The benefits will be given by the company. If at the time of book closure/record date, shares are in your broker's account, the company will give the corporate benefits (dividend/bonus) to the broker and the broker has to pass on the same to you.

The concerned company obtains the details of beneficiary holders and their holdings as on the date of the book closure / record date from NSDL. The payment to the investors will be made by the company through the ECS (Electronic Clearing Service) facility, or by issuing warrants on which your bank account details are printed. The bank account details will be those which you would have mentioned in your account opening form or changed thereafter.

The concerned company obtains the details of beneficiary holders and their holdings as on the date of the book closure/record date from NSDL. Your entitlement will be credited by the company directly into your NSDL depository account.

In case of discrepancies in corporate benefits, you can approach your DP or the company/its R&T agents.

An allotment advice will be sent by the issuer/their R&T agent for bonus/rights entitlement. The transaction statement given by the DP, will also show the bonus/rights credit into the account. The quantity shown in the advice and statement of the transaction should match.

Baroda Cash Management Services (BCMS) is a software application that facilitates the management of customer funds, particularly, of corporate customers. Generally, corporate customers with large volumes of transactions are the target group for BCMS. It is a common practice in the industry that corporate customers, particularly, those who have either their own offices spread out across the country or those having suppliers/customers spread throughout the country, look to banks for their fund management activities. The main principle here is that corporates like to outsource their non-core activities to enable them to focus on their core business. BCMS is a product that aptly fits into such customer requirements and the system is prevalent in the banking industry for over a decade.

The corporate customers approach the banks not only to handle their collections and payments, but also help in minimizing idle funds and accounting, settlements, tracking of transactions, follow up and reconciliation. With a ‘wide area network’ our Bank has also launched BCMS since December 2008.

There is an interface between the BCMS package (Cash@Will) and the CBS package (Finacle).

COLLECTION MODULE

• Paper-based products:
  • Local cheques collections
  • Outstation cheques collection
  • In house cheques collection
  • Post-dated cheque collection
  • Invoice management

PAYMENT MODULE

• Paper-based products:
  • Demand draft
  • Banker’s cheque
  • Customer’s cheque
  • Dividend warrants/interest warrants
• Electronic products
  • Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS)
  • National Electronic Fund Transfer (NEFT)
  • Internal Fund Transfer (IFT)
  • Electronic Clearing Services (ECS)

• Collection Module
• Payment Module
• Liquidity Management Module

The Collection Module handles all inflow of funds in the customers’ accounts, which can be by way of

• Cash deposit
• Proceeds of local cheques
• Proceeds of outstation cheques
• Proceeds through DDI (Direct Debit Instructions) mandate, some Banks call it ADM (Automatic Debit Mandate)

The inflow of funds is efficiently managed by the collection module of BCMS by capturing all relevant details of the three types of transactions listed above and thereby helping customers, both for their MIS as well as for reconciliation. The collection of cheques, whether local or outstation, can be programmed for pre-defined days, enabling the customers to forecast their financial position and helping them in financial decision-making. The pick-up of cheques from collecting branches and delivery of cheques at the destination branches by the courier can be tracked in the system and details furnished to the customers.

This module handles the outflow of funds. Payment Module supports multiple channels, such as, electronic mode or paper-based instruments like personalised cheques, demand drafts, dividends and interest warrants. BCMS website enables the customer to initiate electronic payments and funds will get paid to the beneficiary through RTGS/NEFT/IFT (Internal Fund Transfer) besides enabling the customer to view or download various Management Information System (MIS) reports etc.

Wherever customers request for issuance of demand drafts in bulk, such as, for payments to suppliers or salary payments to employees, the same can be handled by the payments module, which will also keep a record of the payment of these demand drafts. A report can be generated and furnished to the customer right from issuance to payment of demand drafts. Similarly, personalized cheques issued by the customer through BCMS can also be tracked from issuance till payment and a report given to the customer. Likewise, interest warrants, refund orders etc. can also be arranged through the BCMS and tracked in the system facilitating quick reconciliation.

