Ans. Residents may book their tickets in India for their visit to any third country. For instance, residents can book their tickets for travel from London to New York, through domestic/foreign airlines in India. However, the same (air tickets) would be a part of the traveller’s overall LRS entitlement of USD 250,000.

Since the swap with RBI will be undertaken in multiples of USD one million, it is possible that a bank may have to wait before it mobilises a minimum amount of USD one million. In such a case, the banks will be allowed to undertake swaps for tenors of marginally less than three years provided they have mobilised fresh eligible FCNR (B) for minimum original tenor of three years with one year lock in period.

• Yes, joint holding will be allowed.

The Bonds bear interest at the rate of 2.50 per cent (fixed rate) per annum on the amount of initial investment. Interest will be credited semi-annually to the bank account of the investor and the last interest will be payable on maturity along with the principal.

The Ombudsman endeavours to promote settlement of the complaint through conciliation/ mediation by agreement between the complainant and the System Participant. If the terms of settlement (offered by the System Participant) are acceptable in full and final settlement of one's complaint, the Ombudsman will pass an order as per the terms of settlement which becomes binding on the System Participant and the complainant. If the System Participant is found to have adhered to the extant norms and practices in vogue and the complainant has been informed to this effect through appropriate means and complainant’s objections, if any, are not received by the Ombudsman within the time frame provided, the Ombudsman may pass an order to close the complaint.

Ans. Yes

Ans. Non-bank PSPs will be allowed only direct membership of CPS. They will not be permitted to sponsor any bank / PSP as sub-member in CPS.

Ans. The customer should keep in mind, among others, the following:

a) There is no requirement of keeping any deposit/ margin/ collateral/ primary security with the lender at any stage of the microfinance loan.

b) Lender is required to provide a loan card to the borrower in a language understood by the borrower which should have following information:

• Information which adequately identifies the borrower;

• Simplified factsheet on pricing;

• All other terms and conditions attached to the loan;

• Acknowledgements by the lender of all repayments including instalments received and the final discharge; and

• Details of the grievance redress system, including the name and contact number of the nodal officer of the lender.

c) Purchase of any non-credit products is purely voluntary. Fee structure for such products shall be explicitly communicated in the loan card.

d) Training provided by the lenders is free of cost.

Answer: The balance in Special Rupee Vostro Account (SRVA) can be repatriated in freely convertible currency and/or currency of the beneficiary trading partner country depending on underlying transaction i.e. for which the account was credited. For example, for import payments through SRVA like any Rupee Vostro account the fund can be remitted to overseas exporter either in freely convertible currency or in domestic currency of the overseas exporter.

A. Yes. The condition (not less than 51 per cent of the total voting equity shares of the NOFHC to be held by the companies in the Promoter Group, which have not less than 51 percent public shareholding) is applicable to the companies in the Promoter Groups in the private sector that are ‘owned and controlled by residents’[as defined in Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion(DIPP) Press Note No.2, 3 and 4 of 2009/FEMA Regulations as amended from time to time].However, such a company need not necessarily be listed.[para 2 (A) and (C) (ii) of the guidelines]

Response

Yes. However, the decision to allow services beyond the minimum prescribed has been left to the discretion of the banks who can either offer additional services free of charge or evolve requirements including pricing structure for additional value-added services on a reasonable and transparent basis to be applied in a non-discriminatory manner with prior intimation to the customers. Banks are required to put in place a reasonable pricing structure for value added services or prescribe minimum balance requirements which should be displayed prominently and also informed to the customers at the time of account opening. Offering such additional facilities should be non - discretionary, non-discriminatory and transparent to all ‘Basic Savings Bank Deposit Account’ customers. However such accounts enjoying additional facilities will not be treated as BSBDAs.

To make the entire process smooth and convenient for the public, a period of over four months has been given for deposit and/or exchange of ₹2000 banknotes. Members of the public, are therefore, encouraged to avail this facility at their convenience within the allotted time.

Ans : Yes, the banking system too benefits from ECS Credit Scheme such as –

• Freedom from paper handling and the resultant disadvantages of handling, presenting and monitoring paper instruments presented in clearing. Ease of processing and return for the destination bank branches.

• Smooth process of reconciliation for the sponsor banks.

• Cost effective.

The Banking Ombudsman endeavours to promote, through conciliation or mediation, a settlement of the complaint by agreement between the complainant and the bank named in the complaint.If the terms of settlement (offered by the bank) are acceptable to one in full and final settlement of one's complaint, the Banking Ombudsman will pass an order as per the terms of settlement which becomes binding on the bank and the complainant.

The allotment to the non-competitive segment will be at the weighted average rate that will emerge in the auction on the basis of competitive bidding. (Please see answers to Q14 & Q17 ).

A bank may, at its discretion, renew an overdue deposit or a portion thereof provided the overdue period from the date of maturity till the date of renewal (both days inclusive) does not exceed 14 days and the rate of interest payable on the amount of the deposit so renewed shall be the appropriate rate of interest for the period of renewal as prevailing on the date of maturity. In the case of overdue deposits where the overdue period exceeds 14 days and if the depositor places the entire amount of overdue deposit or a portion thereof as a fresh term deposit, the bank may fix its own interest rates for the overdue period on the amount so placed as a fresh deposit. If an overdue deposit standing in the name of a living depositor under reinvestment plan or an ordinary fixed deposit is renewed by the bank under reinvestment plan at the specific request of the depositor, payment of compounded interest can be allowed.II. NRI Deposits

In respect of direct investment in Nepal or Bhutan, the total financial commitment is permitted up to Indian Rupees 700 crores in any one financial year.

There is no restriction on residents holding foreign coins.

Ans. On realization of the sum for which contravention is compounded, a certificate shall be issued by the Reserve Bank, indicating that, the applicant has complied with the order passed by the Compounding Authority.

Resolution Framework is applicable in respect of all eligible borrowers subject to the exclusions prescribed in Paragraph 2 of the Annex to the circular dated August 6, 2020. In respect of those sectors where the sector-specific thresholds have not been specified in the circular dated September 7, 2020, lending institutions shall make their own internal assessments regarding TOL/ATNW and Total Debt/EBITDA. However, the current ratio and DSCR in all cases shall be 1.0 and above, and ADSCR shall be 1.2 and above.