.Srinivasan)
Chief General Manager

1. Introduction

The Bank has issued notifications from time to time exempting some entities from the requirements of Chapter III B of the RBI Act, 1934 or part thereof. While the Master Circular has been prepared to enable the users to have the benefit of a consolidated circular for the purpose of operations, they should refer to the instructions / directions contained in the relevant notifications. The Master Circular is based on notifications listed in the Annex.

2. Exemption from provisions of Chapter III B of the RBI Act, 1934 –

(i)¹Housing Finance Institutions

The Bank has exempted a non-banking financial company which is a housing finance institution as defined in Section 2(d) of the National Housing Bank Act, 1987 from the provisions of Chapter III B of the RBI Act, 1934.

(ii)² Merchant Banking company

A merchant banking company has been exempted from the provisions of Section 45-IA [Requirement of registration and net owned fund], Section 45-IB [Maintenance of liquid assets] and 45-IC [Creation of Reserve Fund] of the RBI Act, 1934, ³Non-Banking Financial Companies Acceptance of Public Deposits (Reserve Bank) Directions, 1998 and ⁴Non-Banking Financial Companies Prudential Norms (Reserve Bank) Directions, 1998 (since repealed by Prudential Norms Directions Notification No 192 dated February 22, 2007), subject to compliance with the following conditions:

1. It is registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India as a Merchant Banker under Section 12 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 and is carrying on the business of merchant Banker in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Board of India Merchant Banking (Rules) 1992 and Securities and Exchange Board of India Merchant Banking (Regulations) 1992;

2. acquires securities only as a part of its merchant banking business;

3. does not carry on any other financial activity referred to in Section 45I(c) of the RBI Act, 1934; and

4. does not accept or hold public deposits as defined in paragraph 2(1) (xii) of the Notification No. DFC 118/DG (SPT)-98 dated January 31, 1998.

(iii) Micro Finance Companies

Sections 45-IA, 45-IB and 45-IC of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934) shall not apply to any non-banking financial company which is

(a) ⁵engaged in micro financing activities, providing credit not exceeding Rs. 50,000 for a business enterprise and Rs. 1,25,000 for meeting the cost of a dwelling unit to any poor person for enabling him to raise his level of income and standard of living; and

(b) licensed under Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956; and

(c) not accepting public deposits as defined in paragraph 2(1) (xii) of Notification No. 118 /DG (SPT)-98 dated January 31, 1998.

(iv) Mutual Benefit Companies

Sections 45-IA, 45-IB and 45-IC of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934) shall not apply to any non-banking financial company which

(i) being a mutual benefit company as defined in paragraph 2(1) (ixa) of the Non-Banking Financial Companies Acceptance of Public Deposits (Reserve Bank) Directions, 1998 contained in Notification No. DFC.118/DG (SPT)-98 dated January 31, 1998). A “mutual benefit company” means a company not notified under section 620A of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) and carrying on the business of a non-banking financial institution, -

1. on 9th January 1997; and

2. having the aggregate of net owned funds and preferential share capital of not less than ten lakhs of rupees; and

3. has applied for issue of certificate of registration to the Bank on or before 9th July 1997; and

4. is complying with the requirements contained in the relevant provisions of the Directions issued under Section 637A of the Companies Act, 1956 to Nidhi Companies by the Central Government.

(v) Government Companies

Sections 45-IB and 45-IC of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934), paragraphs 4 to 7 of the Non-Banking Financial Companies Acceptance of Public Deposits (Reserve Bank) Directions, 1998 and Non-Banking Financial Companies Prudential Norms (Reserve Bank) Directions, 1998(since repealed by Prudential Norms Directions Notification No 192 dated February 22, 2007), except paragraph 13 A of the said directions relating to submission of information to Reserve Bank in regard to change of address, directors, auditors, etc. shall not apply to any non-banking financial company as defined in section 45-I(f) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934) being a Government company⁶ as defined in section 617 of the Companies Act, 1956. A Government Company is a company in which not less than 51% of the paid up capital is held by the Central Government, or by any State Government or Governments or partly by the Central Government and partly by one or more State Governments and includes a company which is subsidiary of a Government Company as thus defined.

(vi) ⁷Venture Capital Fund Companies

Section 45-IA and Section 45-IC of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934); Notification No.DFC.118/DG (SPT)-98 dated January 31, 1998; and Notification No. DFC.119 / DG (SPT)-98 dated January 31, 1998 shall not apply to a non-banking financial company, which is a venture capital fund company holding a certificate of registration obtained under Section12 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992) and not holding or accepting public deposit as defined in paragraph 2(1) (xii) of the Notification No. DFC.118/DG (SPT)-98 dated January 31, 1998.

