Answer: The amount of consideration for all investment by an FVCI has to be received/made through inward remittance from abroad through banking channels or out of funds held in a foreign currency account and/ or a Special Non-Resident Rupee (SNRR) account maintained by the FVCI with an AD bank in India. The foreign currency account and SNRR account shall be used only and exclusively for transactions under the relevant Schedule.

Before investing in schemes that promise high rates of return, the depositors/ investors must ensure that the entity offering such returns is registered with one of the Financial Sector Regulators and is authorized to accept funds, whether in the form of deposits or otherwise. Depositors/ investors must generally be circumspect if the interest rates or rates of return on deposits/ investments offered are high. Unless the entity accepting funds is able to earn more than what it promises, the entity will not be able to repay the depositor/ investor as promised. For earning higher returns, the entity will have to take higher risks on the investments it makes. Higher the risk, the more speculative would be its investments on which there can be no assured return. As such, members of public should forewarn themselves that the likelihood of losing money in schemes that offer high rates of interest are more.

The liquid assets securities can be lodged with one bank branch only and at one place only. However, the company has the discretion now to keep such securities with a bank branch either at the place of its registered office or at another place of its choice after taking prior approval of the concerned Regional Office of RBI.

No. However, if you want to use a different bank account, you can replace the linked bank account through the Retail Direct portal.

A banks total exposure, including both fund based and non-fund based, to capital market in all forms covering its direct investment in equity shares, convertible bonds and debentures and units of equity oriented mutual funds; Advances against shared to individuals for investment in equity shares (including IPOs), bonds and debentures, units of equity-oriented mutual funds and secured and unsecured advances to stockbrokers and guarantees issued on behalf of stockbrokers and market makers should not exceed 5% of its total outstanding advances as on March 31 of the previous year (including Commercial Paper). Within the above ceiling, bank’s direct investment should not exceed 20 per cent of its networth. For computing the ceiling on exposure to capital market, the bank’s direct investment in shares will be calculated at cost price of the shares

Banknotes returned from circulation are received at the Issue Offices of the Reserve Bank of India. The Reserve Bank of India, inter alia, uses highly sophisticated Currency Verification & Processing Systems (CVPS) machines and Shredding and Briquetting Systems (SBS) machines to verify these notes for genuineness, arithmetical accuracy and segregation of notes into fit for reissue and destruction of soiled (unfit) notes.

Answer: The sale/ maturity proceeds (net of taxes) of the securities may be remitted outside India or credited to the foreign currency account or a Special Non-resident Rupee Account of the FVCI.

The two Charts given at Annex I and Annex II depict the activities and the regulators overseeing the same. Further, The First Schedule of the ‘The Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Act, 2019’ may be referred for the list of regulated deposit schemes.

Complaints may hence be addressed to the concerned regulator. If the activity is a banned activity, the aggrieved person can approach the State Police/Economic Offences Wing of the State Police and lodge a suitable complaint.

A. The securities held on behalf of and NBFC, in a bank’s Constituents’ SGL Account can be reckoned towards compliance of requirements of Section 45IB. The securities are required to be deposited with one bank branch and at one place only for the purpose of adequate control. Hence, if an NBFC holds securities with its designated bank branch in its Constituents’ SGL Account, it would be necessary for the company to lodge its physical securities also with the same bank branch.

No. The Scheme is designed to facilitate only Non-competitive participation (i.e., bids without choosing your own price) by individuals. However, if one desires to place a competitive bid, he/she may contact a Bank/Primary Dealer/any other authorized institution.

No. Banks are prohibited from making any short sales of shares.

All Bank notes including Mahatma Gandhi (New) series notes with writing or colour/ oil stains on them continue to be legal tender, provided they are decipherable. Such notes can be deposited or exchanged in any bank branch.

