RBI CIRCULAR
International Trade Settlement in Indian Rupees (INR)
1. Attention of Authorised Dealer Category 1 banks (AD banks) is invited to Para 8(c) of A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.10 dated July 11, 2022 wherein it has been indicated that the balance in Special Rupee Vostro Accounts can be used for: Investment in Government Treasury Bills, Government securities, in terms of extant guidelines and prescribed limits, subject to FEMA and similar statutory provision.
2. In the light of the directions issued through AP DIR Circular No.13 dated October 03, 2025, AD banks may permit investment of surplus balances in the Special Rupee Vostro Accounts also in non-convertible debentures/bonds and commercial papers issued by an Indian company in terms of guidelines and limits prescribed vide the referred circular dated October 03, 2025.
3. The above instruction is applicable with immediate effect. AD banks may bring the contents of this circular to the notice of their constituents and customers con-
4. The directions contained in this circular have been is- sued under sections 10(4) and 11(1) of the Foreign Ex- change Management Act (FEMA), 1999 (42 of 1999) and are without prejudice to permissions / approvals, if any, required under any other law.
Investment in Corporate Debt Securities by Persons Resident Outside India through Special Rupee Vostro account
1. Attention of Authorised Dealer Category-I (AD Category-I) banks is invited to Schedule 1 to the Foreign Exchange Management (Debt Instruments) Regulations, 2019 notified, vide Notification No. FEMA. 396/ 2019-RB dated October 17, 2019, and the Foreign Ex- change Management (Deposit) Regulations, 2016 notified, vide Notification FEMA. 5(R)/2016-RB dated April 01, 2016 as amended from time to time and the relevant Directions issued thereunder. A reference is also invited to the Master Direction – Reserve Bank of India (Non-resident Investment in Debt Instruments) Directions, 2025 dated January 07, 2025 (hereinafter: Master Direction).
2. Persons resident outside India that maintain a Special Rupee Vostro Account (SRVA) for international trade settlement in Indian Rupees in terms of A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 10 dated July 11, 2022 were permit- ted to invest their rupee surplus balance in the afore- said account in Central Government Securities (including Treasury Bills), vide A.P.(DIR Series) Circular no. 9 dated August 12, 2025. It has now been decided to also permit investment of these balances in non-convertible debentures/bonds and commercial papers is- sued by an Indian company.
3. The Master Direction has been updated as under:
a. In paragraph 3 (i) (e) of Part-1, the words Government Securities shall be replaced by the words, namely: – eligible instruments.
b. In paragraph 2 of Part-2, under the section after the existing paragraph (c), the following paragraph, shall be inserted, namely: – (d) Investments of rupee surplus balances in Special Rupee Vostro Account in non-convertible debentures/bonds and commercial papers issued by an Indian company shall be reckoned under the investment limit for corporate debt securities un- der the General Route.
c. In paragraph 2 of Part-5A, after the words (including Treasury Bills), the following words shall be inserted, namely: –
and non-convertible debentures/bonds and commercial papers issued by an Indian company.
e. In Part-5A, after the existing paragraph 7A.2, the following paragraph shall be inserted, namely: –
Explanation: non-convertible debentures/bonds issued by an Indian company and commercial papers issued by an Indian company shall mean instruments as specified respectively at paragraph 1A(b) and paragraph 1A(c) of Schedule 1 to Foreign Exchange Management (Debt Instruments) Regulations, 2019 notified, vide, Notification No.
FEMA. 396/2019-RB dated October 17, 2019.
- In Part-5A, after the existing paragraph 7A.4, the following paragraph shall be inserted, namely: –
7A.4.1 Investments in non-convertible debentures/bonds and commercial papers issued by an Indian company shall be in terms of the following:
i. The investments shall be subject to the investment limit and stipulations specified for FPI in- vestments under the General Route as set out in paragraphs 4.2 and 4.4 of these Directions respectively.
Provided that the minimum residual maturity requirement as set out in paragraph 4.4 (i) and the issue-wise limit as set out in para- graph 4.4 (iv) of these Directions shall not apply to investments made under the SRVA route.
ii. The primary responsibility of complying with all applicable limits for such investments shall lie with the SRVA holders and the AD Category I banks where these accounts are maintained.
- In paragraph 5 of Part-5A, the words Central Government securities (including Treasury Bills) shall be replaced by the words, namely: – eligible instruments
- In Part-5A, after the existing paragraph 7A.6.(i), the following paragraph shall be inserted, namely: –
(i-a) facilitate opening of separate demat accounts for SRVA holders for holding all their in- vestments in non-convertible debentures/bonds and commercial papers issued by an Indian company.
- In Part-5A, after the existing paragraph 7A.6.(iii), the following paragraph shall be inserted, namely: –
(iii-a) report the transactions by SRVA holders in non-convertible debentures/bonds and commercial papers issued by an Indian company to depository(ies) registered with SEBI, for reckoning them under the investment limits for corporate debt securities under the General Route.
- In paragraph 6 (v) of Part-5A, the words Central Government securities (including Treasury Bills) shall be replaced by the words, namely: eligible instruments.
4. These instructions shall be applicable with immediate effect.
5. AD Category – I banks may bring the contents of this circular to the notice of their constituents and customers concerned.
6. The Directions contained in this circular have been is- sued under sections 10(4) and 11(1) of the Foreign Ex- change Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999) and are without prejudice to permissions/approval, if any, required under any other law.
