It has been decided to allow ECB for low cost affordable housing projects as a permissible end-use,under the approval route. ECB can be availed of by developers/builders for low cost affordable housing projects. Housing Finance Companies (HFCs)/National Housing Bank (NHB) can also avail of ECB for financing prospective owners of low cost affordable housing units.

It has been decided that the all-in-cost ceiling as specified in A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 99 dated March 30, 2012 will continue to be applicable till March 31, 2013 and subject to review thereafter. All other aspects of ECB policy remain unchanged.

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

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 [...]

The matter has since been reviewed in consultation with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India and it has been decided to allow ADs to sell foreign exchange to a unit in the DTA for making payment in foreign exchange to a unit in the SEZ for the services rendered by it (i.e. a unit in SEZ) to a DTA unit. It may, however, be ensured that there is an enabling provision of supplying these goods/services by the SEZ unit to the DTA unit and for payment in foreign exchange for such goods/ services to the SEZ unit, in the Letter of Approval (LoA) issued to the SEZ unit by the Development Commissioner(DC) of the SEZ. A. P. (DIR Series 2012-13) Circular No. 46

As per the extant guidelines, only designated branches of AD Category I banks maintaining accounts of FIIs are allowed to act as market makers to FIIs for hedging their currency risk on the market value of entire investment in equity and/or debt in India as on a particular date.

The Committee to review the facilities for individuals under FEMA, 1999 (Chairperson: Smt. K.J.Udeshi) has recommended that the banks may sanction Rupee loans in India or foreign currency loans outside India to either the account holder or a third party to the extent of the balance in the NRE/FCNR (B) account subject to margin requirements. The existing position in this regard has been reviewed and it has been decided, in exercise of powers under paragraph 6(d) of Schedule-1 read with para 9(1) of Schedule-2 of the Foreign Exchange Management (Deposit) Regulations, 2000, that the banks may now grant loans against NR(E)RA and FCNR(B) deposits either to the depositors or the third parties as under:-

It has been decided that in cases, where non-residents (including NRIs) make investment in an Indian company in compliance with the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956, by way of subscription to Memorandum of Association, such investments may be made at face value subject to their eligibility to invest under the FDI scheme.

RBI/2012-13/219 A. P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 33 September 24, 2012 To All Authorised Persons in Foreign Exchange Madam/Sir, Know Your Customer (KYC) norms/Anti-Money Laundering (AML) standards / Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) Obligation of Authorised Persons under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, (PMLA), 2002, as amended by Prevention of Money Laundering (Amendment) Act, [...]

Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999-Import of gold in any form including jewellery made of gold/precious metals or / and studded with diamonds / semi precious / precious stones – clarification