However, a claim in respect of bank notes which carries any extrinsic words or visible representations intended to convey or capable of conveying any message of a political or religious character or furthering the interest of any person or entity will be rejected as per Reserve Bank of India (Note Refund) Rules, 2009 [As amended by Reserve Bank of India (Note Refund) Amendment Rules, 2018].

Answer: Investment Vehicle is an entity registered and regulated under relevant regulations framed by SEBI or any other authority designated for the purpose. For the purpose of Schedule 8 of FEMA 20(R), an Investment Vehicle is a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) governed by the SEBI (REITs) Regulations, 2014, an Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIt) governed by the SEBI (InvIts) Regulations, 2014 and an Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) governed by the SEBI (AIFs) Regulations, 2012. It does not include a Venture Capital Fund registered under the erstwhile SEBI (Venture Capital Funds) Regulations, 1996.

The Factoring Regulation Act, 2011 defines the ‘Factoring Business’ as “the business of acquisition by way of assignment of receivables of assignor for a consideration for the purpose of collection of such receivables or for financing, whether by way of making loans or advances or otherwise, against such assignment”. However, credit facilities provided by banks or non -banking financial company in the ordinary course of business against security of receivables and any activity undertaken as a commission agent or otherwise for sale of agricultural produce or goods of any kind whatsoever and related activities are expressly excluded from the definition of Factoring Business. The Factoring Regulation Act has laid the basic legal framework for factoring in India.

Most of the companies are unitary entities. They function from the place of their Registered Office. Some of the large sized companies as also some others may intend to keep the securities at metropolitan centres for operational advantages. The place where the securities are held could be outside the jurisdiction of the concerned Regional Office of RBI because the jurisdictional areas are decided on the basis of place of location of the Registered Office of the companies. In such cases, it is imperative for the Regional Offices to know the place where the securities are being kept.

No fee will be charged for opening and maintaining the Retail Direct Gilt (RDG) account with RBI. No fee will be charged by RBI at the time of submission of bids in primary auctions. However, applicable payment gateway charges will have to be borne by the investor while funding his/her purchases.

The bills covering payment of electricity charges, customs duty, hire purchase/ lease rental installments, sale of securities and other types of financial accommodation should not be discounted by banks.

A suspected forged note, counterfeit note or fake note is any note which does not possess the characteristics of genuine Indian currency note.

Answer: Investment made by an Investment Vehicle into an Indian company or an LLP will be indirect foreign investment for the investee company or the LLP, as the case may be, if either the Sponsor or the Manager or the Investment Manager (i) is not owned and not controlled by resident Indian citizens or (ii) is owned or controlled by persons resident outside India.

Yes. As per the legal framework under Factoring Regulation Act, 2011, all companies (including NBFCs registered under Section 45IA of RBI Act) shall be required to be registered under Factoring Regulation Act, 2011 in order to undertake factoring business. However, as per Section 5 of the Act, a bank or any corporation established under an Act of Parliament or State Legislature, or a Government Company as defined under section 617 of the Companies Act, 1956 are exempted from such registration requirement.

Thus, the following entities may undertake the factoring business as per Factoring Regulation Act:

(i) NBFC-Factor granted Certificate of Registration (CoR) under the Factoring Regulation Act, 2011;'

(ii) Non-deposit taking NBFC-investment and credit companies (NBFC-ICCs) with asset size of ₹1,000 crore and above and fulfilling certain eligibility criteria as stipulated in Reserve Bank of India (Non-Banking Financial Companies – Miscellaneous) Directions, 2025 (as amended from time to time) and which have been granted CoR under the Factoring Regulation Act, 2011; and

(iii) Entities mentioned under Section 5 of the Factoring Regulation Act, 2011.

The NBFCs accepting public deposits shall furnish to RBI Certificate from the Auditors regarding solvency of the company in repayment of the deposits as and when the claims arise; Balance Sheet and the Auditors’ Reports submitted to the Board of Directors as also to the Shareholders of the company; Statutory Annual Return on deposits in the First Schedule; Quarterly Return on liquid assets; Half-yearly Return on prudential norms; and a copy of the Credit Rating once a year alongwith one of the Half-yearly Returns on prudential norms as at (v) above.

