Ans. The regulatory framework for microfinance loans is applicable only to REs/ entities as defined under para 2.1⁴ and para 9.2⁵ of the directions. However, it may be prudent for other lenders operating in the microfinance sector to follow these customer-centric directions.

The complainant is required to give details such as,The name and the address of the complainantThe name and address of the branch or office of the System Participant against whom the complaint is made;The facts giving rise to the complaint, supported by documents, if any;The nature and extent of the loss caused to the complainant;The relief sought for; andDeclaration that the complaint is maintainable under Clause 9(3) of the Scheme.

Banks are not required to enter into any ISDA agreement with RBI.

Only such resolution plans which receive a credit opinion of RP4 or better for the residual debt from a CRAs shall be considered for implementation under the Resolution Framework. In case credit opinion is obtained from more than one CRA, all such credit opinions must be RP4 or better.

Ans. List of all authorised Payment System Operators (PSOs), including TReDS, is available at the following path: www.rbi.org.in → “Payment and Settlement Systems” dropdown → “Information Useful to Customer” → “List of Authorised Entities – Payment System Operators”. Following is the web link for accessing the same: /en/web/rbi/-/publications/certificates-of-authorisation-issued-by-the-reserve-bank-of-india-under-the-payment-and-settlement-systems-act-2007-for-setting-up-and-operating-payment-system-in-india-12043

Response: The Reserve Bank has not prescribed any requirement for insurance cover on debit or credit cards. However, in case a card-issuer or a card payment network provides an insurance cover, complimentary or chargeable (with the consent of the cardholder), the card-issuer shall ensure that the relevant nomination details are recorded by the Insurance Company and the availability of insurance is included, along with other information, in every statement. The information shall also include the details regarding the insurance cover, name/address and telephone number of the Insurance Company which will handle the claims relating to the insurance cover. In case of group insurance policy, the contact details of the concerned officials of the card-issuer shall be provided in the statements.

Ans. The registration for a tokenisation request is done only with explicit customer consent through Additional Factor of Authentication (AFA), and not by way of a forced / default / automatic selection of check box, radio button, etc. Customer will also be given choice of selecting the use case and setting-up of limits.

No. They are not covered under the G S Act or the G S Regulations.

The requirement is that the companies in the Promoter Group in which the public hold not less than 51 per cent of the voting equity shares shall hold not less than 51 per cent of the total voting equity shares of the NOFHC.[ para 2 (C) (ii) (b) of the guidelines] A company in which public holds 51 per cent need not necessarily be listed. For the purpose of these guidelines, ‘public shareholding’ implies that no person along with his relatives (as defined in Section 6 of the Companies Act, 1956) and entities in which he and / or his relatives hold not less than 50 per cent of the voting equity shares, by virtue of his shareholding or otherwise, exercises ‘significant influence’ or ‘control’ (as defined in Accounting Standard 23) over the company.

The maximum limit will be applicable to the first applicant in case of a joint holding for that specific application.

Ans. The remittances can be made in any freely convertible foreign currency.

Ans.: No. Even if a company’s account closing period is different from reference period (end-March), the MF survey information should be reported for the survey reference period, based on the company’s internal assessment.

The participating banks will be rolling-out an update in their respective UPI apps in a phased manner and the customers will have to update their UPI app so as to enable global remittances feature.

Banks have been instructed to make arrangements to reduce inconvenience to the senior citizens, persons with disabilities, etc., seeking to exchange/deposit ₹2000 banknotes.

Answer: Regulated financial entities, other entities with a minimum net worth of Rs.500 crore or a minimum turnover of Rs. 1000 crore, as per the latest audited financial statements, and non-residents (other than individuals) are classified as non-retail users. All other types of users are classified as retail users.

Ans: The Guidelines are applicable to ‘digital loans’ offered over any digital platform which meet the definition of ‘Digital Lending Apps/ Platforms’ (DLAs) as per our circular dated September 02, 2022 on Guidelines on Digital Lending.

Banks may be guided by para 3.2.3 of the Master Circular - Prudential norms on Income Recognition, Asset Classification and Provisioning pertaining to Advances dated April 1, 2023, as per which in respect of NPAs, fees, commission and similar income that have accrued should cease to accrue in the current period and should be reversed with respect to past periods, if uncollected. Accordingly, in respect of NPA accounts, penal charges shall be reversed to the extent it remains uncollected for the specific purpose of non-recognition of income. However, the same shall be part of the total liability of the borrower to the lender, unless it is waived as per the bank’s Board approved policy.

