Retail Direct Scheme is a one-stop solution to facilitate investment in Government Securities by individual investors. Under this scheme individual retail investors can open a Gilt Securities Account – “Retail Direct Gilt (RDG)” account with RBI. Using this account, retail investors can buy and sell government securities through the online portal – https://rbiretaildirect.org.in

Master Direction No. 5 on ‘External Commercial Borrowings, Trade Credits and Structured Obligations dated March 26, 2019 may be referred to for guidance on the extant framework on ECB and TC. ECBs and TCs raised under the prior frameworks should continue to be in compliance with the corresponding guidelines applicable at the time of availing the ECBs and TCs.

Ans: Presently the banks, mutual fund companies, non-financial companies, non-banking financial companies and insurance companies are surveyed under the CPIS.

The Indian currency is called the Indian Rupee (INR). One Rupee consists of 100 Paise. The symbol of the Indian Rupee is ₹. The design resembles both the Devanagari letter "₹" (ra) and the Latin capital letter "R", with a double horizontal line at the top.

A Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) is a company registered under the Companies Act, 1956 engaged in the business of loans and advances, acquisition of shares/stocks/bonds/debentures/securities issued by Government or local authority or other marketable securities of a like nature, leasing, hire-purchase, insurance business, chit business but does not include any institution whose principal business is that of agriculture activity, industrial activity, purchase or sale of any goods (other than securities) or providing any services and sale/purchase/construction of immovable property. A non-banking institution which is a company and has principal business of receiving deposits under any scheme or arrangement in one lump sum or in installments by way of contributions or in any other manner, is also a non-banking financial company (Residuary non-banking company).

Clarification: The net PSLC outstanding (PSLC Buy minus(-) PSLC Sell) is added to the Net Bank Credit, as mentioned in para 6 of the Master Directions on PSL, 2020 (updated from time to time). Further, a PSLC remains outstanding until its expiry (s. no. ix of Notification on Priority Sector Lending certificates dated April 07, 2016, All PSLCs will expire by March 31st and will not be valid beyond the reporting date (i.e. March 31st), irrespective of the date it was first bought/sold. Accordingly, the effect of PSLC buy is increase in ANBC and conversely the effect of PSLC sell is decrease in ANBC and the net of PSLC buy/sell is adjusted to the ANBC for every quarter. Thus, a PSLC bought or sold in any quarter will have to be taken into account in all subsequent quarters till the end of the FY to which it pertains.

Clarification: The Master Directions on Priority Sector Lending, 2020 under para 6 provides for computation of Adjusted Net Bank Credit. The face value of securities availed under TLTRO 2.0 and SLF-MF (including the Extended Regulatory Benefits) are to be reduced (as given in ‘IX’ of para 6.1 of the Master Directions on PSL). Since these securities are considered as HTM investments, the banks have to add them as Bonds/debentures in Non-SLR categories under HTM category (as given in ‘X’ of para 6.1 of the Master Directions on PSL). It is envisaged that the Priority Sector Lending target/sub-targets should not increase on account of securities acquired under TLTRO 2.0 and SLF-MF (including the Extended Regulatory Benefits). By adding the face value of securities (X) and reducing the face value of securities (IX) there will be no increase in ANBC due to investments in TLTRO 2.0 and SLF-MF (including the Extended Regulatory Benefits.)