Securities will be credited in your Retail Direct account on the settlement date, which is typically one working day after the trade date/auction date.

There is no prohibition on banks’ placing of funds with non-banking non-financial companies under their Public Deposit Schemes. However, investment in the Public Deposit Scheme of such companies should be classified by banks as loans/ advances in their balance sheet and returns submitted under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and the Reserve Bank of India Act 1934.

Answer: An Alternative Investment Fund (Category III) with foreign investment can make portfolio investment in only those securities or instruments in which an FPI is allowed to invest under the Act, rules or regulations made thereunder.IV. Reporting Delays

A forged note can be identified on the basis of the security features which are present in a genuine Indian currency note. These features are easily identifiable by seeing, touching and tilting the note. The information regarding security features present in the Indian banknotes is available on the website www.rbi.org.in>>Currency Management>> Indian Currency at https://indiancurrency.rbi.org.in.

All companies in the group that are CICs would be regarded as CICs (provided they have accessed public fund) under the extant regulations of Reserve Bank and would be required to obtain a Certificate of Registration from the Reserve Bank.

The NBFCs except RNBCs not accepting/holding public deposits are not required to submit to RBI their Statutory Returns in the First Schedule or the Balance Sheet or the Quarterly Liquid Asset Return or the Half-yearly Prudential Norm Return. However, all the NBFCs (other than those exempted - see answer to question No. 1) are required to be Registered with RBI and and also make sure that they continue to be eligible to remain Registered. RBI has powers to cause Inspection of the Books of any company and call for any other information about its business activities. For this purpose, the NBFCs are required to furnish the information in respect of any change in the composition of their Board of Directors, address of the company and its Directors and the name/s of its Auditors.

No. However, the securities purchased will reflect in the holdings statement in your Retail Direct account.

Banks can purchase letter of allotment in respect of PSU bonds subject to the following conditions.

1. The transactions (other than interbank transactions) should be undertaken only through recognized Stock Exchanges and registered brokers.

2. While purchasing the bonds, the bank should ensure that it gets a clear title to the security and the security is tradable in the secondary market.

3. The bank should prescribe its internal guidelines with the approval of the Board for undertaking such transaction.

AD banks can issue SBLC on behalf of their customers for availing short term trade credit from overseas lenders in foreign currency subject to such SBLCs complying with the provisions contained in Department of Banking Regulation Master Circular No. DBR. No. Dir. BC.11/13.03.00/2015-16 dated July 1, 2015 on “Guarantees and Co-acceptances”, as amended from time to time.

Answer: For the transactions undertaken on or after November 7, 2017, in case of reporting delays, the person/ entity responsible for filing the reports as provided in Part IV of the Master Direction on Reporting shall be liable for payment of Late Submission Fee (LSF). The payment of LSF is an additional option for regularising reporting delays without undergoing the compounding procedure.

Counterfeiting banknotes / using forged or counterfeit banknotes as genuine banknotes / possession of forged or counterfeit banknote / making or possessing instruments or materials for forging or counterfeiting banknotes/making or using documents resembling banknotes are offences under various sections including Sections 178 to 182 the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 and are punishable in the Courts of Law by fine or imprisonment ranging from seven years to life imprisonment or both, depending on the offence.

The Government of India has framed Investigation of High-Quality Counterfeit Indian Currency Offences Rules, 2013 under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967. The Third Schedule of the Act defines High Quality Counterfeit Indian Currency Note. Activity of production, smuggling or circulation of High-Quality Counterfeit Indian Notes has been brought under the ambit of the BNS, 2023.

In such a case only C will be registered, provided C is not funding any of the other CICs either directly or indirectly. HCo as well as A and B would not require registration as they neither access public funds directly nor access public funds indirectly through C.