Ans. No. As per paragraph 20.2.1 of these Directions, banks cannot accept recurring deposits under FCNR(B) Scheme.

Ans.: Total invoice value must be in Indian Rupees (INR) in actuals (which should also include billing to subsidiary(s)/associate(s) abroad) as per type of export service.

Banks are required to make their USD Cheque Collection Policy transparent covering all the relevant aspects detailed above. Banks are also required to widely disseminate the policy by displaying at their branches, on their website, etc. A copy of the policy will be available with the Branch for the customers to go through. Banks have been advised to look into and redress customer complaints like delay in collection / receipt of proceeds, etc. Customers may resort to the redressal mechanism put in place by RBI under the Banking Ombudsman Scheme, 2006 for any complaints.

All complaints involving ‘deficiency in service’ on the part of the RE, except for those listed under Question 14 below are handled under the RB-IOS, 2021. ‘Deficiency in service’ has been defined in RB-IOS, 2021 as ‘any shortcoming or inadequacy in any financial service, which the Regulated Entity of RBI is required to provide statutorily or otherwise, which may or may not result in financial loss or damage to the customer’.

Ans. The above does not apply to BSBDA as the number of withdrawals from BSBDA is subject to the conditions associated with such accounts.

Ans: The feature of providing the requisite change is available in all the e₹ wallets. For example, if one desires to purchase a ₹15 item from a merchant but has only ₹20 denomination available in the e₹ wallet, she/he can enter ₹15 in the amount field while sending the money; ₹15 will automatically be credited to the merchant while the balance ₹5 will be returned to the e₹ wallet.

Answer: The policy is not aimed at any specific country. This step is part of a sequenced and calibrated path for increased use of the INR in international transactions.

Ans. An RE has the following options to onboard a customer:

(a) Face-to-face onboarding:

• Visit to the branch/ office of the RE;
• using e-KYC authentication (OTP as well as biometric based authentication); undertaking offline verification of proof of possession of Aadhaar Number; obtaining certified copy of the OVD or equivalent e-document thereof; undertaking ‘Digital KYC Process’, as per paragraph 16 of the MD on KYC.
• Video based Customer Identification Process (V-CIP) complying with prescribed standards and procedures.

(b) Non-face-to-face onboarding:

• using Aadhaar OTP based e-KYC authentication;
• using digital channels such as CKYCR, DigiLocker, equivalent e-document, etc., and non-digital modes such as obtaining copy of OVD certified by additional certifying authorities as allowed for NRIs and PIOs.

Response: Banks and the CPTCs/GMCTAs may put in place a mutually acceptable procedure in this regard and notify that to the relevant CPTCs/GMCTAs.

With the enactment of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED), Act 2006, for the goods and services supplied by the MSME units, payments have to be made by the buyers as under:

(i) The buyer is to make payment on or before the date agreed on between him and the supplier in writing or, in case of no agreement, before the appointed day. The agreement between seller and buyer shall not exceed more than 45 days.

(ii) If the buyer fails to make payment of the amount to the supplier, he shall be liable to pay compound interest with monthly rests to the supplier on the amount from the appointed day or, on the date agreed on, at three times of the Bank Rate notified by Reserve Bank.

(iii) For any goods supplied or services rendered by the supplier, the buyer shall be liable to pay the interest as advised at (ii) above.

(iv) In case of dispute with regard to any amount due, a reference shall be made to the Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Council, constituted by the respective State Government.

Further, banks are advised to fix sub-limits within the overall working capital limits to the large borrowers specifically for meeting the payment obligation in respect of purchases from MSMEs. (Refer circular  IECD/5/08.12.01/2000-01 dated October 16, 2000 reiterated on May 30, 2003, vide circular No. IECD.No.20/08.12.01/2002-03).

You can apply by submitting a single application form to the Coordination Group hosted by the FinTech Department, RBI, via email at iors@rbi.org.in. The application form can be accessed via the link: https://rbi.org.in/documents/87730/39016390/IoRS12102022_APP.pdf

Ans. The guidance structure for calculating the amount to be imposed on compounding is available at paragraph 5.4 of Directions - Compounding of Contraventions under FEMA, 1999. It may, however, be noted that the guidance structure is only for the purpose of broadly standardizing the amount imposed by the compounding authorities across offices and the actual amount imposed may vary, depending on the circumstances of the case taking into account the factors given in paragraph 5.3 of Directions - Compounding of Contraventions under FEMA, 1999.

