SLR requirement of banks to be reduced from 20.0% of their Net Demand and Time Liabilities (NDTL) to 19.5%

From the fortnight commencing 14 October 2017

As announced in the Fourth Bi-monthly Monetary Policy Statement, 2017-18 on October 04, 2017, it has been decided to reduce the SLR requirement of banks from 20.0 per cent of their Net Demand and Time Liabilities (NDTL) to 19.5 per cent from the fortnight commencing 14 October 2017.

Currently, the banks are permitted to exceed the limit of 25 per cent of the total investments under HTM category, provided the excess comprises of SLR securities and total SLR securities held under HTM category are not more than 20.5 per cent of NDTL. In order to align this ceiling on the SLR holdings under HTM category with the mandatory SLR, it has been decided to reduce the ceiling from 20.5 per cent to 19.5 per cent in a phased manner, i.e. 20 per cent by December 31, 2017 and 19.5 per cent by March 31, 2018.

As per extant instructions, banks may shift investments to/from HTM with the approval of the Board of Directors once a year, and such shifting will normally be allowed at the beginning of the accounting year. In order to enable banks to shift their excess SLR securities from the HTM category to AFS/HFT to comply with instructions as indicated in paragraph 3 above, it has been decided to allow such shifting of the excess securities and direct sale from HTM category. This would be in addition to the shifting permitted at the beginning of the accounting year, i.e., in the month of April. Such transfer to AFS/HFT category as well as sale of securities from HTM category, to the extent required to reduce the SLR securities in HTM category in accordance with the regulatory instructions, would be excluded from the 5 per cent cap prescribed for value of sales and transfers of securities to/from HTM category under paragraph 2.3 (ii) of the Master Circular on Prudential Norms for Classification, Valuation and Operation of Investment Portfolio by Banks.

Sovereign Gold Bond 2017-18 - Series-III details:

Issuance: To be issued by Reserve Bank India on behalf of the Government of India.

Eligibility: The Bonds will be restricted for sale to resident Indian entities including individuals, HUFs, Trusts, Universities and Charitable Institutions.

Denomination: The Bonds will be denominated in multiples of gram(s) of gold with a basic unit of 1 gram.

Tenor: The tenor of the Bond will be for a period of 8 years with exit option from 5th year to be exercised on the interest payment dates.

Minimum size: Minimum permissible investment will be 1 gram of gold.

Maximum limit: The maximum limit of subscribed shall be 4 KG for individual, 4 Kg for HUF and 20 Kg for trusts and similar entities per fiscal (April-March) notified by the Government from time to time. A self-declaration to this effect will be obtained. The annual ceiling will include bonds subscribed under different tranches during initial issuance by Government and those purchased from the Secondary Market.

Joint holder: In case of joint holding, the investment limit of 4 KG will be applied to the first applicant only.

Issue price: Price of Bond will be fixed in Indian Rupees on the basis of simple average of closing price of gold of 999 purity published by the India Bullion and Jewellers Association Limited for the last 3 business days of the week preceding the subscription period. The issue price of the Gold Bonds will be ₹ 50 per gram less for those who subscribe online and pay through digital mode.

Payment option: Payment for the Bonds will be through cash payment (upto a maximum of ₹ 20,000) or demand draft or cheque or electronic banking.

Issuance form: The Gold Bonds will be issued as Government of India Stocks under GS Act, 2006. The investors will be issued a Holding Certificate for the same. The Bonds are eligible for conversion into demat form.

Redemption price: The redemption price will be in Indian Rupees based on simple average of closing price of gold of 999 purity of previous 3 business days published by IBJA.

Sales channel: Bonds will be sold through banks, Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited (SHCIL), designated post offices as may be notified and recognised stock exchanges viz., National Stock Exchange of India Limited and Bombay Stock Exchange, either directly or through agents.

Interest rate: The investors will be compensated at a fixed rate of 2.50 per cent per annum payable semi-annually on the nominal value.

Collateral: Bonds can be used as collateral for loans. The loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is to be set equal to ordinary gold loan mandated by the Reserve Bank from time to time.

KYC Documentation: Know-your-customer (KYC) norms will be the same as that for purchase of physical gold. KYC documents such as Voter ID, Aadhaar card/PAN or TAN /Passport will be required.

Tax treatment: The interest on Gold Bonds shall be taxable as per the provision of Income Tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961). The capital gains tax arising on redemption of SGB to an individual has been exempted. The indexation benefits will be provided to long term capital gains arising to any person on transfer of bond

Tradability: Bonds will be tradable on stock exchanges within a fortnight of the issuance on a date as notified by the RBI.

SLR eligibility: The Bonds will be eligible for Statutory Liquidity Ratio purposes.

Commission: Commission for distribution of the bond shall be paid at the rate of 1% of the total subscription received by the receiving offices and receiving offices shall share at least 50% of the commission so received with the agents or sub agents for the business procured through them.

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