There had been instances when some companies had not paid matured deposits on due dates and such claims have been honoured after some delay. The companies did not pay any interest for the delayed period in the absence of any specific provisions in the Reserve Bank Directions in this regard in the past. A provision has, therefore, been inserted subsequently in the Non-Banking Financial Companies Acceptance of Public Deposits (Reserve Bank) Directions dated 31.1.1998 to the effect that interest is payable to the depositors only in case the company has delayed the repayment of matured deposits, from the date of receipt of such claim by the company or the date of maturity of the deposit whichever is later, till the date of actual payment. If the depositor has lodged his claim after the date of maturity, the company would be liable to pay interest for the period from the date of claim till the date of repayment. In other words, for the period between the date of maturity and the date of claim it is the discretion of the company to pay interest.

The securities will be held in a Gilt account with RBI.

Shares/ debentures/ bonds accepted by banks as security for loans/ advances should be valued at the prevailing market prices.

AD banks are required to report all permissions granted by the AD banks/Regional offices of Reserve Bank for settlement of delayed import dues irrespective of the tenures of extension sought.

Answer: The payment of LSF is an additional facility for regularising reporting delays without undergoing the compounding procedure. However, this does not mean that the applicant cannot apply for compounding. Both options are available to the applicant for the transactions undertaken on or after November 7, 2017.

Mere possession of a forged note does not attract punishment. Possession of any forged or counterfeit banknotes, knowing or having reason to believe the same to be forged or counterfeit and intending to use the same as genuine or that it may be used as genuine are offences under Section 180 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 and are punishable in the Courts of Law by fine or imprisonment upto seven years or both.

The NBFC would have to apply to RBI with full details of the plan and exemptions could be considered on a selective basis on the merits of the case.

In terms of section 45QA of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, where an NBFC fails to repay any deposit in accordance with the agreed terms and conditions, the Company Law Board can order the company to make repayment of such deposit forthwith or within such time and subject to such conditions as may be specified in the order. The aggrieved depositor is required to submit an application in the Form prescribed by them together with the requisite fee, to the concerned bench of the Company Law Board mentioned in the Deposit Application Form and seek an Order against the erring company . Apart from above, the depositor can also approach the District/State/National Level Consumers Disputes Redressal Forum for relief against the erring company.

CSGL, i.e., Constituents' Subsidiary General Ledger account, means a securities account opened and maintained with RBI by an agent on behalf of the constituents of such agent, i.e., an account opened by an agent with the RBI to hold the securities on behalf of their constituents. The constituents are known as the Gilt Account Holders (GAHs).

Yes. Banks can sanction bridge loans to companies for a period not exceeding one year against the expected equity flows/ issues as also the expected proceeds of non-convertible Debentures, External Commercial Borrowings, Global Depository Receipts and/ or funds in the nature of Foreign Direct Investments, provided the bank is satisfied that the borrowing company has made firm arrangements for raising the aforesaid resources/ funds. Bridge loans extended by a bank will be included within the 5% ceiling prescribed for banks’ exposure to capital market.

Answer: The reporting requirements are laid down in the Master Direction on Reporting under Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999.

The Reserve Bank of India has been organizing training sessions on the authentication of banknotes security features for people handling significant amounts of cash like banks/consumer forums/merchant associations/educational institutions/police professionals. Apart from the training sessions, information on security features of banknotes is also available on the Bank’s website at https://indiancurrency.rbi.org.in.

No, since the Company is not fulfilling the Principal Business Criteria (asset-income pattern) of an NBFC i.e. more than 50 % of its total assets should be financial assets and the income derived from these assets should be more than 50% of the gross income, it is not required to register as an NBFC under Section 45 IA of the RBI Act, 1934. However, it should register itself as an NBFC as soon as it fulfils the criteria of an NBFC and comply with the NBFC norms.

