This Master Circular provides a framework of the rules/regulations/instructions issued to Scheduled Commercial Banks on statutory and other restrictions on loans and advances. Banks should implement these instructions and adopt adequate safeguards in order to ensure that the banking activities undertaken by them are run on sound, prudent and profitable lines.
Please refer to the Master Circular DBOD.BP.BC.No.16/21.04.018/2011-12 dated July 1, 2011 consolidating all operative instructions issued to banks till June 30, 2011 on matters relating to disclosures in the ‘Notes to Accounts’ to the Financial Statements. The Master Circular has now been suitably updated by incorporating instructions issued upto June 30, 2012. The Master Circular has also been placed on the RBI web-site (http://www.rbi.org.in).
As you are aware, in order to have all current instructions on the subject at one place, the Reserve Bank of India issues updated Circulars/notifications. The instructions contained in the Notification No.DNBC.39/DG(H)-77 dated 20th June 1977 updated as on June 30, 2012 is enclosed. The updated notification has also been placed on the RBI web-site (http://www.rbi.org.in).
Quoted investments for each category shall be valued at cost or market value whichever is lower. For this purpose, the investments in each category shall be considered scrip-wise and the cost and market value aggregated for all investments in each category. If the aggregate market value for the category is less than the aggregate cost for that category, the net depreciation shall be provided for or charged to the profit and loss account. If the aggregate market value for the category exceeds the aggregate cost for the category, the net appreciation shall be ignored. Depreciation in one category of investments shall not be set off against appreciation in another category.
The Reserve Bank of India may, if it considers it necessary for avoiding any hardship or for any other just and sufficient reason, grant extension of time to comply with or exempt any mortgage guarantee company or class of mortgage guarantee companies, from all or any of the provisions of these instructions either generally or for any specified period, subject to such conditions as the Reserve Bank of India may impose.
NBFCs were advised to follow certain customer identification procedure for opening of accounts and monitoring transactions of a suspicious nature for the purpose of reporting it to appropriate authority. These ‘Know Your Customer’ guidelines have been revisited in the context of the Recommendations made by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on Anti Money Laundering (AML) standards and on Combating Financing of Terrorism (CFT). Detailed guidelines based on the Recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force and the paper issued on Customer Due Diligence (CDD) for NBFCs by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, with indicative suggestions wherever considered necessary, have been issued. NBFCs have been advised to ensure that a proper policy framework on ‘Know Your Customer’ and Anti-Money Laundering measures with the approval of the Board is formulated and put in place.
Registration with the Reserve Bank of India – 3. A mortgage guarantee company shall commence the business of providing mortgage guarantee after – (a) obtaining a certificate of registration from the Reserve Bank of India; and (b) having a net owned fund of one hundred crore rupees or such other higher amount, as the Reserve Bank of India may, by notification, specify.
Notification [F. No. 334/01/2012- TRU], dated 2-7-2012 – In the notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue), No. 36/2012-Service Tax, dated the 20th June, 2012 published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, section 3, sub-section (i) vide number G.S.R. 478 (E), dated the 20th June 2012, in rule 6A, in sub-rule (1), in clause (f),-
Direct investments by residents in Joint Venture (JV) and Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) abroad are being allowed, in terms of clause (a) of sub-section (3) of section 6 of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, (42 of 1999) read with Notification No. FEMA 120/RB-2004, dated July 7, 2004, (GSR 757(E), dated November 19, 2004), viz., Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of Any Foreign Security) Regulations, 2004, as amended from time to time.
Notification No. 5 (RE-2012)/2009-2014 Export of Handmade Woolen Carpets, Handicraft items and Silk items etc. (details given above) shall not be permitted on the basis of Documents against Acceptance (D/A) except when covered by (a) Guarantee from Bank or ECGC or (b) made to own Subsidiaries etc.