Liquidity Management Module facilitates the sweeping of funds from various accounts of the customers and pooling them in a single account called ‘Concentration Account’. The funds available in this account help the customers in online decision-making. The Liquidity Management Module also facilitates funding of various accounts as per the requirement of the customers out of the balance available in the Concentration account. With this facility, the customer can pre-determine the balance in various accounts at the start of the day, intra-day or end of the day (known as target balance). The Liquidity Management Module facilitates both sweep-in and sweep-out from the Concentration account. The sweep-in and sweep-out facility will enable the target balance to be maintained in the contributing account.

The charges in BCMS products are customer-specific and negotiable looking to the volume of the business generated and to lure and attract our corporate clients for utilising BCMS products, competitive service charges vis-à-vis other banks for various products have been approved by our bank. These charges can be fixed, slab-wise, a percentage base for parameterization in the system. The price structure for BCMS products is circulated vide circular No. BCC:RM:101:73 dated 4.11.2009.

Operational Model is consisting of 3 tiers as listed below:

• Data centre
• Central Operational Hub (COH)
• Branches: City Back Offices (CBO), Service branches and Local Main Offices, which are not yet on CBO model and identified BCMS branches. These are meant to function as Client Service Units.

Activities proposed at different levels will be the following:

• Data Centre
  • Security Maintenance and common parameterization of BCMS
  • All interfaces related issues between BCMS, CBS and Banks Website.
  • Development of customer specific reports wherever back-end system access is required.
• Central Operational Hub (COH):The COH will be the nerve centre of the entire BCMS operation. It will house the Operations team.
• The Operational team will have the following responsibilities:
  • Managing the customer master data at the COH level.
  • Generation of various reports for the Bank’s MIS purpose.
  • Accepting requests of customers for bulk printing of their cheques, DDs, Dividend Warrants, Interest Warrants, Refund Orders, etc., and carrying out this activity in the Central Operational Hub.
  • Day begin and day end operations for the BCMS. End of day will be done only after all Client Service Units have signed out of the BCMS.
  • Reconciliation of all the pool accounts and generation of MIS reports.
• Client Service Units:
• The following functions will be performed by the Client Service Units:
  • All outward clearing activities, outstation cheque collections, management of post-dated cheques.
  • Managing online RTGS, NEFT, ECS payment
  • Front-level reports for BCMS customers (other than those which are generated at the COH)
  • Collection of cash by units other than the service branches and enriching the transaction data in BCMS.
  • Collection of cheques drawn on our bank and effecting Internal Fund Transfer (IFT).

Yes, the website for our corporate customers ishttps://bobcms.com

The reports in the format desired by customer from all three modules will be made available to them through Bank’s website. Corporate customers can also initiate electronic payment in individual or batch of transactions.

• Front-end provided to the customer for payment initiation.
• The customer will be provided with user-ids, who can create, view, transactions.
• Various payment and collection reports can be downloaded by the customer e.g. Instrument Status report, Payment due report, details of cheque collection report.

It is proposed to start BCMS products at 100 identified centres vide circular no. BCC/BR/100/338 dated 1.12.2008. At present, Collection Module is rolled out at 11 centres and Payment Module can be availed from Central Operation Hub (COH) in Mumbai.

Gazette notification S.O. 2119(E) dated 26.06.2020

1. Classification of enterprises.-An enterprise shall be classified as a micro, small or medium enterprise on the basis of the following criteria, namely:--

   (i) a micro enterprise, where the investment in plant and machinery or equipment does not exceed one crore rupees and turnover does not exceed five crore rupees;

   (ii) a small enterprise, where the investment in plant and machinery or equipment does not exceed ten crore rupees and turnover does not exceed fifty crore rupees; and

   (iii) a medium enterprise, where the investment in plant and machinery or equipment does not exceed fifty crore rupees and turnover does not exceed two hundred and fifty crore rupees.

2. Becoming a micro, small or medium enterprise.—

   (1) Any person who intends to establish a micro, small or medium enterprise may file Udyam Registration online in the Udyam Registration portal, based on self-declaration with no requirement to upload documents, papers, certificates or proof.

   (2) On registration, an enterprise (referred to as ―Udyam‖ in the Udyam Registration portal) will be assigned a permanent identity number to be known as ―Udyam Registration Number.