An NBFC accepts deposits under a mutual contract with its depositors. In case a depositor requests for pre-mature payment, Reserve Bank of India has prescribed Regulations for such an eventuality in the Non-Banking Financial Companies Acceptance of Public Deposits (Reserve Bank) Directions, 1998. However, premature repayment of deposits is the sole discretion of the company concerned. In other words, if the company agrees to pre-pay deposits at the request of the depositor, the depositor and the company are deemed to have mutually agreed to amend the terms of contract. On the above analogy, if a company intends to pre-pay deposits, it can seek the consent of the depositors for such pre-mature repayment and if the depositors agree, a company can do so. It does not involve prior approval of RBI so long as the provisions relating to minimum period regarding repayment of deposits are not violated.

Yes, securities can be gifted/transferred to a relative/friend/anybody who fulfills the eligibility criteria. The bonds shall be transferred in accordance with the provisions of the Government Securities Act, 2006 and Government Securities Regulations, 2007.

The loans/ advances granted to individuals against the security of shares, debentures and PSU bonds should not exceed Rs.10 lakhs and Rs.20 lakhs, if the securities are held in physical form and dematerialized form respectively. The maximum amount of finance that can be granted to an individual for subscribing to IPOs is Rs.10 lakhs. However, the bank should not provide finance to companies for their investment in IPOs of other companies. Banks can grant advances to employees for purchasing shares of their own companies under Employees Stock Option Plan (ESOP) to the extent of 90% of purchase price of shares or Rs.20 lakhs whichever is lower. NBFCs should not be provided finance for lending to individuals for subscribing the IPOs. Loans/ advances granted by a bank for subscribing to IPOs should be reckoned as an exposure to capital market.

Answer: Foreign investment can be made based on a notification issued under FEMA, 1999.

Coins in India are presently being issued in denominations of 50 paise, one rupee, two rupees, five rupees, ten rupees and twenty rupees. Coins up to 50 paise are called 'small coins' and coins of Rupee one and above are called 'Rupee Coins'. Coins can be issued up to the denomination of ₹1000 under The Coinage Act, 2011.

Yes, company which is a CIC and has achieved the balance sheet size of ₹100 crore as per its last audited annual financial statement is required to apply to the Bank for registration as a CIC, subject to its meeting the other conditions for being identified as a CIC.

The concept of `past due’ is applicable to the income from loan and other credit facilities viz. receivables, other dues, etc. However, the lease rentals and hire purchase installments have been allowed to accrue upto 12 months and the concept of `past due’ is not applicable in respect of these assets.

No. The holdings in demat account with NSDL/CDSL are separate from the holdings in RDG account. One can maintain both the accounts at the same time.

A uniform margin of 50% has been stipulated for all advances against shares/ issue of guarantees. Within this 50 percent margin, a minimum cash margin of 25 percent should be maintained in respect of guarantees issued by banks for capital market operation.

Twenty-five (25) paise coins have been withdrawn from circulation with effect from June 30, 2011, vide gazette notification No. 2529 dated December 20, 2010, and are, therefore, no more legal tender. Coins of denominations below 25 paise were withdrawn from circulation much earlier. All other denominations of coins of various size, theme and design minted by Government of India under The Coinage Act, 2011 and issued by RBI for circulation from time to time, continue to remain legal tender.

The directions require assessment of income and indebtedness at household level. There is no requirement of treating all members of the household as applicants/ borrowers of a loan which can be provided to an individual member. Board-approved policies of REs may include the methodologies/ operational frameworks to assess income and indebtedness of all members of the household.

