RBI Ease of Doing Business Initiatives under FEMA



Quick Summary
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced the discontinuation of 17 specific returns and reports under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999. This move aims to enhance the ease of doing business and cut down compliance expenses for authorised persons. The changes, effective immediately, simplify reporting requirements for various foreign exchange transactions and investments.

"Discontinuation of Returns Reports under FEMA, 1999"

Overview

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) vide notification / Circular No. RBI/2020-21/66 A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 05 dated 13th November 2020, has published Discontinuation of Returns/ Reports under Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999” in the exercise of the powers conferred under sections Section 10(4) and 11(2) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999) and are without prejudice to permissions/approvals, if any, required under any other law.

The Circular is issued to :

All Authorised Persons

Aim and Vision of this Circular:

  • to improve the ease of doing business and
  • reduce the cost of compliance,
RBI Eases Business: FEMA Returns Discontinued

The existing forms and reports prescribed under FEMA, 1999, were reviewed by the Reserve Bank. Accordingly, it has been decided to discontinue the 17 returns/reports as listed in Annexure A to this Circular as mentioned below with immediate effect.

Provisions of this Circular

The attention of Authorised Persons is invited to the Master Direction - Reporting under Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 dated January 01, 2016 (click here), as amended from time to time, and other reporting related instructions issued by the Reserve Bank of India. AD banks may bring the contents of this circular to the notice of their constituents.

 

List of Discontinued Reports Annexure A

Sl No.

Name of Report

Reporting Entity

Frequency

1

Category-wise transaction where the amount exceeds USD 5000 per transaction

AD Category-II

Monthly

2

Category-wise, transaction-wise statement where the amount exceeds USD 25,000 per transaction

AD Category- II

Monthly

3

Statement of Purchase transactions of USD 10,000 and above (including transactions of their franchisees)

FFMCs and AD Category- II

Monthly

4

Extension of Liaison Offices (LOs)

AD Category-I banks

As and when the extension is granted

5

Extension of Project Offices (POs)

AD Category-I banks

As and when the extension is granted

6

FII/FPI daily: Daily inflow/outflow of a foreign fund on account of investment by FPIs

AD banks

Daily

7

FII/FPI Return (Monthly): Data relating to actual inflow /outflow of remittances on account of investments by Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) in the Indian Capital market

AD Category-I banks

Monthly

8

FVCI reporting: Inflows/outflows of remittances on account of investments by Foreign Venture Capital Investor (FVCIs) and Market value of Investments made by FVCIs

AD Category-I banks/Custodian banks

Monthly

9

Reporting of Inflow/Outflow details in respect of Mutual Fund by Asset Management Companies

Asset Management Companies

Quarterly

10

Market value of FII Investment in India on a fortnightly basis

AD Category-I banks

Fortnightly

11

Market value of FII Investment in India on a monthly basis

AD Category-I banks

Monthly

12

FII holdings as a percentage of floating stock

AD Category-I banks

Monthly

13

Form DRR for Issue/transfer of sponsored/unsponsored Depository Receipts (DRs)-Hardcopy@

Custodian

At the time of issue/transfer of depository receipts

14

ADR/GDR Movement Report - two-way fungibility

AD Category-I banks

Monthly

15

Repatriation of Sales proceeds of underlying shares represented by FCCBs/GDRs/ ADRs

Custodian

Monthly

16

GDR/ADR underlying shares issued, redeposited, and released monthly reporting

Custodian

Monthly

17

Monitoring of disinvestments by Overseas Corporate Bodies

AD banks

Monthly

Please note that it is only the hardcopy filing of form DRR that has been discontinued. The domestic custodian may continue to report the form DRR on FIRMS application in terms of Regulation 4 (5) of FEM (Mode of Payment and Reporting of Non-Debt Instruments) Regulations, 2019.

 

Link: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=11994&Mode=0

Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to avoid errors or omissions in this material. In spite of this, errors may creep in. Any mistake, error, or discrepancy noted may be brought to our notice which shall be taken care of in the next edition. In no event, the author shall be liable for any direct, indirect, special, or incidental damage resulting from or arising out of or in connection with the use of this information.

FAQ :

The main goal is to improve the ease of doing business and reduce the cost of compliance for authorised persons.

A total of 17 returns/reports listed in Annexure A of the circular are being discontinued.

The discontinuation of these returns and reports is effective immediately from the date of the circular, which was 13th November 2020.

All Authorised Persons, including AD banks, are informed about this circular. AD banks are also asked to bring its contents to the notice of their constituents.

No, only the hardcopy filing of Form DRR has been discontinued. Domestic custodians must continue to report Form DRR on the FIRMS application.




About the Author

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Company Secretary having 8+ years of post qualification experience in the Compliance Management Services industry by serving Corporates including Listed Companies, Corporate Secretarial Firms and LLP. Have a keen interest in the Corporate Governance and Compliance Management and the soaring craving to learn everyday. A ... Read more

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