Ans. Yes. All entities, irrespective of domestic or foreign, need to obtain license/ approval / authorization from Reserve Bank before commencing payment system operations in the country. The PSS Act indicates that “No person can operate a payment system except under and in accordance with an authorisation issued by the Reserve Bank”. Criteria are also specified for particular payment systems which form part of the respective payment system guidelines / instructions

The form and manner of application for authorisation is available at https://rbi.org.in/documents/87730/30842423/PSSR23022022d57d6e9afaf44d97b9ed577d9d1c7c2b.pdf

For collection of cheques up to and including ₹1,00,000/-, there is no service charge for savings account customers. For cheques with value above that and for other account types, service charges may be decided by the concerned banks and communicated to their customers as part of their Cheque Collection Policy.

Ans. 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 directions and subject to conditions specified in para 2(i) of our ‘Master Direction – Exemptions from the provisions of RBI Act, 1934’ dated August 25, 2016 (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 Reserve Bank of India 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.

Ans. Cash withdrawal or funds transfer from these two types of Small PPIs is not permitted.

Yes. However, the decision to allow services beyond the minimum prescribed has been left to the discretion of the banks who can either offer additional services free of charge or evolve requirements including pricing structure for additional value-added services on a reasonable and transparent basis, to be applied in a non-discriminatory manner with prior intimation to the customers. Banks are required to put in place a reasonable pricing structure for value added services or prescribe minimum balance requirements which should be displayed prominently and also informed to the customers at the time of account opening. Offering such additional facilities should be non - discretionary, non-discriminatory and transparent to all ‘Basic Savings Bank Deposit Account’ customers. However, such accounts enjoying additional facilities will not be treated as BSBDAs.

Ans : User institutions enjoy many advantages as well. For instance,

• Savings on administrative machinery and costs of printing, dispatch and reconciliation of paper instruments that would have been used had beneficiaries not opted for ECS Credit.

• Avoid chances of loss / theft of instruments in transit, likelihood of fraudulent encashment of paper instruments, etc. and subsequent correspondence / litigation.

• Efficient payment mode ensuring that the beneficiaries get credit on a designated date.

• Cost effective.

Residents are permitted to hold foreign currency up to US$2,000 or its equivalent provided the foreign exchange was -

1. acquired by him while on a visit to any place outside India by way of payment for services not arising from any business in or anything done in India;

or

2. acquired by him, from any person not resident in India and who is on a visit to India, as honorarium or gift or for services rendered or in settlement of any lawful obligation,

or

3. acquired by him by way of honorarium or gift while on a visit to any place outside India;

or

4. acquired by him from an authorised person for travel abroad and represents the unspent amount thereof.

Once the GAH is granted access to the NDS-OM Web Module, the Primary Member can create Users under the GAH, who can log into the system. The users once created by the Primary Member have to be approved by the NDS-OM Web Admin at CCIL.

Yes. The Roadmap to be prepared as per the recommendations of the Approach Paper would enable the banks to set milestones for achieving ADF which in turn would also help in monitoring from time to time the progress made in implementation.

Ans: The funds availed under TLTRO 2.0 are to be deployed in investment grade bonds, commercial paper (CPs) and non-convertible debentures (NCDs) of Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) and MFIs in the manner outlined in the press release dated April 17, 2020.

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

User institutions enjoy many advantages as well. For instance, Savings on administrative machinery and costs of printing, dispatch and reconciliation of paper instruments that would have been used had beneficiaries not opted for ECS Credit. Avoid chances of loss / theft of instruments in transit, likelihood of fraudulent encashment of paper instruments, etc. and subsequent correspondence / litigation. Efficient payment mode ensuring that the beneficiaries get credit on a designated date. Cost effective.

Foreign exchange for travel abroad can be purchased from banks against rupee payment in cash up to Rs.50,000/-. However, if the rupee equivalent exceeds Rs.50,000/-, the entire payment should be made by way of a crossed cheque/banker’s cheque/pay order/demand draft only.

