If cheques are lost in transit or in the clearing process or at the paying bank's branch under physical instrument delivery clearing, the bank should immediately bring the same to the notice of the presenting customer (beneficiary)’s notice so that the customer can inform the drawer to record stop payment and can also take care that other cheques issued anticipating the credit arising out of the lost cheque are not dishonoured due to non-credit of the amount of the lost cheques / instruments.

It may however be noted that the probability of losing the physical instrument in the hands of paying bank is remote in the locations covered by CTS as clearing is undertaken on the basis of images. If the instrument is lost after lodging with the collecting bank but before truncating the same for sending through image-based clearing, the presenting bank should follow the procedure indicated above.

The customer is entitled to be reimbursed by banks for related expenses for obtaining duplicate instruments and interest for reasonable delays in obtaining the same.

Ans : IFC is a non-deposit accepting loan company which complies with the following :

1. A minimum of 75 per cent of the total assets of an IFC-NBFC should be deployed in infrastructure loans;

2. The company should have minimum net-worth of Rs 300 crore,

3. The CRAR of of the company should be at 15% with Tier I capital at 10% and

4. The minimum credit rating of the company should be at 'A' or equivalent of CRISIL, FITCH, CARE, ICRA, BRICKWORK or equivalent rating by any other accrediting rating agencies.

Their request must be supported by a certificate from their Statutory Auditors confirming the asset pattern of the company as on March 31, of the latest financial year

Ans : Infrastructure Debt Funds (IDFs), can be set up either as a Trust or as a Company. A trust based IDF would normally be a Mutual Fund (MF), regulated by SEBI, while a company based IDF would normally be a NBFC regulated by the Reserve Bank.

Ans. Any person who contravenes any provision of the FEMA, 1999 [except section 3(a)] or contravenes any rule, regulation, notification, direction or order issued in exercise of the powers under this Act or contravenes any condition subject to which an authorization is issued by the Reserve Bank, can apply for compounding to the Reserve Bank. Applications seeking compounding of contraventions under section 3(a) of FEMA, 1999 may be submitted to the Directorate of Enforcement.

Ans: NEFT offers the following advantages for funds transfer or receipt:

• Round the clock availability on all days of the year.

• Near-real-time funds transfer to the beneficiary account and settlement in a secure manner.

• Pan-India coverage through large network of branches of all types of banks.

• The beneficiary need not visit a bank branch for depositing the paper instruments. Remitter can initiate the remittances from his / her home / place of work using internet banking, if his / her bank offers such service.

• Positive confirmation to the remitter by SMS / e-mail on credit to beneficiary account.

• Penal interest provision for delay in credit or return of transactions.

• No levy of charges by RBI from banks.

• No charges to savings bank account customers for online NEFT transactions.

• The transaction charges have been capped by RBI.

• Besides funds transfer, NEFT system can be used for a variety of transactions including payment of credit card dues to the card issuing banks, payment of loan EMI, inward foreign exchange remittances, etc.

• The transaction has legal backing.

• Available for one-way funds transfers from India to Nepal.

ଉତ୍ତର. ଅଣ ବ୍ୟାଙ୍କଗୁଡିକ ଦ୍ୱାରା ସ୍ଥାପିତ, ମାଲିକାନା ଏବଂ ପରିଚାଳିତ ଏଟିଏମ ଗୁଡିକୁ ଡବଲ୍ୟୁଏଲଏ କୁହାଯାଏ | ରିଜର୍ଭ ବ୍ୟାଙ୍କ ଅଫ୍ ଇଣ୍ଡିଆ (ଆରବିଆଇ) ଦ୍ୱାରା ପେମେଣ୍ଟ ଆଣ୍ଡ ସେଟଲେମେଣ୍ଟ ସିଷ୍ଟମ ଆକ୍ଟ, 2007 ଅନୁଯାୟୀ ଅଣ ବ୍ୟାଙ୍କ ଏଟିଏମ ଅପରେଟର୍ସଙ୍କୁ ଅନୁମତି ପ୍ରଦାନ କରାଯାଇଛି । ପ୍ରାଧିକୃତ WLA ଅପରେଟରମାନଙ୍କର ତାଲିକା ଆରବିଆଇ ୱେବସାଇଟରେ ଲିଙ୍କ https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/PublicationsView.aspx?id=12043