   (3) An e-certificate, namely, ―Udyam Registration Certificate‖ shall be issued on completion of the registration process./p>

3. Composite criteria of investment and turnover for classification.--

   (1) A composite criterion of investment and turnover shall apply for classification of an enterprise as micro, small or medium.

   (2) If an enterprise crosses the ceiling limits specified for its present category in either of the two criteria of investment or turnover, it will cease to exist in that category and be placed in the next higher category but no enterprise shall be placed in the lower category unless it goes below the ceiling limits specified for its present category in both the criteria of investment as well as turnover.

   (3) All units with Goods and Services Tax Identification Number (GSTIN) listed against the same Permanent Account Number (PAN) shall be collectively treated as one enterprise and the turnover and investment figures for all of such entities shall be seen together and only the aggregate values will be considered for deciding the category as micro, small or medium enterprise.

4. Calculation of investment in plant and machinery or equipment.--

   (1) The calculation of investment in plant and machinery or equipment will be linked to the Income Tax Return (ITR) of the previous years filed under the Income Tax Act, 1961.

   (2) In case of a new enterprise, where no prior ITR is available, the investment will be based on self-declaration of the promoter of the enterprise and such relaxation shall end after the 31st March of the financial year in which it files its first ITR.

   (3) The expression ―plant and machinery or equipment‖ of the enterprise, shall have the same meaning as assigned to the plant and machinery in the Income Tax Rules, 1962 framed under the Income Tax Act, 1961 and shall include all tangible assets (other than land and building, furniture and fittings).

   (4) The purchase (invoice) value of a plant and machinery or equipment, whether purchased first hand or second hand, shall be taken into account excluding Goods and Services Tax (GST), on self-disclosure basis, if the enterprise is a new one without any ITR.

   (5) The cost of certain items specified in the Explanation I to sub-section (1) of section 7 of the Act shall be excluded from the calculation of the amount of investment in plant and machinery.

5. Calculation of turnover.--

   (1) Exports of goods or services or both, shall be excluded while calculating the turnover of any enterprise whether micro, small or medium, for the purposes of classification.

   (2) Information as regards turnover and exports turnover for an enterprise shall be linked to the Income Tax Act or the Central Goods and Services Act (CGST Act) and the GSTIN.

   (3) The turnover related figures of such enterprise which do not have PAN will be considered on self-declaration basis for a period up to 31st March, 2021 and thereafter, PAN and GSTIN shall be mandatory.

   (4) The exemption from the requirement of having GSTIN shall be as per the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (12 of 2017). [This paragraph(4) is an amendment dt 05.03.2021].

6. Registration process.—

   (1) The form for registration shall be as provided in the Udyam Registration portal.

   (2) There will be no fee for filing Udyam Registration.

   (3) Aadhaar number shall be required for Udyam Registration.

   (4) The Aadhaar number shall be of the proprietor in the case of a proprietorship firm, of the managing partner in the case of a partnership firm and of a karta in the case of a Hindu Undivided Family (HUF).

   (5) In case of a Company or a Limited Liability Partnership or a Cooperative Society or a Society or a Trust, the organisation or its authorised signatory shall provide its GSTIN and PAN along with its Aadhaar number.

   (6) In case an enterprise is duly registered as an Udyam with PAN, any deficiency of information for previous years when it did not have PAN shall be filled up on self-declaration basis.

   (7) No enterprise shall file more than one Udyam Registration: Provided that any number of activities including manufacturing or service or both may be specified or added in one Udyam Registration.

   (8) Whoever intentionally misrepresents or attempts to suppress the self-declared facts and figures appearing in the Udyam Registration or updation process shall be liable to such penalty as specified under section 27 of the Act.

   (9) In case of any proprietorship enterprise not registered under any Act or rules of the Central Government or the State Government, the proprietor may use his or her PAN for registration of the enterprise in the Udyam Registration portal and for all other types of enterprises PAN shall be mandatory [This paragraph(9) is an amendment dt 05.03.2021].

