The Foreign Currency Non-Resident (FCNR(B)) scheme was introduced with effect from May 15, 1993 to replace the then prevailing FCNR(A) scheme introduced in 1975, where the foreign exchange risk was borne by RBI and subsequently by the Govt. of India. The FCNR(A) scheme was withdrawn in August, 1994 in view of its implications for the central bank’s balance sheet and quasi-fiscal costs to the Government. To begin with, the FCNR(B) scheme was applicable to deposits accepted in four currencies, viz., Pound Sterling, US Dollar, Deutsche Mark and Japanese Yen. On November 4, 2000 the FCNR(B) scheme was extended to cover deposits in EURO while deposits in Deutsche Mark were accepted only up to 31 December 2001.
As a prudential measure aimed at better risk management and avoidance of concentration of credit risks, the Reserve Bank of India has advised the banks to fix limits on their exposure to specific industry or sectors and has prescribed regulatory limits on banks’ exposure to individual and group borrowers in India. In addition, banks are also required to observe certain statutory and regulatory exposure limits in respect of advances against/investments in shares, convertible debentures/bonds, units of equity-oriented mutual funds and all exposures to Venture Capital Funds (VCFs). Banks should comply with the following guidelines relating to exposure norms.
CIRCULAR RPCD. FID. BC.NO.06/12.01.001/2011-12, The Reserve Bank of India has, from time to time, issued a number of guidelines/instructions to banks on SHG-Bank Linkage Programme. In order to enable the banks to have instructions at one place, a Master Circular incorporating the existing guidelines/instructions on the subject has been updated and enclosed. This Master Circular consolidates and updates the circulars issued by Reserve Bank on the subject up to June 30, 2011 as indicated in the Appendix.
CIR/MRD/DP/ 8 /2011 June 30, 2011 Exchanges are advised to a) make necessary amendments to the relevant bye-laws, rules and regulations for the implementation of the above decision. b) bring the provisions of this circular to the notice of the member brokers/clearing members of the Exchange and also to disseminate the same on the website. c) communicate to SEBI, the status of the implementation of this circular in the Monthly Development Report.
A. P. (DIR Series) Circular No.75 After reviewing the current policy on buyback/prepayment of Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds (FCCBs), the Reserve Bank in consultation with the Government of India, has decided to extend the time limit for buyback of FCCBs issued by Indian companies up to March 31, 2012 at reduced discount rates. Accordingly, Indian companies have been permitted to buyback the FCCBs at a minimum discount of 8 per cent on the book value utilizing their foreign currency funds under the automatic route. Indian companies may also buyback the FCCBs at a minimum discount between 10 and 20 per cent on the book value utilizing their internal accruals under the approval route.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said it has decided to permit the issuance of equity, preference shares under the government route of the foreign direct investment scheme for some categories vide its A. P. (DIR Series) Circular No.74 Dated- June 30, 2011. Circular specifies that Payments should be made directly by the foreign investor to the company. Payments made through third parties citing the absence of a bank account or similar such reasons will not be eligible for issuance of shares towards FDI.
Transfer by way of sale of shares of a JV / WOS – An Indian Party, without prior approval of the Reserve Bank, may transfer by way of sale to another Indian Party which complies with the provisions of Regulation 6 of FEMA Notification 120/RB-2004 dated July 7, 2004 or to a person resident outside India, any share or security held by it in a JV or WOS outside India subject to the following conditions:
It is noticed that a large number of e-forms filed by the companies with the ROCs prior to implementation of revised regulation 17 of the Companies Regulation, 1956 (i.e. 15.02.2009) are still pending in folders like RESUB, PUCL etc. for want of action on the part of stake holders. Unless the companies respond to this, ROC’s are unable to process the said forms.
The Authority proposes to issue the Regulations on IRDA (Issue of Capital and Disclosure Requirements for Life Insurance Companies) Regulations, 2011. Accordingly, the Authority has prepared the Draft Regulations (attached as pdf and doc. documents) for the same. In this regard, comments/suggestions of all stake holders (including insurers, policyholders, academics, analysts etc.) on the Exposure Draft are invited
Circular No.25/2011-Customs Attention is also invited to Board’s Circular No.9/2010-Customs dated 8.4.2010 which stipulates that those applicants who have passed the examination referred to in Regulation 9 of CHALR, 1984, but were not given Licence under the said Regulation were required to appear in the examination and qualify the same under Regulation 8 of CHALR, 2004 in respect of additional subjects as provided in Notification No.30/2010-Customs (NT) dated 8.4.2010. The persons who qualify in the aforesaid examination shall be deemed to have passed under regulation 8 of the CHALR, 2004 and would be considered for grant of CHA licence in terms of regulation 9 of the CHALR, 2004.