ଉତ୍ତର. ପାଣ୍ଠିର ସମାଧାନ ଭାରତୀୟ ରିଜର୍ଭ ବ୍ୟାଙ୍କର ଖାତାରେ ହୋଇଥାଏ ବୋଲି ବିଚାରକୁ ନେଇ, ଦେୟଗୁଡିକ ଚୂଡାନ୍ତ ଏବଂ ଅପରିବର୍ତ୍ତନୀୟ ଅଟେ ।

ଆଜ୍ଞା ନୁହେଁ । ନଭେମ୍ବର 11, 2005 ଦିନାଙ୍କିତ ପରିପତ୍ର ଡିବିଓଡି. ସଂଖ୍ୟା.ଏଲଇଜି.ବିସି. 44 / 09.07.005 / 2005-06 ରେ ନିହିତ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶଗୁଡ଼ିକର ଅଧିକ୍ରମଣରେ ନୋ ଫ୍ରିଲ ଖାତା କ୍ଷେତ୍ରରେ, ଅଗଷ୍ଟ 10, 2012 ଦିନାଙ୍କିତ ଡିବିଓଡି. ସଂଖ୍ୟା.ଏଲଇଜି. ବିସି.. 35/09.07.005/20012-13 ଅନୁଯାୟୀ, ବ୍ୟାଙ୍କଗୁଡିକ ବର୍ତ୍ତମାନ ସେମାନଙ୍କର ସମସ୍ତ ଗ୍ରାହକଙ୍କୁ, 'ମୌଳିକ ସଞ୍ଚୟ ବ୍ୟାଙ୍କ ଜମା ଖାତା' ପ୍ରଦାନ କରିବାକୁ ପରାମର୍ଶ ଦିଆଯାଇଛି, ଯାହା ଏଥିରେ ଉଲ୍ଲେଖିତ ସର୍ବନିମ୍ନ ସାଧାରଣ ସୁବିଧା ପ୍ରଦାନ କରିବ । ବ୍ୟାଙ୍କଗୁଡିକ ବର୍ତ୍ତମାନ ବିଦ୍ୟମାନ ଥିବା 'ନୋ-ଫ୍ରିଲ୍ସ' ଆକାଉଣ୍ଟକୁ 'ମୌଳିକ ସଞ୍ଚୟ ବ୍ୟାଙ୍କ ଜମା ଖାତାରେ ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତନ କରିବା ଆବଶ୍ୟକ ।

Response: Resident Indians [Individuals, HUFs, Proprietorship & Partnership firms, Trusts including Mutual Funds/Exchange Traded Funds registered under SBI (Mutual Fund) Regulations, Companies, charitable institutions, Central Government, State Government or any other entity owned by Central Government or State Government].

A. For Debit to SNRR A/c (for onward credit domestically)

In case of receipt of Export proceeds by an Indian party by debit to SNRR account of the overseas buyer:

• As in case of any inward remittance received for export payment, the AD bank handling the export documents shall ensure compliance with all export related rules/regulation/ guidelines prescribed under FEMA.

• The AD bank maintaining SNRR account shall be responsible for performing due diligence of the overseas client and related FEMA compliances. Further, it shall, while transferring the funds to the AD bank of the Indian exporter (beneficiary’s bank), provide complete KYC details of the account holder (Name, address, country etc.), purpose of remittance, currency and amount of remittance, name and account number of the beneficiary etc. so as to enable the latter to close the entries in EDPMS with the respective remittance.