7. Registration of existing enterprises.---

   (1) All existing enterprises registered under EM–Part-II or UAM shall register again on the Udyam Registration portal on or after the 1st day of July, 2020.

   (2) All enterprises registered till 30th June, 2020, shall be re-classified in accordance with this notification.

   (3) The existing enterprises registered prior to 30th June, 2020, shall continue to be valid only for a period up to the 31stday of March, 2021 31stday of December, 2021 [Extension of date from March to December is through Amendment dated 16.06.2021]

   (4) An enterprise registered with any other organisation under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises shall register itself under Udyam Registration.

8. Updation of information and transition period in classification.--

   (1) An enterprise having Udyam Registration Number shall update its information online in the Udyam Registration portal, including the details of the ITR and the GST Return for the previous financial year and such other additional information as may be required, on selfdeclaration basis.

   (2) Failure to update the relevant information within the period specified in the online Udyam Registration portal will render the enterprise liable for suspension of its status.

   (3) Based on the information furnished or gathered from Government’s sources including ITR or GST return, the classification of the enterprise will be updated.

   (4) In case of graduation (from a lower to a higher category) or reverse-graduation (sliding down to lower category) of an enterprise, a communication will be sent to the enterprise about the change in the status.

   (5) In case of an upward change in terms of investment in plant and machinery or equipment or turnover or both, and consequent re-classification, an enterprise will maintain its prevailing status till expiry of one year from the close of the year of registration.

   (6) In case of reverse-graduation of an enterprise, whether as a result of re-classification or due to actual changes in investment in plant and machinery or equipment or turnover or both, and whether the enterprise is registered under the Act or not, the enterprise will continue in its present category till the closure of the financial year and it will be given the benefit of the changed status only with effect from 1st April of the financial year following the year in which such change took place.

9. Facilitation and grievance redressal of enterprises.--

   (1) The Champions Control Rooms functioning in various institutions and offices of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises including the Development Institutes (MSME-DI) shall act as Single Window Systems for facilitating the registration process and further handholding the micro, small and medium enterprises in all possible manner.

   (2) The District Industries Centres (DICs) will also act as Single Window facilitation Systems in their Districts.

   (3) Any person who is not able to file the Udyam Registration for any reason including for lack of Aadhaar number, may approach any of the above Single Window Systems for Udyam Registration purposes with his Aadhaar enrolment identity slip or copy of Aadhaar enrolment request or bank photo pass book or voter identity card or passport or driving licence and the Single Window Systems will facilitate the process including getting an Aadhaar number and thereafter in the further process of Udyam Registration.

   (4) In case of any discrepancy or complaint, the General Manager of the District Industries Centre of the concerned District shall undertake an enquiry for verification of the details of Udyam Registration submitted by the enterprise and thereafter forward the matter with necessary remarks to the Director or Commissioner or Industry Secretary concerned of the State Government who after issuing a notice to the enterprise and after giving an opportunity to present its case and based on the findings, may amend the details or recommend to the Ministry of Micro, Small or Medium Enterprises, Government of India, for cancellation of the Udyam Registration Certificate.

Registration on Udyam Registration Portal

The portal can be accessed at https://udyogaadhaar.gov.in/

• An enterprise for the purpose of this process will be known as Udyam and its Registration Process will be known as 'Udyam Registration'
• Registration Process is free, fully online, paperless and based on self-declaration.
• No documents or proof are required to be uploaded for registering an MSME.
• Only Adhaar Number will be enough for registration (To Log in to Portal).
• The Aadhaar number shall be of the proprietor in the case of a proprietorship firm, of the managing partner in the case of a partnership firm and of a karta in the case of a Hindu Undivided Family (HUF).
• In case of a Company or a Limited Liability Partnership or a Cooperative Society or a Society or a Trust, the organisation or its authorised signatory shall provide its GSTIN and PAN along with its Aadhaar number.
• PAN & GST linked details on investment and turnover of enterprises will be taken automatically from Government data bases.
• Having PAN & GST number is mandatory from 01.04.2021.
• A permanent registration number will be given after registration.
• After completion of the process of registration, a certificate will be issued online.
• This certificate will have a dynamic QR Code from which the web page on our Portal and details about the enterprise can be accessed.
• There will be no need for renewal of Registration.
• Single window systems at Champions Control Rooms and at DICs will help the applicants in the process.
• Those who have EM-II or UAM registration or any other registration issued by any authority under the Ministry of MSME, will have to re-register themselves.
• No enterprise shall file more than one Udyam Registration. However, any number of activities including manufacturing or service or both may be specified or added in one Registration.
• In case an enterprise is duly registered as an Udyam with PAN, any deficiency of information for previous years when it did not have PAN shall be filled up on self-declaration basis.
• No enterprise shall file more than one Udyam Registration: Provided that any number of activities including manufacturing or service or both may be specified or added in one Udyam Registration.
• Whoever intentionally misrepresents or attempts to suppress the self-declared facts and figures appearing in the Udyam Registration or updation process shall be liable to such penalty as specified under section 27 of the Act.

