The Reserve Bank of India has, from time to time, issued a number of guidelines/instructions/directives to banks on Priority Sector Lending. The Master Direction enclosed incorporates the updated guidelines/ instructions/ circulars on the subject.
All of the above govern the Foreign Exchange Derivative Contracts, Overseas Commodity & Freight Hedging, Rupee Accounts of Non-Resident Banks and Inter-Bank Foreign Exchange Dealings etc. These Regulations are amended from time to time to incorporate the changes in the regulatory framework and published through amendment notifications.
The rules and regulations applicable to Relief/Savings Bonds have been updated with instructions issued up to June 30, 2016 in the Master Directions on Relief/Savings Bonds.
In 1995, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) introduced the system of Primary Dealers (PDs) in the Government Securities (G-Sec) Market. The objectives of the PD system are to strengthen the infrastructure in G-Sec market, development of underwriting and market making capabilities for G-Sec, improve secondary market trading system and to make PDs an effective conduit for open market operations (OMO). As on June 30, 2015, there are seven standalone PDs and thirteen banks authorized to undertake PD business departmentally.
The Chairmen and Managing Directors/Chief Executive Officers (CMD/CEOs) of banks must provide focus on the Fraud Prevention and Management Function to enable, among others, effective investigation of fraud cases and prompt as well as accurate reporting to appropriate regulatory and law enforcement authorities including Reserve Bank of India.
Periodical but frequent occurrences of natural calamities take a heavy toll of human life and cause wide spread damage to economic pursuits of human beings in one area or the other of our country. The devastation caused by such natural calamities calls for massive rehabilitation efforts by all agencies.
In respect of related entities which operate under severe long term restrictions which significantly impair their ability to transfer funds to the parent, the AIFIs shall disclose separately the book value of the amounts due from such related entities and the net amounts recoverable from them. The AIFIs shall also consider making appropriate provisions for the shortfall.
In exercise of the powers conferred by Sections 35 A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, the Reserve Bank of India being satisfied that it is necessary and expedient in the public interest so to do, hereby, issues the Directions hereinafter specified.
A scheduled co-operative bank (Authorised Dealer) shall have the freedom to determine interest on deposits of money accepted by it or renewed by it under the Resident Foreign Currency Account Scheme, in accordance with the comprehensive policy on interest rates on deposits duly approved by the Board of Directors or any Committee of the Board to which powers have been delegated.
The requirement of prior approval for acquisition of shares/ voting rights of 5 per cent and above in a private sector bank as stipulated in Master Direction dated November 19, 2015 on ‘Prior approval for acquisition of shares or voting rights in private sector banks’, shall equally be applicable for foreign investment. Hence, any foreign investment in private banks by any person (including his relatives and associate enterprises and persons acting in concert) whereby shareholding reaches or exceeds 5 per cent shall require prior approval from RBI for acquisition of shares or voting rights.