B. For Credit to SNRR A/c (received from a domestic account)

In case of payment for Imports by an Indian party by credit to the SNRR account of the overseas seller:

• As in case of any outward remittance sent for import payment, the AD bank handling import documents and remitting funds (Importer’s Bank) shall ensure compliance with all related import rules/regulations/guidelines prescribed under FEMA.

• It shall also communicate all details related to the importer as required by the AD bank maintaining the SNRR account of the overseas client.

C. Similarly, in case of ECB, Trade credits, foreign investments, etc., the designated AD bank maintaining the resident customer’s A/c will be responsible for ensuring compliance with FEMA provisions, including issuance of FIRC, wherever applicable, on the same lines as it would have done in case of money received in freely convertible currency through an inward remittance. Further, the banks involved in the transaction shall be responsible for sharing of the details of the transactions on similar lines as above.

Ans. Yes. Under this facility, a cardholder can withdraw cash up to ₹2,000 per transaction within an overall monthly limit of ₹10,000.

Response

No. In supersession of instructions contained in circular RPCD.RF.BC.54/07.38.01/2005-06 dated December 13, 2005 and RPCD.CO.No.RRB.BC.58/03.05.33(F)/2005-06 dated December 27, 2005 on No Frill accounts, banks have now been advised to offer a 'Basic Savings Bank Deposit Account' to all their customers vide RPCD.CO.RRB.RCB.BC.No.24/07.38.01/2012-13 dated August 22, 2012 which will offer minimum common facilities as stated therein. Banks are required to convert the existing 'no-frills' accounts’ into 'Basic Savings Bank Deposit Accounts'.

Ans: Electronic Platforms that assist only banks, NBFCs and other regulated AIFIs to identify borrowers are not to be treated as P2P platforms. However, in cases where, apart from banks or NBFCs or AIFIs, other retail lenders use the platform for lending, the platform will have to register separately as an NBFC-P2P.

As on date, four NBFC Ombudsman have been appointed with their offices located at Chennai, Kolkata, New Delhi and Mumbai. The addresses, contact details and territorial jurisdiction of the Ombudsman is provided in the Annex I of the Scheme.

• Inflation component on principal will not be paid with interest but the same would be adjusted in the principal by multiplying principal with index ratio (IR). At the time of redemption, adjusted principal or the face, whichever is higher, would be paid.

• Interest rate will be provided protection against inflation by paying fixed coupon rate on the principal adjusted against inflation.

• An example of cash flows on IIBs is furnished below.

Bank’s lending to the Micro, Small and Medium enterprises as under is eligible to be reckoned for priority sector advances:

(i) The definition of MSMEs will be as per Government of India, Gazette Notification S.O. 2119 (E) dated June 26, 2020 read with circulars FIDD.MSME & NFS.BC.No.3/06.02.31/2020-21 dated July 2, 2020, FIDD.MSME & NFS. BC. No.4/06.02.31/2020-21 dated August 21, 2020, FIDD.MSME & NFS.BC.No.13/06.02.31/2021-22 dated July 07, 2021 and updated from time to time.

(ii) Further, such MSMEs should be engaged in the manufacture or production of goods, in any manner, pertaining to any industry specified in the First Schedule to the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951 or engaged in providing or rendering of any service or services. All bank loans to MSMEs conforming to the above guidelines qualify for classification under priority sector lending.

Detailed guidelines on lending to the Micro, Small and Medium enterprises are available in our Master Direction FIDD.MSME & NFS.12/06.02.31/2017-18 dated July 24, 2017. The instructions issued by RBI, to banks, on various matters are available on our website www.rbi.org.in.

Answer: A Foreign Currency Account is an account held or maintained in currency other than the currency of India or Nepal or Bhutan.

Ans. Foreign exchange can be purchased from any authorised person, such as an AD Category-I bank and AD Category II. Full-Fledged Money Changers (FFMCs) are also permitted to release exchange for business and private visits.

RBI carries out the general banking business of the governments through its own offices and commercial banks, both public and private, appointed as its agents. Section 45 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, provides for appointment of scheduled commercial banks as agents at all places or at any place in India, for purposes that it may specify, “having regard to public interest, convenience of banking, banking development and such other factors which in its opinion are relevant in this regard”.