Ans: No. NEFT is a credit-push system i.e., transactions can be originated by the payer / remitter / sender only to pay / transfer / remit funds to beneficiary.

An AD Category – I Bank / AD Category - II/ FFMC should apply to the respective Regional Office of the Reserve Bank, in Form RMC-F (as given in Part I: Annex-II of the FED Master Direction No.18/2015-16 on Reporting under FEMA 1999) for appointment of franchisees under this Scheme. The application should be accompanied by a declaration that while selecting the franchisees, adequate due diligence has been carried out and that such entities have undertaken to comply with all the provisions of the franchising agreement and prevailing Reserve Bank regulations regarding money changing. Approval would be granted by the Reserve Bank for the first franchisee arrangement. Thereafter, as and when new franchisee agreements are entered into, these would have to be reported to the Reserve Bank in Form RMC-F on a post-facto basis along with similar declaration as indicated above.

RBI will issue securities only in SGL form. It will credit the securities to the CSGL account of the aggregator or facilitator. They will in turn credit the securities to the gilt account or dematerialized account of the investors.

Name and address of the complainant, the name and address of the branch or office of the bank against which the complaint is made, facts giving rise to the complaint supported by documents, if any, the nature and extent of the loss caused to the complainant, the relief sought from the Banking Ombudsman and a declaration about the compliance with conditions which are required to be complied with by the complainant under Clause 9(3) of the Banking Ombudsman Scheme.

The Government of India notifies the auction of government securities. It also notifies the amount and whether it will be a new loan or reissue of an existing loan. It also announces whether the bidders have to bid for the price or the coupon(interest rate).The competitive bidders put in competitive bids for the price or the coupon. The cutoff price or the coupon is then announced by RBI on the basis of the bids received. All successful bidders will be allotted the security auctioned either in full or in part.Example:Recently, an auction was held for government of India's 11 year Government Stock in which the notified amount was Rs.5,000 crore. The coupon rate for cut-off yield was 9.40 per cent. The weighted average yield was, however, 9.36 per cent since allotments were made to different successful bidders at the rates quoted by them at or below the cut off rates (i.e. multiple price auction system).

In case of a term deposit standing in the name of a deceased depositor, interest will be paid in the following manner.i) If the payment of deposit is claimed before the maturity, the interest is payable at the rate prevalent on the date on which the deposit was placed with the bank and as applicable to the period for which the deposit remained with the bank, without charging any penalty.ii) In the event of death of the depositor before the date of maturity and the payment of deposit is claimed after the date of maturity, the interest is payable at the contracted rate upto the date of maturity. From the date of maturity till the date of payment of the deposit, the bank shall pay interest at simple rate of interest prevalent on the date of maturity as applicable to the period for which the deposit remained with the bank from the date of maturity of the deposit till its payment.iii) In the case of death of the depositor after the date of maturity of the deposit the bank shall pay interest at savings deposit rate operative on the date of maturity from the date of maturity till the date of payment.

The criteria for investment under the automatic route are as under:The total financial commitment of the Indian party in Joint Ventures/Wholly Owned Subsidiaries in any country other than Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan is up to US$ 100 million or its equivalent in any one financial year or 100% of the net worth whichever is lower, and the investment is in a lawful activity permitted by a host country. The financial commitment in respect of Joint Ventures/Wholly Owned Subsidiaries in Myanmar and SAARC countries (other than Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan) is up to US$ 150 million or its equivalent in any one financial year. (Please also see answer to Question No. 20).The Indian party is not on the Reserve Bank caution/defaulters list or under investigation by the Enforcement DirectorateThe Indian party routes all the transactions relating to the investment in a Joint Venture/Wholly Owned Subsidiary through only one branch of an authorised dealer to be designated by it.In respect of investments in non-core activities (refer Ques.15) the investing company has a proven track record.

Ans : Yes. The maximum exposure that an IDF-NBFC can take on individual projects will be

1. at 50 percent of its total Capital Funds (Tier I plus Tier II) and not to Owned Funds as in the case of NBFCs.

2. An additional exposure up to 10 percent could be taken at the discretion of the Board of the IDF-NBFC.

3. In addition, if the financial position of the IDF-NBFC is satisfactory RBI may, on being satisfied and upon receipt of an application from an IDF-NBFC, permit additional exposure up to 15 percent (over 60 percent) subject to such conditions as it may deem fit to impose regarding additional prudential safeguards.