(vii) Insurance/Stock Exchange/Stock Broker/Sub-Broker

The provisions of Section 45-IA, 45-IB, 45-IC, 45MB and 45MC of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934) and provisions of Non-Banking Financial Companies Acceptance of Public Deposit (Reserve Bank) Directions contained in Notification No. DFC.118 / DG (SPT)-98 dated January 31. 1998, “Non-Banking Financial (Deposit Accepting or Holding) Companies Prudential Norms (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2007”shall not apply to any non-banking financial company not holding or accepting public deposit as defined in paragraph 2(1)(xii) of the Notification No. DFC.118/DG (SPT)-98 dated January 31, 1998, and -

(a) ⁸doing the business of insurance, holding a valid certificate of registration issued under Section 3 of the Insurance Act, 1938 (IV of 1938);

(b) being a stock exchange, recognised under Section 4 of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 (42 of 1956) ; and

(c) doing the business of a stock-broker or sub-broker holding a valid certificate of registration obtained under Section 12 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (15 of 1992)

(viii) Others

(a) ⁹Nidhi Companies

The provisions of Sections 45-IA, 45-IB and 45-IC of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of 1934) shall not apply to any non-banking financial company Notified under Section 620A of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956), known as Nidhi Companies; and

¹⁰[The provisions contained in Non-Banking Financial Companies Acceptance of Company; Public Deposits (Reserve Bank) Directions, 1998 shall not apply to a Mutual Benefit Financial Company or a Mutual Benefit company provided that the application of Mutual Benefit Company is not rejected by Government of India under the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956( Act 1 of 1956).]

(b) Chit Companies

Doing the business of chits, as defined in clause (b) of Section 2 of the Chit Funds Act, 1982 (No. 40 of 1982).

(c) ¹¹Securitisation and Reconstruction Companies

Securitisation company or Reconstruction company registered with the Reserve Bank of India under Section 3 of the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002.

(d) ¹²Mortgage Guarantee Companies

Mortgage Guarantee Companies notified as non-banking financial company in terms of Section 45 I (f)(iii) of the Reserve Bank of India Act,1934 (2 of 1934) with the prior approval of the Central Government, and a company registered with the Bank under the scheme for registration of Mortgage Guarantee Companies.

(e) ¹³Core Investment Companies

(i) The provisions of section 45-IA of the Act shall not apply to a non-banking financial company being a Core Investment Company referred to in the Core Investment Companies (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2011, which is not a Systemically Important Core Investment Company, as defined in clause (h) of sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 3 of the Core Investment Companies (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2011;

(ii) The provisions of section 45-IA (1)(b) of the Act shall not apply to a non-banking financial company being a Systemically Important Core Investment Company as defined in the Core Investment Companies (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2011, subject to the condition that it meets with the capital requirements and leverage ratio as specified in the said directions.

(iii) ¹⁴Systemically Important Non-Banking Financial (Non-Deposit Accepting or Holding) Companies Prudential Norms (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2015 or Non-Systemically Important Non-Banking Financial (Non-Deposit Accepting or Holding) Companies Prudential Norms (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2015 shall not apply to a non-banking financial company being a Core Investment Company referred to in the Core Investment Companies (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2011 (hereinafter referred to as CIC Directions), which is not a systemically important Core Investment Company as defined in clause (h) of sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 3 of the CIC Directions.

(iv) The provisions of paragraphs 15, 16 and 17 of Non-Systemically Important Non-Banking Financial (Non-Deposit Accepting or Holding) Companies Prudential Norms (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2015 and the provisions of paragraphs 15, 16 and 24 of Systemically Important Non-Banking Financial (Non-Deposit Accepting or Holding) Companies Prudential Norms (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2015 shall not apply to a Systemically Important Core Investment Company as defined in the CIC Directions, subject to the condition that it submits the Annual Auditors Certificate and meets with the capital requirements and leverage ratio, as specified in the CIC Directions.

(f) ¹⁵Prepaid Payment Instruments issued by Non-Banking Institutions

The provisions of Chapter III B of RBI Act, 1934, shall not apply to a non-banking institution which is authorized to operate a payment system and to issue prepaid payment instruments under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 (51 of 2007).This exemption shall be limited and restricted to money received by such non-banking institution for issue of prepaid payment instruments.

Appendix

List of Circulars

²Notification No. DFC 123/ED(G)-98, dated February 3, 1998

³Notification DFC(COC) No 118 DG(SPT)-98 dated January 31, 1998

⁴Notification DFC(COC) No 119 DG(SPT)-98 dated January 31, 1998

⁵Notification No.DNBS.138/CGM (VSNM)-2000 read with DNBS. (PD).CC.No. 12 /02.01/99-2000 dated January 13, 2000

⁷Notification No.DNBS.163/CGM(CSM)-2002 read with DNBS(PD)CC No.22 /02.59/ 2002-03dated November 28, 2002

⁸Notification No.DNBS.164/CGM(CSM)-2003 read with DNBS (PD) CC No. 23 / 01.18 / 2002-03 dated January 8, 2003

⁹Notification No.DNBS.164/CGM(CSM)-2003 read with DNBS (PD) CC No. 23 / 01.18 / 2002-03 dated January 8, 2003

¹⁰Inserted vide Notification No. DNBS. 197 / CGM (PK)- 2007 dated November 22, 2007 Notification no 197 dated Nov 22, 2007

¹¹Notification No.DNBS. 3/CGM (OPA)-2003 dated August 28, 2003.

¹²Notification No.DNBS. (MGC) 2/CGM (PK)-2008 read with DNBS (PD) (MGC) CC No. 111 / 03.11.001 / 2007-08 dated January 15, 2008.

¹³Inserted vide Notification No. DNBS.(PD) 220 / CGM(US)-2011 dated January 5, 2011

¹⁴Introduced vide DNBR (PD) CC.No. 024/ 03.10.001/ 2014-15 dated March 27, 2015

¹⁵Inserted vide DNBS(PD).CC.No.368/03.10.01/2013-14, dated January 24, 2014

Foot Note: The reference to Companies Act, 1956 will be changed as and when change is effected in the original circulars/notifications.