Reserve Bank of India maintains the Principal Accounts of Central as well as State Governments at its Central Accounts Section, Nagpur. It has put in place a well-structured arrangement for revenue collection as well as payments on behalf of Government across the country. A network comprising the Government Banking Divisions of RBI and branches of agency banks appointed under Section 45 of the RBI Act carry out the government transactions. At present all the public sector banks and select private sector banks act as RBI's agents. Only designated branches of agency banks can conduct government banking business.

• The DICGC insures all deposits such as savings, fixed, current, recurring, etc. deposits except the following types of deposits

• Deposits of foreign Governments;

• Deposits of Central/State Governments;

• Inter-bank deposits;

• Deposits of the State Land Development Banks with the State co-operative bank;

• Any amount due on account of and deposit received outside India

• Any amount, which has been specifically exempted by the corporation with the previous approval of Reserve Bank of India

Answer: A ‘Person of Indian Origin (PIO)’ is a person resident outside India who is a citizen of any country other than Bangladesh or Pakistan or such other country as may be specified by the Central Government, satisfying the following conditions:

1. Who was a citizen of India by virtue of the Constitution of India or the Citizenship Act, 1955 (57 of 1955); or

2. Who belonged to a territory that became part of India after the 15th day of August, 1947; or

3. Who is a child or a grandchild or a great grandchild of a citizen of India or of a person referred to in clause (a) or (b); or

4. Who is a spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or spouse of foreign origin of a person referred to in clause (a) or (b) or (c)

A PIO will include an ‘Overseas Citizen of India’ cardholder within the meaning of Section 7(A) of the Citizenship Act, 1955. Such an OCI Card holder should also be a person resident outside India.

Answer:

Ans. No, if an LO/BO wants to open more than one account it has to obtain prior permission of the Reserve Bank through its AD Category I bank justifying the reason for additional account.

• Only retail investors would be eligible to invest in these securities. The retail investors would include individuals, Hindu Undivided Family (HUF), charitable institutions registered under section 25 of the Indian Companies Act and Universities incorporated by Central, State or Provincial Act or declared to be a university under section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956).

In CTS, the presenting bank (or its branch) captures the data (on the MICR band) and the images of a cheque using their Capture System (comprising of a scanner, core banking or other application) which is internal to them and meeting the specifications and standards prescribed for data and images under CTS.

To ensure security, safety and non-repudiation of data / images, end-to-end Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) has been implemented in CTS. As part of the requirement, the collecting bank (presenting bank) sends the data and captured images duly signed digitally and encrypted to the central processing location (Clearing House) for onward transmission to the paying bank (destination or drawee bank). For participating in the clearing process under CTS, the presenting and paying banks use either the Clearing House Interface (CHI) or Data Exchange Module (DEM) that enables them to connect and transmit data and images in a secure and safe manner to the Centralised Clearing House (CCH).

The Clearing House processes the data, arrives at the settlement, and routes the images and requisite data to the paying banks. This is called presentation clearing. The paying banks through their CHI / DEM receive the images and data from the CCH for further processing.

The paying bank’s CHI / DEM also generates the return file for unpaid instruments, if any. The return file / data sent by the paying banks are processed by the Clearing House in the return clearing session in the same way as presentation clearing and return data is provided to the presenting banks for processing.

The clearing cycle is treated as complete once the presentation clearing and the associated return clearing sessions are successfully processed. The entire essence of CTS technology lies in the use of images of cheques (instead of the physical cheques) for payment processing.

Ans. The directions require assessment of income and indebtedness at household level. There is no requirement of treating all members of the household as applicants/ borrowers of a loan which can be provided to an individual member. Board-approved policies of REs may include the methodologies/ operational frameworks to assess income and indebtedness of all members of the household.

Answer: The settlement through Indian Rupees (INR) is an additional arrangement to the existing system that uses freely convertible currencies and will work as a complimentary system. This will reduce dependence on hard (freely convertible) currency.