Yes. Both term finance and working capital facilities are sanctioned by the Bank.

No collaterals/third-party guarantee for loans under Micro & Small Enterprises segment which are covered under CGTMSE guarantee cover. For other accounts which are not covered under CGTMSE, the Bank may stipulate collaterals as per Bank’s guidelines.

Yes

• Individuals: Self-employed professionals, single proprietors, and partnership firms
• Businesses: Private limited corporations, public limited companies, and Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs)

Common Documents:

• Duly filled loan application form
• Proof of Identity: Aadhaar Card / Voter’s ID Card / Passport / Driving License / PAN Card / Signature identification from present bankers of proprietor, partner of director (if a company)
• Proof of residence: Aadhaar Card / Recent telephone bills, electricity bill, property tax receipt /Passport / voter’s ID Card of Proprietor, partner of Director (if a company)
• Proof of business Address
• Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company / Partnership Deed of partnership firms, etc.
• Assets and liabilities statement of promoters and guarantors along with latest income tax returns.

Additional documents based on activity undertaken

• SSI / MSME registration / Udyog AADHAAR Memorandum, if applicable.
• Projected balance sheets for the next two years in case of working capital limits and for the period of the loan in case of term loan.
• Last three years balance sheets Firm, Company, etc
• Copies of lease deeds/ title deeds of all the properties being offered as primary and collateral securities
• Certificate of incorporation from RoC in case of company (CIN No. and DIN no. of directors)
• Bank Account details wherever applicable (with details of outstanding in case of existing loans / limits)
• GSTN No., if applicable.

There are certain documents, licensees, etc which are required based on the nature of the business entity such as manufacturing, trading, export-import, IT, service sector, etc

Scheduled Commercial Banks are members of BCSBI (Banking Code of Conduct and Standards Board of India) and thereby they commit that:
We will provide you with a checklist of the documents to be submitted (compliant with legal and regulatory requirements) along with the loan application form to enable you to submit the application complete in all respects.
If required, we will assist you in filling up your loan application form.

Scheduled Commercial Banks are members of BCSBI (Banking Code of Conduct and Standards Board of India) and thereby they commit that: We shall invariably provide you with an acknowledgement of your loan application, whether submitted online or manually, indicating therein the . time frame within which the application will be processed.

• The Banks are actively engaging themselves in the growth of Start Ups by developing dedicated loan products as well as Start Up specific Bank branches
• Some examples of loan products for Start ups from various Banks:
  ● “MSME UDAAN” from SBI
  ● “Union Start Up Scheme” from UBI

Similarly, all Banks have products catering to the needs of the Start Ups; only thing required is a viable business plan, financial statement and legal documents, etc

Stand Up India

The scheme facilitates bank loans between 10 lakh and 1 crore to atleast one women borrower per bank branch for setting up a greenfield enterprise.

Government has launched various scheme to promote MSME/Startup. Some of which are:

• Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana
• Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme (CLCSS) for Technology Upgradation
• Stand Up India
• SIDBI Make in India Soft Loan Fund for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (SMILE)
• Social Innovation Programme For Products: Affordable and Relevant to Societal Health (SPARSH)

Bank may sanction collateral free loan to the tune of Rs.500 lakhs by availing credit guarantee for CGTSME under CGS-I

Through the web portal www.psbloansin59minutes.com, a borrower can get Digital Approval in just 59 minutes from anywhere at any time. Post Digital Approval, the time taken for loan disbursement depends on the information and documentation provided by the borrower on the portal and banks. The more accurate the data, the sooner the loan gets disbursed. Generally, post Digital Approval, the loan is expected to be sanction/disbursed in 7-8 working days.

