The existing Deposits of Paytm Payments Bank customers maintained with partner banks can be brought back (sweep-in) to the accounts with Paytm Payments Bank, subject to the ceiling on balance prescribed for a Payments Bank (i.e. ₹2 lakh per individual customer at the end of day). Such sweep-ins for the purpose of making available the balances for use or withdrawal by the customer will continue to be allowed. However, no fresh deposits with partner banks through Paytm Payments Bank will be allowed after March 15, 2024.

To facilitate the distribution of banknotes and rupee coins, the Reserve Bank has authorised select scheduled banks to establish currency chests. These are storehouses where banknotes and rupee coins are stocked on behalf of the Reserve Bank for distribution to bank branches in their area of operation. As on March 31, 2024, there were 2,794 currency chests.

[The currency chests are expected to distribute banknotes and rupee coins to other bank branches in their area of operation.]

Ans: The Reserve Bank will send emails to all the eligible entities from generic email IDs of the Reserve Bank to notify them about the launch of the CPIS for the latest reference period. Entities are required to fill in the latest survey schedule attached along with the mail and send to the generic email IDs of the Reserve Bank as per the instruction given in the survey schedule.

Clarification: Government of India (GoI), vide Gazette Notification S.O. 2119 (E) dated June 26, 2020 and updated from time to time, has notified the new composite criteria of investment in plant & machinery as well as turnover for classification of an enterprise under MSME. Under the composite criteria, if an enterprise crosses the ceiling limits specified for its present category in either of the two criteria of investment or turnover, it will cease to exist in that category and be placed in the next higher category but no enterprise shall be placed in the lower category unless it goes below the ceiling limits specified for its present category in both the criteria of investment as well as turnover. Based on the new definition, the earlier criteria regarding continuity of PSL status for three years even after an enterprise grows out of the MSME category concerned, is no longer valid.

The primary regulatory objective is to enable multiple avenues to lenders to recover the money in default without much delay. Apart from the time value loss, inordinate delays result in asset value deterioration which hampers ultimate recoveries. Compromise settlement is recognized as a valid resolution mechanism under the Prudential Framework on Resolution of Stressed Assets dated June 7, 2019. The imperatives for lenders are no different when it comes to recovery from borrowers classified as fraud or wilful defaulter. Continuing such exposures on the balance sheets of the lenders without resolution due to legal proceedings would lock lenders’ funds in an unproductive asset, which would not be a desirable position. As long as larger policy concerns are suitably addressed and the costs of malafide actions are made to be borne by the perpetrators, early recoveries by lenders should be a preferred option, subject to safeguards. Further, continuation of criminal proceedings underway or to be initiated against the borrowers classified as fraud or wilful defaulter, would ensure that perpetrators of any malafide action do not go scot-free.

Ans: No, the entity cannot report the information as per the account closing period, in case it is different from March closing. Information should be reported for the reference period only, i.e., previous March and latest March, based on the entity’s internal assessment.

Ans.: Last two financial year (FY) starting from April YYYY to March YYYY. For eg., FCS survey for the reference period 2021-2023 covers April 2021 to March 2022 and April 2022 to March 2023.

OMOs are the market operations conducted by the RBI by way of sale/ purchase of G-Secs to/ from the market with an objective to adjust the rupee liquidity conditions in the market on a durable basis. When the RBI feels that there is excess liquidity in the market, it resorts to sale of securities thereby sucking out the rupee liquidity. Similarly, when the liquidity conditions are tight, RBI may buy securities from the market, thereby releasing liquidity into the market.

5 (b) What is meant by repurchase (buyback) of G-Secs?

Repurchase (buyback) of G-Secs is a process whereby the Government of India and State Governments buy back their existing securities, by redeeming them prematurely, from the holders. The objectives of buyback can be reduction of cost (by buying back high coupon securities), reduction in the number of outstanding securities and improving liquidity in the G-Secs market (by buying back illiquid securities) and infusion of liquidity in the system. The repurchase by the Government of India is also undertaken for effective cash management by utilising the surplus cash balances. For e.g. Repurchase of four securities (7.49 GS 2017 worth ₹1385 cr, 8.07 GS 2017 worth ₹50 cr, 7.99 GS 2017 worth ₹1401.417 cr and 7.46 GS 2017 worth ₹125 cr) was done through reverse auction on March 17, 2017. State Governments can also buy-back their high coupon (high cost debt) bearing securities to reduce their interest outflows in the times when interest rates show a falling trend. States can also retire their high cost debt pre-maturely in order to fulfill some of the conditions put by international lenders like Asian Development Bank, World Bank etc. to grant them low cost loans. For e.g. Repurchase of seven securities of Government of Maharashtra was done through reverse auction on March 29, 2017. RBI vide DBR.No.BP.BC.46/21.04.141/2018-19 dated June 10, 2019 notified that apart from transactions that are already exempted from inclusion in the 5 per cent cap, it has been decided that repurchase of State Development Loans (SDLs) by the concerned state government shall also be exempted. Governments make provisions in their budget for buying back of existing securities. Buyback can be done through an auction process (generally if amount is large) or through the secondary market route, i.e. NDS-OM (if amount is not large).