Ans. Sellers, buyers and financiers are the participants on a TReDS platform.

Ans. Following links can be perused for understanding RTGS and NEFT systems: -

RTGS System Regulations

NEFT Procedural Guidelines

FAQs on RTGS

FAQs on NEFT

Master Guidelines on Access Criteria for Payment Systems

Only CTS-2010 standards compliant instruments can be presented for clearing through CTS.

CTS-2010 standards contain certain benchmarks towards achieving standardization of cheques issued by banks across the country. These include provision of mandatory minimum-security features on cheque forms like quality of paper, watermark, bank’s logo in invisible ink, void pantograph, etc., and standardisation of field placements on cheques. The minimum-security features and standardisation help presenting banks while scrutinising / recognising cheques of drawee banks in an image-based processing scenario.

Ans : Based on the geographical location of branches covered, there are three broad categories of ECS Schemes – Local ECS, Regional ECS and National ECS.These schemes are either operated by RBI or by the designated commercial banks. NACH is also one of the form of ECS system operated by NPCI and further details about NACH is available at NPCI web site under the link http://www.npci.org.in/clearing_faq.aspx.

Local ECS – this is operating at 81 centres / locations across the country. At each of these ECS centres, the branch coverage is restricted to the geographical coverage of the clearing house, generally covering one city and/or satellite towns and suburbs adjoining the city.

Regional ECS – this is operating at 9 centres / locations at various parts of the country. RECS facilitates the coverage all core-banking-enabled branches in a State or group of States and can be used by institutions desirous of reaching beneficiaries within the State / group of States. The system takes advantage of the core banking system in banks. Accordingly, even though the inter-bank settlement takes place centrally at one location in the State, the actual customers under the Scheme may have their accounts at various bank branches across the length and breadth of the State / group of States.

National ECS – this is the centralized version of ECS Credit which was launched in October 2008. The Scheme is operated at Mumbai and facilitates the coverage of all core-banking enabled branches located anywhere in the country. This system too takes advantage of the core banking system in banks. Accordingly, even though the inter-bank settlement takes place centrally at one location at Mumbai, the actual customers under the Scheme may have their accounts at various bank branches across the length and breadth of the country. Banks are free to add any of their core-banking-enabled branches in NECS irrespective of their location. Details of NECS Scheme are available on the website of Reserve Bank of India at http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts//en/web/rbi/-/national-electronic-clearing-service-procedural-guidelines-2345

The list of centres where the ECS facility is available has been placed on the website of Reserve Bank of India at http://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/ECSUserView.aspx?Id=26. Similarly, the centre-wise list of bank branches participating at each location is available on the website of Reserve Bank of India at http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/ECSUserView.aspx?Id=27

Answer: Some of the foreign currency accounts that can be opened by resident individuals with an Authorised Dealer bank in India, along with their features are given below:

Local cheque collection charges are decided by the concerned bank from time to time and communicated to customer through their CCP as part of the Code of Bank’s Commitment to Customers.

Banks cannot charge more than the following for outstation cheques:

Up to and including Rs.5,000 – Rs.25 per instrument + service tax; Above Rs.5,000 and up to and including Rs.10,000 – not exceeding Rs.50 per instrument + service tax; Above Rs.10,000 and up to and including Rs.1,00,000 – not exceeding Rs.100 per instrument + service tax; Above Rs.1,00,000 – left to the banks to decide. No additional charges such as courier charges, out of pocket expenses, etc., should be levied.

It may be noted, no outstation cheque collection charges to be levied if the collecting bank and the paying bank are located within the jurisdiction of the same CTS grid even though they are located in different cities.

Ans : IDF-MFs can be sponsored by banks and NBFCs. Only banks and Infrastructure Finance companies can sponsor IDF-NBFCs.

