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.

If an NBFC defaults in repayment of deposit, the depositor can approach the Company Law Board (now National Company Law Tribunal) or Consumer Forum or file a civil suit in a Court of Law to recover the deposits. Further, at the level of the State Government, the State Legislations on Protection of Interest of Depositors (in Financial Establishments) empowers the State Governments to take action even before the default takes place or complaints are received from depositors. If there is perpetration of an offence and if the intention is to defraud, the State Government can even attach properties. NBFCs are also advised to lay down an appropriate grievance redressal mechanism as indicated in reply to question 57 below.

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.

When an NBFC fails to repay any deposit or part thereof in accordance with the terms and conditions of such deposit, the CLB/NCLT either on its own motion or on an application from the depositor, direct by order, the NBFC to make repayment of such deposit or part thereof forthwith or within such time and subject to such conditions as may be specified in the order. After making the payment, the company will need to file the compliance with the local office of the Reserve Bank of India.

As explained above, the depositor can approach CLB/NCLT by mailing an application in prescribed form to the appropriate bench of the CLB/NCLT according to its territorial jurisdiction.

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

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

https://website.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.