FAQ Page 1

RbiAnnouncementWeb

FAQ DetailPage Breadcrumb

Search Bar

Search Results

External Commercial Borrowings (ECB) and Trade Credits

F. LEVERAGE CRITERIA AND BORROWING LIMIT

17. Should the proposed ECB be added to all outstanding ECBs for arriving at the individual limit for raising of ECBs? +

The individual limit for raising ECB under the automatic route will take into account all ECBs raised in the financial year including the proposed one. However, refinancing of ECB amount will not be considered for arriving at individual limit per financial year. Also, the limit will be restored at the beginning of new financial year.

Government Securities Market in India – A Primer

17. What is shut period? +

‘Shut period’ means the period for which the securities cannot be traded. During the period under shut, no trading of the security which is under shut is allowed. The main purpose of having a shut period is to facilitate finalizing of the payment of maturity redemption proceeds and to avoid any change in ownership of securities during this process. Currently, the shut period for the securities held in SGL accounts is one day.

Coordinated Portfolio Investment Survey – India

Some important definitions and concepts

Q17. What should be considered under equity securities? +

Ans: The following are included under equity securities:

Ordinary shares.
Stocks.
Participating preference shares.
Shares/units in mutual funds and investment trusts
Depository receipts (e.g., American Depository Receipts) denoting ownership of equity securities issued by non-residents.
Securities sold under repos or “lent” under securities lending arrangements.
Securities acquired under reverse repos or securities borrowing arrangements and subsequently sold to a third party should be reported as a negative holding.

Business restrictions imposed on Paytm Payments Bank Limited vide Press Releases dated January 31 and February 16, 2024

FASTag issued by Paytm Payments Bank

17. Can I transfer the balance from my old FASTag issued by Paytm Payments Bank to a new FASTag obtained from another Bank? +

Credit balance transfer feature is not available in the FASTag product. Therefore, you will have to close your old FASTag issued by Paytm Payments Bank and request the bank for a refund

Annual Return on Foreign Liabilities and Assets (FLA) under FEMA 1999

Procedure for submission of the FLA return

Q17. How should entities report FLA return to RBI? +

Ans: Entities can submit the FLA return through the online web-based portal Foreign Liabilities and Assets Information Reporting (FLAIR) system, having address https://flair.rbi.org.in/fla/faces/pages/login.xhtml.

To access the URL https://flair.rbi.org.in/fla/faces/pages/login.xhtml, any of the browsers viz, Internet Explorer, Google chrome, Firefox etc. can be used, as all of these would support this application.
The entity has to register on the portal by clicking Registration for New Entity Users.
The entity has to fill the details in the FLA user registration form, upload the documents mentioned (Verification Letter and Authority Letter) and click submit to complete the registration.
After successful registration, user id and default password will be sent to the authorized person’s mail id. Using this user id and password, entities can login to the FLAIR portal and file the FLA Return.

Please note: The excel-based format and email-based reporting system has been replaced by the web-based format for submission of annual FLA return from June 2019.

Biennial survey on Foreign Collaboration in Indian Industry (FCS)

Some other important points to be noted

Q17. What information on economic activity classification has been covered under this survey? +

Ans.: In the FCS form, industry codes are given as per the National Industrial Classification (NIC) (2 digit) codes. Please specify, if you have chosen “Other” industry codes, like Other manufacturing, Other services activities.

Retail Direct Scheme

Know Your Customer (KYC) related queries

17. Do I need to upload my address proof? +

Only if your address has changed from the one mentioned in CKYC. In that case, you may update your new address and upload a proof for the same.

Targeted Long Term Repo Operations (TLTROs)

FAQs pertaining to On Tap TLTRO/ reversal of TLTRO/ TLTRO 2.0 transactions

Q17: Whether there is any restriction, with respect to Primary/Secondary market investments for funds availed under on Tap TLTRO scheme, should a bank desire to opt for acquiring specified securities issued by entities in specified sectors? +

Ans: There is no restriction with respect to primary/ secondary market investments in specified securities under the on Tap TLTRO scheme.

Housing Loans

17. What do you do if you have a grievance? +

If you have a complaint against only scheduled bank on any of the above grounds, you can lodge a complaint with the bank concerned in writing in a specific complaint register provided at the branches as per the recommendation of the Goiporia Committee or on a sheet of paper. Ask for a receipt of your complaint. The details of the official receiving your complaint may be specifically sought. If the bank fails to respond within 30 days, you can lodge a complaint with the Banking Ombudsman. (Please note that complaints pending in any other judicial forum will not be entertained by the Banking Ombudsman). No fee is levied by the office of the Banking Ombudsman for resolving the customer’s complaint. A unique complaint identification number will be given to you for tracking purpose. (A list of the Banking Ombudsmen along with their contact details is provided on the RBI website).

Complaints are to be addressed to the Banking Ombudsman within whose jurisdiction the branch or office of the bank complained against is located. Complaints can be lodged simply by writing on a plain paper or online at www.bankingombudsman.rbi.org.in or by sending an email to the Banking Ombudsman. Complaint forms are available at all bank branches also.

Complaint can also be lodged by your authorised representative (other than a lawyer) or by a consumer association / forum acting on your behalf.

If you are not happy with the decision of the Banking Ombudsman, you can appeal to the Appellate Authority in the Reserve Bank of India.