1. Each category of quoted investments is to be valued scrip-wise. Category of investment means the different types of securities under each head viz. equity shares, preference shares, debentures, bonds and Government securities. Only quoted investments can be classified as long term or current investments. The long term investments are allowed to be valued as per AS-13 of the ICAI but the current investments are required to be valued at their market price. However, the NBFCs have been permitted under Prudential Norm Directions, the facility of block valuation method for accounting for the investments. The net of depreciation and the appreciation in the value of the current quoted investments, is only required to be charged to the Profit and Loss Account of the current year. The appreciation in the value of current investments in any category cannot be booked as profit. The concept of block valuation is explained below :

Example No. 1

	Name of the scrip	Market value	Book value	Difference (+)/(-)
	A	200	150	(+) 50
	B	210	180	(+) 30
	C	180	240	(-) 60
	D	240	300	(-) 60

Total appreciation Rs. 80/-

Total depreciation Rs. 120/-

Net depreciation Rs. 40/- to be charged to Profit and Loss
	Account as per provisions for Depreciation in investments.

Example No. 2

	Name of the scrip	Market value	Book value	Difference (+)/(-)
	A	150	200	(-) 50
	B	180	210	(-) 30
	C	240	180	(+) 60
	D	300	240	(+) 60

Total appreciation Rs. 120/-

Total depreciation Rs. 80/-

Net appreciation Rs. 40/- to be ignored.

This appreciation in the value of equity shares cannot be adjusted against the depreciation in the value of any other category of securities.

Yes, you can by raising a request on the online portal and the same would be authorized as per RBI’s Value Free Transfer (VFT) guidelines.

Yes. The profit making banks may make donations during a financial year, aggregating upto one percent of the published profit of the bank for the previous year. However, the contributions/ subscriptions made by banks to Prime Minister’s Relief Fund and to professional bodies/ institutions like Indian Banks’ Association, National Institute of Bank Management, Indian Institute of Bankers, Institute of Banking Personnel Selection, Foreign Exchange Dealers Association of India, during a year will be exempted from the above ceiling. Unutilized amount of the permissible limit of a year should not be carried forward for the next year for the purpose of making donations.

RBI has not prescribed any limit for coin deposits by customers with banks. Banks are free to accept any amount of coins from their customers.

Board-approved policies of REs should cover such operational aspects. One possible way could be to distribute the annualized repayment obligations over twelve months to estimate monthly outgo of the household towards debt repayment.

A. Earning Value :	Average Profit after tax (net of
	dividend on preference shares
	and extra ordinary items ) for
	the last three years		Capitalisation
		X	factor
	Number of equity shares

Hypothetically, the profit after tax for the last three	}	Rs. 100.00 lakhs,
financial years net of dividend on preference shares }		Rs. 120.00 lakhs
and net of extra ordinary items	} &	Rs. 140.00 lakhs
No. of equity shares of the company		10,00,000 shares
The investee company is a predominantly manufacturing
company and the capitalisation factor would be		: 8 per cent
The earning value will be worked out as under :

(100.00+120.00+140.00)		100
	X	---	= Rs.150/-
3 X 10,00,000		8

You can reach us in three ways:

1. Toll free phone number: 1800 267 7955 (between 9 am to 7 pm on any working day).

2. E-mail id: support@rbiretaildirect.org.in

3. Raise a request on the Retail Direct portal.

For additional details on using the Retail Direct portal, you may refer to the User Manual in the Help section of the Retail Direct Portal.

Yes, loss making banks can make donations upto Rs.5 lakhs only in a financial year.

The One Rupee notes issued under the Coinage Act, 2011 are legal tender and included in the expression Rupee coin for all the purposes of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. Since the rupee coins issued by Government constitute the liabilities of the Government, one rupee Note is also liability of the Government of India.

The instructions on microfinance loans issued under various Directions are applicable only to the regulated entities mentioned below:

(i) All Commercial Banks (including Small Finance Banks, Local Area Banks, and Regional Rural Banks) excluding Payments Banks;

(ii) All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks/ State Co-operative Banks/ District Central Co-operative Banks; and

(iii) All Non-Banking Financial Companies (including Microfinance Institutions and Housing Finance Companies).

