As per clause (iv) of Section 193 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, no tax shall be deducted from any interest payable on any security of the Central Government or a State Government effective from June 1, 1997. However, as per Finance Act, 2007 and Government of India Notification No. F.4(10)-W&M/2003 dated May 31, 2007, tax has to be deducted at source on the interest exceeding Rupees ten thousand payable during a financial year on 8% Savings (Taxable) Bonds, 2003 with effect from June 1, 2007.

Yes.  RBI or its agent may permit grant of information or inspection of document relating to Government security on being satisfied that the security in question has stood in the name of the applicant or of a person in whom the applicant has a representative/bonafide interest.

Yes. Pledge, hypothecation or lien may be created in respect of Government securities held in the form of SC, BLA, SGL/CSGL and the holder of Government securities in such forms may avail of loan facility by keeping such securities as collateral towards loan, subject to the stipulation mentioned in Question No. 34. However, Government securities issued in the form of GPN and bearer bonds are not eligible for creation of pledge, hypothecation or lien.

No. The facility to create pledge, hypothecation or lien against Government securities is not available for those loans which, as per the specific Government Loan Notification, are non-transferable or not eligible for collateral to avail of loan facility.

Pledge towards Government securities will be created/noted by RBI or its agent, as the case may be, maintaining the account in respect of such security, i.e., in case of SC, BLA & SGL for which the records and accounts are maintained by RBI, the pledge will be noted in the books of RBI while in case of BLAs issued by Agency Banks or securities held in a CSGL account, the pledge will be noted by the concerned Agency Bank or CSGL Account holder respectively.

An investor in Government securities, held in the form of SC, BLA and SGL/CSGL, can avail of the facility of automatic redemption, i.e., the maturity proceeds along with the interest accruing thereon will be credited to the investor's bank account on due date and the investor need not submit physical discharge in respect of such securities provided the investor has furnished his/her bank account details to the RBI or its agent (A model format is given at the end of these FAQs). However, in case, the investor does not submit his/her bank details to the RBI or the Agency Bank, he/she would be required to submit physical discharge towards the Government securities to receive the redemption proceeds.

Yes.  In case the maturity proceeds of a Government security exceeds Rupees One lakh,  the investor(s) should furnish the PAN details in advance so as to avail the facility of automatic redemption and receive the maturity proceeds along with the accruing interest thereon in his/her account on due date.

RBI may call for information from any agent or SGL/CSGL account holder and cause an inspection or scrutiny to be made of any agent or SGL/CSGL account holder. Further, RBI may issue directions to the SGL/CSGL account holders, agents and to any other person dealing with the Government securities.

If any person, for the purpose of obtaining for himself or any other person any title to a Government security, makes false statement then he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with both. Further, RBI may impose on any person who contravenes any provision of the G S Act, or contravenes any regulation, notification or direction issued under the G S Act, or violates the terms and conditions for opening and maintenance of SGL/CSGL account a penalty not exceeding five lakh rupees and where such contravention is a continuing one, further penalty, which may extend to five thousand rupees for every day after first day during which the contravention continues.

FAQs in respect of Relief/Savings Bonds

As mentioned above, Relief/Savings Bonds are Government securities and they are issued in the form of Stock and BLA by RBI and in the form of BLA by the Agency banks. The provisions of the G S Act and the G S Regulations also apply to them. For the convenience of the Relief/Savings Bonds holders, certain specific aspects have been elaborated here.

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.