Indian Currency

B) Banknotes

9. What is a "star series" banknote? +

Fresh banknotes issued by Reserve Bank of India till August 2006 were serially numbered. Each of these banknote bears a distinctive serial number along with a prefix consisting of numerals and letter/s. The banknotes are issued in packets containing 100 pieces.

The Bank adopted the "STAR series" numbering system for replacement of defectively printed banknote in a packet of 100 pieces of serially numbered banknotes. The Star series banknotes are exactly similar to the other banknotes, but have an additional character viz., a *(star) in the number panel in the space between the prefix.

Core Investment Companies

Core Investment Companies (CICs)

18. If a company is unlisted, would the terms of block deals apply? What is the minimum number/value of shares transferred for it to be defined as a block deal/block sale? +

Ans: The term used in the CIC circulars is block sale and not block deal which has been defined by SEBI. In the context of the circular, a block sale would be a long term or strategic sale made for purposes of disinvestment or investment and not for short term trading. Unlike a block deal, there is no minimum number/value defined for the purpose.

All you wanted to know about NBFCs

B. Entities Regulated by RBI and applicable regulations

18. Please explain the terms ‘owned fund’ and ‘net owned fund’ in relation to NBFCs? +

‘Owned Fund’ means aggregate of the paid-up equity capital, preference shares which are compulsorily convertible into equity, free reserves, balance in share premium account and capital reserves representing surplus arising out of sale proceeds of asset, excluding reserves created by revaluation of asset, after deducting therefrom accumulated balance of loss, deferred revenue expenditure and other intangible assets. 'Net Owned Fund' is the amount as arrived at above, minus the amount of investments of such company in shares of its subsidiaries, companies in the same group and all other NBFCs and the book value of debentures, bonds, outstanding loans and advances including hire purchase and lease finance made to and deposits with subsidiaries and companies in the same group, to the extent it exceeds 10% of the owned fund.

Foreign Investment in India

Q.18: What are the guidelines on valuation of capital instruments ? +

Answer: Please refer to regulation 11 of FEMA 20(R).

Particulars	Listed Company	Un-Listed Company
Issue by an Indian company or transferred from a resident to non-resident - Price should not be less than	The price worked out in accordance with the relevant SEBI guidelines	The fair value worked out as per any internationally accepted pricing methodology for valuation on an arm’s length basis, duly certified by a Chartered Accountant or a SEBI registered Merchant Banker or a practicing Cost Accountant.
Transfer from a non-resident to resident - Price should not be more than	The price worked out in accordance with the relevant SEBI guidelines	The fair value as per any internationally accepted pricing methodology for valuation on an arm’s length basis, duly certified by a Chartered Accountant or a SEBI registered Merchant Banker.

The pricing guidelines shall not be applicable for investment by a person resident outside India on non-repatriation basis.

FAQs on Non-Banking Financial Companies

Inter-corporate deposits (ICDs)

18. Whether the earlier ceiling on inter-corporate deposits (ICDs) at two times the NOF has been abolished ? +

Yes. Under the new NBFC Directions, an NBFC can accept ICDs without any ceiling subject, however, to the limit set by Capital Adequacy Norms applicable to it.

Domestic Deposits

II. Deposits of Non-Residents Indians (NRIs)

18. Who can fix the interest rates on NRE and FCNR(B) deposits? +

Board of Directors of banks have been empowered to authorize the Asset-Liability Management Committee to fix interest rates on deposits within the ceiling prescribed by RBI.

Annual Return on Foreign Liabilities and Assets (FLA) under FEMA 1999

Procedure for submission of the FLA return

Q18. How would an acknowledgement be provided to us on submission of the form? +

Ans: You will receive the system-generated acknowledgement of FLA data submitted by you at the time of final submission itself. No separate mail will be sent in this regard.

External Commercial Borrowings (ECB) and Trade Credits

F. LEVERAGE CRITERIA AND BORROWING LIMIT

18. Is the debit balance in the profit and loss account for losses incurred by the Eligible Borrower, if any, required to be deducted from the free reserve while calculating the ECB liability-equity ratio? +

Yes. Any debit balance in the profit and loss account as per the latest audited balance sheet of the Eligible Borrower should be deducted from the equity for computing the ECB liability-equity ratio.

Coordinated Portfolio Investment Survey – India

Some important definitions and concepts

Q18. What should not be included under equity securities? +

Ans: The following are not included under equity securities:

Equity securities issued by a nonresident enterprise that is related to the resident owner of those securities should be excluded from this survey.
Non-participating preference shares.
Securities acquired under reverse repos.
Securities acquired under borrowing arrangements.

Business restrictions imposed on Paytm Payments Bank Limited vide Press Releases dated January 31 and February 16, 2024

National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) issued by Paytm Payments Bank

18. I have an NCMC card issued by Paytm Payments Bank. Can I continue to use it after March 15, 2024? +

Yes. You can continue to use your NCMC card upto the available balance. However, you will not be able to load or top up funds into the card after March 15, 2024. In order to avoid inconvenience, it is suggested that you obtain an NCMC card issued by another bank or non-bank pre-paid instrument (PPI) issuer, before March 15, 2024

Biennial survey on Foreign Collaboration in Indian Industry (FCS)

Some other important points to be noted

Q18. Is it required to fill the declaration at the end of the FCS survey schedule? +

Ans.: Yes, it is mandatory. Here the person authorised to fill the form owns the responsibility of information furnished and declares its accuracy including CIN number. It is a final check for all the details which are filled-up in the survey schedule of FCS survey.