Issue of rupee denominated pre-paid payment instruments is subject to the stipulations contained in the Notification on the Issuance and Operation of Pre-paid Payment Instruments in India (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2009 by Department of Payment and Settlement Systems (DPSS) of the Reserve Bank of India, under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007

Vide A. P. (DIR Series) Circular No.24 dated December 30, 2009, RBI had mandated that Branch Offices (BO) / Liaison Offices (LO) are required to submit Annual Activity Certificate (AAC) from their Auditors to the Central Office / Regional Office of the Reserve Bank, certifying that the BO / LO has carried out only those activities which are approved by the Reserve Bank. With effect from February 01, 2010

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) collects on quarterly basis, the information on Willful Defaulters (non-suit filed accounts) of Rs. 25 lakh and above from Banks. Besides RBI, the Credit Information Companies, including Credit Information Bureau of India Ltd. (CIBIL) are maintaining a database on suit filed accounts, including willful defaulters with Rs. 25 lakhs and above.

Core Investment Companies (CICs) invest primarily in group companies, in different sectors of the economy. Being holding companies they need to invest in both financial and non-financial activities. It has therefore been decided to issue a separate set of Directions to CICs with regard to their overseas investments.

Unhedged forex exposure of corporates is a source of risk to them as well as to the financing banks and the financial system. Large unhedged forex exposures have resulted in accounts becoming NPAs in some cases. Banks were, therefore, advised in February 2012 that they should rigorously evaluate the risks arising out of unhedged foreign currency exposure of the corporates and price them in the credit risk premium while extending fund-based and non fund-based credit facilities.

It has been decided, in consultation with the Government of India, to further extend till March 31, 2013 w.e.f. October 1, 2012, the relaxation with respect to the period of realization and repatriation to India, of the amount representing the full value of goods or software exported, from six months to twelve months from the [...]

It has been decided to harmonise the definition of ‘infrastructure lending for the purpose of financing of infrastructure by the banks and Financial Institutions’ with that of the Master List of Infrastructure sub-sectors’ notified by the Government of India on March 27, 2012. Accordingly, the revised definition of ‘infrastructure lending’ is given in the Annex to this circular.

In terms of extant guidelines, no advances should be granted by banks against gold bullion to dealers/traders in gold if, in their assessment, such advances are likely to be utilised for purposes of financing gold purchase at auctions and/or speculative holding of stocks and bullion. In this context, the significant rise in imports of gold in recent years is a cause for concern as direct bank financing for purchase of gold in any form viz., bullion/primary gold/jewellery/gold coin could lead to fuelling of demand for gold for speculative purposes.

We have been receiving a number of complaints where students have been refused educational loan as the residence of the borrower does not fall under the bank’s service area. In this connection, we advise that Service area norms are to be followed only in the case of Government sponsored schemes as advised in our circular RPCD.LBS (SAA).BC.No.62/08.01.00/2004-05 dated December 8, 2004 and are not applicable to sanction of educational loans.

The External Commercial Borrowing (ECB) Policy is reviewed periodically by the Government in consultation with RBI keeping in view the evolving macro economic situation, external sector assessment, needs of the corporate sector and sectoral requirements.