However, it may be prudent for other lenders operating in the microfinance sector to follow customer-centric instructions for microfinance loans issued under various Directions. Further, it may be noted that exemptions from Sections 45-IA, 45-IB and 45-IC of the RBI Act, 1934 have been withdrawn for those ‘not for profit’ companies engaged in microfinance activities that have asset size of ₹100 crore and above.

1. The Prudential Norms have prescribed that the unquoted shares should be valued at break up value. However, an NBFC can also value these shares at fair value, if it so desires.

Break up value and fair value are to be calculated as per the formula given in the Directions. The formula is illustrated as under :

If the paid equity capital of the company is = Rs. 1,00,00,000

The free reserves net of intangible assets

and deferred revenue expenditure = Rs. 3,20,00,000

Number of equity shares = 10,00,000 shares

The break up value will be :	1,00,00,000 + 3,20,00,000	= Rs. 42/-
	10,00,000

If we take the earning value worked out in the previous question, and since we know that the fair value is the mean of the break up value and the earning value, the fair value will be	150+42	= Rs.96/-
	2

In the given case, the company may value its shares at fair value viz, Rs.96/- which is higher than the break up value at Rs.42/- or cost, whichever is lower.

Yes, the overseas branches of the banks can make donations abroad, provided the banks do not exceed the prescribed ceiling of one per cent of their published profit of the previous year.

Yes. Different designs of ₹10 coins are currently in circulation. All coins of ₹10 denomination minted from time to time by the Government of India (with/without the Rupee symbol) are legal tender. For more details kindly see our Press Release issued in this regard which is available at the following link www.rbi.org.in>>Issuer of currency>>Press Release>>January 17, 2018. https://rbi.org.in/en/web/rbi/-/press-releases/rbi-reiterates-legal-tender-status-of-%E2%82%B9-10-coins-of-different-designs-42887.

The exemption provided by the Reserve Bank to ‘Not for Profit’ companies (i.e., companies incorporated under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013 or Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956) is applicable to those which are providing microfinance loans as defined in the Reserve Bank of India (Non-Banking Financial Companies – Credit Facilities) Directions, 2025 and subject to conditions specified in para 51 of our ‘Reserve Bank of India (Non-Banking Financial Companies – Registration, Exemptions and Framework for Scale Based Regulation) Directions, 2025 (as amended from time to time). This exemption is not applicable to other ‘Not for Profit’ companies engaged in NBFI business and it is incumbent upon such companies to obtain a certificate of registration under Section 45-IA of the RBI Act, 1934 in case these companies are fulfilling the ‘Principal Business Criteria’ as specified in our Press Release 1998-99/1269 dated April 08, 1999.

The credit concentration norms are applicable to commercial transactions only. Advance deposits of money as security for performance of some contract between the two parties, like office premises, advance deposits with the Government authorities towards services, etc. are not governed by the credit concentration norms.

1. The Board of Directors of the banks should lay down the policy and formulate operational guidelines separately in respect of metropolitan, urban, semi-urban and rural areas covering all areas in respect of acquiring premises on lease/ rental basis for the banks’ use. These guidelines should include also delegation of powers at various levels. The decision in regard to surrendering or shifting of premises other than at rural centers should be taken at the central office level by a committee of senior executives.

2. The Board of Directors of the bank should lay down separate policy for granting of loans to landlords who provide them premises on lease/ rental basis. The rate of interest to be charged on such loans should be fixed as per the lending rate directives issued by RBI with BPLR as the minimum lending rate for the loans above Rs.2 lakhs. The rate of interest may be simple or compound, in accordance with the usual practice of the bank, as applicable to other term loans.

3. Banks should provide a suitable mechanism for redressing the genuine grievances of the landlord expeditiously.

4. The details of negotiated contracts in respect of advances to landlords and rental (including taxes etc. and deposits of Rs.25 lakhs and above) on premises taken on lease/ rental by the public sector banks, should be reported to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as per the extant Government instructions. This requirement will not be applicable to banks in the private sector.