ଉତ୍ତର. ଗ୍ରାହକଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଡବଲ୍ୟୁଏଲଏ ବ୍ୟବହାର କରିବା ଅନ୍ୟ ବ୍ୟାଙ୍କର ଏଟିଏମ (କାର୍ଡ ଜାରିକର୍ତ୍ତା ବ୍ୟାଙ୍କ ବ୍ୟତୀତ) ବ୍ୟବହାର କରିବା ସହିତ ସମାନ, କେବଳ ପାର୍ଥକ୍ୟ ହେଉଛି ନଗଦ ଜମା କରିବା ଏବଂ କିଛି ମୂଲ୍ୟଯୁକ୍ତ ସେବା ଡବଲ୍ୟୁଏଲଏ ରେ ଉପଲବ୍ଧ ନାହିଁ ।

ଉତ୍ତର. ଫଣ୍ଡ ଟ୍ରାନ୍ସଫର କରିବାର ଅନ୍ୟ ମାଧ୍ୟମ ତୁଳନାରେ ଆରଟିଜିଏସ ଅନେକ ଫାଇଦା ଦେଇଥାଏ:

ପାଣ୍ଠି ସ୍ଥାନାନ୍ତର ପାଇଁ ଏହା ଏକ ନିରାପଦ ଏବଂ ସୁରକ୍ଷିତ ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥା ।
ଆରଟିଜିଏସ ଦେଣନେଣ / ସ୍ଥାନାନ୍ତରଣ ରେ ଅର୍ଥ ପରିମାଣ ଉପରେ କୌଣସି ସୀମା ନାହିଁ |
ଅଧିକାଂଶ ବ୍ୟାଙ୍କ ଶାଖା କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କରୁଥିବାବେଳେ ଶନିବାର ଦିନ କୁ ଅନ୍ତର୍ଭୁକ୍ତ କରି ଏହି ସିଷ୍ଟମ ସବୁ ଦିନ ଉପଲବ୍ଧ ।
ଲାଭାର୍ଥୀଙ୍କ ଖାତାକୁ ପାଣ୍ଠିର ବାସ୍ତବ-ସମୟରେ ଫଣ୍ଡ ସ୍ଥାନାନ୍ତର କରାଯାଏ ।
ରେମିଟରଙ୍କୁ କୌଣସି କାଗଜର ଚେକ କିମ୍ବା ଡିମାଣ୍ଡ ଡ୍ରାଫ୍ଟ ବ୍ୟବହାର କରିବାର ଆବଶ୍ୟକତା ପଡ଼େ ନାହିଁ ।
କାଗଜ ଉପକରଣ ଜମା କରିବା ପାଇଁ ଲାଭାର୍ଥୀଙ୍କର ବ୍ୟାଙ୍କ ଶାଖା ପରିଦର୍ଶନ କରିବାର ଆବଶ୍ୟକତା ନାହିଁ ।
ଫିଜିକାଲ ଇନ୍ସଟୃମେଣ୍ଟର କ୍ଷତି / ଚୋରି କିମ୍ବା ଏହାର ଜାଲିଆତି ହେବାର ସମ୍ଭାବନା ବିଷୟରେ ହିତାଧିକାରୀ ଭୟଭୀତ ହେବା ଆବଶ୍ୟକ ନୁହେଁ |
ଅର୍ଥ ପ୍ରେରକ ତାଙ୍କ ଘର / କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ସ୍ଥାନରୁ ଇଣ୍ଟରନେଟ୍ ବ୍ୟାଙ୍କିଙ୍ଗ ମାଧ୍ୟମରେ ଟଙ୍କା ପଠାଇ ପାରିବେ, ଯଦି ତାଙ୍କ ବ୍ୟାଙ୍କ ଏହି ସେବା ପ୍ରଦାନ କରେ ।
ଆରବିଆଇ ଦ୍ୱାରା ଦେଣନେଣ ଶୁଳ୍କର ସୀମା ଧାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କରାଯାଇଛି ।
ଏହି ଦେଣନେଣରେ ଆଇନଗତ ସମର୍ଥନ ଅଛି ।

Ans. Charges, if any, levied on cash withdrawals shall not exceed 1% of the transaction amount.