• Every bank has a customer grievance redressal mechanism and in case of undue delay or arbitrary rejection of the loan, the complaint can be filed with bank’s Grievance Officer.
• If case of non-redressal, complaint can be escalated to Internal Ombudsman
• Complaint can also be lodged with RBI Ombudsman.

The procedure for selling dematerialised securities is very simple. After you have sold the securities, you would instruct your DP to debit your account with the number of securities sold by you and credit your broker's clearing account. This delivery instruction has to be given to your DP, using the delivery instruction slips given to you by DP at the time of opening the account. The procedure for selling securities is given here below:

• You sell securities in any of the stock exchanges linked to NSDL through a broker.
• You give instructions to your DP to debit his account and credit the broker's (clearing member pool) account.
• Before the pay-in day, your broker gives instruction to the DP for delivery to clearing corporation.
• Your broker receives payment from the stock exchange (clearing corporation)
• You receive payment from the broker for the sale of securities.

For receiving demat securities you may give a one-time standing instruction to your DP. This standing instruction can be given at the time of account opening or later. You may also choose to give separate receipt instructions every time some securities are to be received.

The transactions relating to the purchase of securities are summarised below:

• You purchase securities through a broker.
• You make payment to your broker who arranges payment to clearing corporation on the pay-in day.
• Your broker receives a credit of securities in clearing account on the pay-out day.
• Your broker gives instructions to the DP to debit clearing account and credit your account.
• You receive shares into its account. However, if standing instructions are not given at the time of opening the account, you will have to give 'receipt instructions' to your DP for receiving credit.

You should ensure that your broker transfers the securities purchased from his clearing account to your depository account, before the book closure. If the securities remain in the clearing account of the broker, the company may give corporate benefits to the broker. In that case, you have to collect benefits from your broker.

Any trade settled through a clearing corporation is termed as the 'market trade'. These trades are done through stockbrokers on a stock exchange. 'Off market trade' is one which is settled directly between two parties without the involvement of the clearing corporation. The same delivery instruction slip can be used either for market trade or off-market trade by ticking one of the two options.

If you are delivering securities to your sub-broker, you would need to fill in the off market trade portion of the delivery instruction slip.

On every stock exchange, various settlements are affected every day such as weekly settlement, daily settlement, auction settlement, etc. Each of these settlements is identified by the combination of the market type and the settlement number. You are required to mention the appropriate settlement details on the delivery instruction slip while transferring the shares to your broker's account. These settlement details are available on the contract note issued by the broker.

The depository participant with whom you have your demat account will prescribe the deadlines to be followed by you for submission of delivery instruction slips. You should deliver instructions to your DP as per these deadlines.

The broker is expected to transfer the securities to you within 2 working days or 4 calendar days after the securities are received in his pool account, provided you have made the requisite payment to the broker.

The following precautions are to be taken:

• Ensure and insist with your DP to issue DIS book; do not use loose slips.
• Ensure that DIS numbers are pre-printed and DP takes acknowledgment from you for the DIS booklet issued to you.
• Ensure that your account number (client ID) is pre-stamped.
• If your account is a joint account, all the joint holders have to sign the instruction slips. Instruction cannot be executed if all joint holders have not signed.
• Avoid using loose slips.
• Do not leave signed blank DIS with anyone viz., broker/sub-broker.
• Keep the DIS book under lock and key when not in use.
• If only one entry is made in the DIS book, strike out the remaining space to prevent misuse by anyone.
• Please fill in the target account ID yourself; and all details in the DIS yourself.

The execution date is the date on which securities will be actually debited from your account. The execution date written on the delivery instruction has to be entered by the DP in the DPM system (computer). DPM system will record the date and will debit your account only on that date. You may issue the instruction well in advance of the date on which you want the securities to be debited from your account but your account will be debited only on the execution date.