The Government of India is responsible for the designing and minting of coins in various denominations.

The customer should keep in mind, among others, the following:

 

(i) There is no requirement of keeping any deposit/ margin/ collateral/ primary security with the lender at any stage of the microfinance loan.

(ii) Lender is required to provide a loan card to the borrower in a language understood by the borrower which should have following information:

1. Information which adequately identifies the borrower;
2. Simplified factsheet on pricing;
3. All other terms and conditions attached to the loan;
4. Acknowledgements by the lender of all repayments including instalments received and the final discharge; and
5. Details of the grievance redress system, including the name and contact number of the nodal officer of the lender.

(iii) Purchase of any non-credit products is purely voluntary. Fee structure for such products shall be explicitly communicated in the loan card.

(iv) Training provided by the lenders is free of cost.

No. The Prudential Norm Return should be certified by the company’s Statutory Auditors only and not by any other Chartered Accountant.

Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) has dispensed with the practice of prescribing service charges to be levied by banks for various services rendered by them. With effect from September 1999, the Reserve Bank has granted freedom to banks to prescribe service charges with the approval of respective Board of Directors.

The Government of India decides on the quantity of coins to be minted on the basis of indent received from the Reserve Bank on yearly basis.

A customer is required to pay only those charges which are explicitly mentioned in the factsheet provided by the lender. Besides this, the customer should also note the following:

(i) There is no pre-payment penalty on microfinance loans.

(ii) Penalty, if any, for delayed payment can be applied only on the overdue amount and not on the entire loan amount.

(iii) Any change in interest rate or any other charge shall be informed to the borrower in writing well in advance and these changes shall be effective only prospectively.

A The RBI regulations are aimed at protecting the depositors' interest indirectly. The Bank also exercises Off-site Surveillance and/or On-site Inspection of NBFCs. The RBI, however, does not guarantee or offer insurance cover to public deposits of NBFCs.

Coins of denominations 50 paise, one rupee, two rupees, five rupees, ten rupees and twenty rupees continue to be legal tender.

Reserve Bank of India has been issuing press releases from time to time advising the members of public to accept coins as legal tender in all their transactions without any hesitation. These press releases are available on our website www.rbi.org.in under Currency Management > Press release at the following links:

https://rbi.org.in/en/web/rbi/-/press-releases/public-can-continue-to-accept-%E2%82%B9-10-coins-as-legal-tender-rbi-38636

https://rbi.org.in/en/web/rbi/-/press-releases/rbi-reiterates-legal-tender-status-of-%E2%82%B9-10-coins-of-different-designs-42887

https://rbi.org.in/en/web/rbi/-/press-releases/public-can-continue-to-accept-all-the-coins-as-legal-tender-rbi-47414

Further, RBI has been conducting awareness campaigns in Print, SMS and social media and also disseminates awareness on coins through “RBI says’’ and “RBI Kehta Hai’’ from time to time.

Besides, the Reserve Bank has instructed the banks to accept coins for transactions and exchange at all their branches.

RBI has made it mandatory for lenders to display the minimum, maximum and average interest rates charged on microfinance loans in all their offices, in the literature (information booklets/ pamphlets) issued by them and details on their website.

A. The NBFC has been in existence for at least two years. (New NBFCs are not permitted to mobilise public deposits during first two years of existence) The NBFC has a minimum credit rating of A- (CRISIL AND ICRA),BBB(CARE), BBB- (DCR India) if it is an Equipment Leasing/Hire Purchase Company and a minimum rating of A if it is a Loan/Investment Company. The NBFC does not have overdue deposits, except unclaimed deposits, while soliciting fresh deposits. The NBFC is a profit making company. The NBFC has declared that it has complied with the RBI Directions.

For commemorative coins, you may refer to the website of SPMCIL at http://www.spmcil.com or contact SPMCIL.