Before appointment of an audit firm as SCA/SA of the RBI Regulated Entity, there should be a time gap of minimum one year between this appointment and completion of the assignment of any non-audit works given to the same audit firm in that RBI Regulated Entity or completion of any audit/non-audit works in other RBI Regulated Entities in the Group. This stipulation shall be applicable prospectively, i.e. from FY 2022-23. Therefore, if an audit firm is involved in some non-audit work with the Entity and/or any audit/non-audit work in other RBI Regulated Entities in the Group and completes or relinquishes the said assignment prior to the date of appointment as SCA/SA of the Entity for FY 2021-22, the said audit firm would be eligible for appointment as SCA/SA of the Entity for FY 2021-22.

It is reiterated that the time gap between any non-audit works by the SCAs/SAs for the Entities or any audit/non-audit works for its Group Entities should be at least one year after completion of the audit assignment as SCA/SA.

On February 27, 2017 Government of India notified the Specified Banknotes (Cessation of liabilities) Act 2017. The Act repealed the Specified Banknotes (Cessation of liabilities) Ordinance 2016 providing for cessation of liabilities for the Specified Banknotes (SBNs) and for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto, with effect from December 31, 2016. The SBNs cease to be the liabilities of the Reserve Bank under Section 34 of the RBI Act and cease to have the guarantee of the Central Government.

A grace period has been provided during which the Specified Bank Notes can be deposited at five RBI Offices (Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, and Nagpur by Indian citizens who make a declaration that they were outside India between November 9 and December 30, 2016, subject to conditions or any class of persons for reasons that may be specified by notification by the Central Government. The Reserve Bank, if satisfied after making the necessary verifications, that the reasons for failure to deposit the notes till December 30, 2016 are genuine, will credit the value of notes in the KYC (Know Your Customer) compliant bank account of the tenderer.

The grace period for resident Indians expired on March 31, 2017. For non- resident Indians (Indian passport holders), the grace period is till June 30, 2017.

For details on the exchange counter timings at the five aforesaid Regional Offices of RBI, please click here.

Any person aggrieved by the refusal of the Reserve Bank to credit the value of notes as mentioned above may make a representation to the Central Board of the Reserve Bank within 14 days of the communication of such refusal to him/her.

In terms of Section 6 of the Act, whoever knowingly or wilfully makes any false declaration shall be punishable with a fine which may extend to 50,000 INR or five times the amount of the face value of the SBNs tendered whichever is higher.

In terms of Section 5 of the Act, with effect from December 31, 2016 no person shall knowingly or voluntarily hold, transfer or receive any specified banknotes. After the expiry of grace period, holding of not more than 10 notes in total, irrespective of denomination or not more than 25 notes for the purpose of study/ research/ numismatics is permitted. Also, nothing contained in this section shall prohibit the holding of specified banknotes by any person on the direction of a court in relation to any case pending in the court. For deposit of confiscated SBNs, GoI has notified Specified Ban Notes (Deposit of Confiscated Notes) Rules 2017 on May 12, 2017.

In terms of Section 7, contravention of Section 5 shall be punishable with fine which may extend upto 10,000 INR or five times the face value of the SBNs involved in the contravention, whichever is higher.

In case the contravention/default in terms of Sections 6 and 7 is by a company, every person who was in charge of and responsible to the company at the time of contravention/ default shall deemed to be guilty and will be liable to be proceeded against and punished. If the offence is proved to be attributable to the conduct by any director/manager/secretary/officer/employee of the company, such person shall also be deemed to be guilty of the offence and will be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises vide Office Memorandum (OM) No. 5/2(2)/2021-E/P & G/Policy dated July 2, 2021 has allowed Udyam registration for retail and wholesale trade. Detailed guidelines are available in our circular FIDD.MSME & NFS.BC.No.13/06.02.31/2021-22 dated July 07, 2021.