Remittances through Exchange Houses to PM Relief Fund Allowed

[RBI Circular No. 35 dated 9^th October 2014]

Sub: Memorandum of Instructions for Opening and Maintenance of Rupee / Foreign Currency Vostro Accounts of Non-resident Exchange Houses.

Attention of Authorised Dealer Category – I (AD Category – I) banks is invited to the A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 28 [A. P. (FL/RL Series) Circular No. 02] dated February 6, 2008 and the Annex to the A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No 88 dated January 9, 2014 on the captioned subject, as amended from time to time.

2. It has been decided to permit remittances to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund through the Exchange Houses subject to the condition that the remittances are directly credited to the Fund by the banks and the banks maintain full details of the remitters.

3. Accordingly, the Annex to the A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No 88 dated January 9, 2014, listing the permissible transactions has been modified and appended hereto. All other instructions issued vide A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 28 [A. P. (FL/RL Series) Circular No. 02] dated February 6, 2008, as amended from time to time, will remain unchanged.

4. AD Category - I banks may bring the contents of this circular to the notice of their constituents concerned.

5. The directions contained in this circular have been issued under Section 10(4) and Section 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999) and are without prejudice to permissions / approvals, if any, required under any other law.

Annex Earlier guidelines under Part (B) Permitted Transactions of Annex to A.P.(DIR Series) Circular No.88 dated January 9, 2014

Revised guidelines under Part (B) Permitted Transactions of Annex

Drawing Arrangements with Exchange Houses are primarily designed to channel inward personal remittances. Under no circumstances, donations / contributions to charitable institutions should be routed through the Exchange Houses. The following is the list of permissible transactions under Drawing Arrangements with Exchange Houses. 1. Credit to Non-resident (External) Rupee accounts maintained by Non-resident Indians in Indian Rupees. 2. Payments to families of Non-resident Indians. 3. Payments in favour of Insurance companies, Mutual Funds and the Post Master for premia / investments. 4. Payments in favour of bankers for investments in shares, debentures. 5. Payment to Coop. Housing Societies, Govt. Housing Schemes or Estate Developers for acquisition of residential flats in India in individual names subject to compliance of regulations thereof by the Non-resident Indians. 6. Payments of tuition/ boarding, examination fee etc. to schools, colleges and other educational institutions. 7. Payments to medical institutions and hospitals for medical treatment of NRIs / their dependents and nationals of Gulf Countries in India. 8. Payments to hotels by nationals of Gulf countries / NRIs for their stay. 9. Payments to travel agents for booking of passages of NRIs and their families residing in India towards their travel in India by domestic airlines / rail, etc. 10. Trade transactions up to Rs. 2 lakh per transaction. 11. Payments to utility service providers in India, for services such as water supply, electricity supply, telephone (except for mobile top-ups), internet, television etc. 12. Tax payments in India 13. EMI payments in India to Banks and Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) for repayment of loans.

Drawing Arrangements with Exchange Houses are primarily designed to channel inward personal remittances. Under no circumstances, donations / contributions to charitable institutions should be routed through the Exchange Houses. The following is the list of permissible transactions under Drawing Arrangements with Exchange Houses. 1. Credit to Non-resident (External) Rupee accounts maintained by Non-resident Indians in Indian Rupees. 2. Payments to families of Non-resident Indians. 3. Payments in favour of Insurance companies, Mutual Funds and the Post Master for premia / investments. 4. Payments in favour of bankers for investments in shares, debentures. 5. Payment to Coop. Housing Societies, Govt. Housing Schemes or Estate Developers for acquisition of residential flats in India in individual names subject to compliance of regulations thereof by the Non-resident Indians. 6. Payments of tuition/ boarding, examination fee etc. to schools, colleges and other educational institutions. 7. Payments to medical institutions and hospitals for medical treatment of NRIs / their dependents and nationals of Gulf Countries in India. 8. Payments to hotels by nationals of Gulf countries / NRIs for their stay. 9. Payments to travel agents for booking of passages of NRIs and their families residing in India towards their travel in India by domestic airlines / rail, etc. 10. Trade transactions up to Rs.5 lakh per transaction. 11. Payments to utility service providers in India, for services such as water supply, electricity supply, telephone (except for mobile top-ups), internet, television etc. 12. Tax payments in India 13. EMI payments in India to Banks and Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) for repayment of loans. 14. Remittances to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund subject to the condition that the remittances are directly credited to the Fund by the banks and the banks maintain full details of the remitters.