By giving a future dated instruction the risk of non-execution of instruction due to lack of time or last-minute rush is covered.

In case the securities bought by you are yet to be transferred into your account by your broker before the book closure/record date, you will not be entitled to receive corporate benefits such as dividend or bonus since your name will not figure in the list of beneficial owners. Hence, you must ensure that securities bought by you are transferred into your account before the book closure/record date announced by the company.

These are risk-free sovereign coupon-bearing instruments that are issued by the Government of India. The tenor of these instruments can be from very short term (say, of less than one year) to a very long term (say, 20 years). These instruments have fixed coupons paid on specific dates on a half-yearly basis. Securities are available in primary and secondary markets. Returns on these instruments are reasonably certain.

These are discounted zero-coupon instruments. Maturity periods can be up to 364 days. These are by far the most liquid instruments with relatively attractive returns.

CPs are short-term unsecured promissory notes issued by highly rated corporates, Primary dealers (PD), Satellite Dealers (SD) and Financial Institutions (FI). The tenor of such instruments may vary from a minimum 15 days to 1 year. These instruments are to be necessarily rated by reputed credit rating agencies (with a minimum rating of P-1 or other approved rating by RBI). Corporates having a minimum net worth of Rs. 4 crores and a borrowal account classified as 'Standard' by the financing bank/s may issue CPs. Minimum investment for a single investor has to be Rs. 5 lakhs or multiple thereof.

It is an OTC product involving an exchange of interest flows in the same currency between two counterparties. These instruments never involve exchange of the principal amount. Exchange of interest rates can be of two types viz. Fixed Vs Floating or may be Floating Vs Floating. Under the former type, Fixed Rate Payer will have to pay Fixed Swap rate while the Floating Rate Payer will pay only Floating Interest Rate. The settlement will be on a net basis. Both the legs of interest rates are determined with reference to acceptable benchmark rates.

Banks, PDs and FIs are allowed to enter into Rupee swaps for hedging purposes as well as for market-making. Corporate customers can only use this product as a tool for hedging their exposures. All entities are allowed to enter into FCY swaps only for the purpose of hedging their interest rate risk on their underlying assets/liabilities.

A Forward Rate Agreement (FRA) is an agreement whereby an interest rate is fixed now for a period in the future for a specified notional principal amount. It is an OTC product and does not involve any exchange of principal amount. The difference between the FRA Rate and the actual market rate on the maturity date is paid by one party to the other. If the market rate is higher than the FRA rate, the seller pays the buyer whereas, in case the market rate is lower than the FRA rate, the buyer pays the seller.

A Currency Swap is defined as an exchange of principal and/or interest payments on a loan or asset in one currency for principal and/or interest payments on an equivalent loan or asset in another currency at pre-fixed spot/forward rate agreed on the trade date. For example, a customer in India having a loan in USD may enter into a currency swap in order to hedge its USD interest rate risk as well as the USD/INR exchange risk. Under this type of swap, the client may cover either only interest payment or principal repayment or both.

• An Option offers the buyer/holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a specified amount of the underlying asset at an agreed rate on or before a specified future date. This arrangement, by natural extension, puts the obligation, not the right, to buy or sell the underlying asset at the pre-determined price at a specified future date. For the right to exercise the option, the buyer pays the seller/writer a premium, which is called the option price.
• Option may either be a Call Option or a put option. Under the Call Option, the buyer has the right to buy the underlying asset whereas, under the Put Option the buyer enjoys the right to sell the underlying asset.
• Among the various types of Options are the Interest Rate Options (Bonds Option, caps, Floors, Collars etc.) and Currency Options. Interest Rate Option offers the buyer the right, not the obligation, to fix at a point of time in the future, either the interest rate on a notional deposit or loan or the price of an instrument. With such instruments, buyer is protected against an adverse interest rate movement while retaining the ability to benefit from a favourable movement. A Currency Option gives the buyer the right, not the obligation, to exchange two currencies at a fixed rate at a future point of time. Under this type of Option buyer's downside risk is eliminated while retaining the unlimited upside potential.