HomeCirculars › RBI/2006-07/293

Year-End Govt Account Closing: Special Measures for FY 2006-07

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2006-07/293 · issued 23 Mar 2007 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI directs agency banks to extend banking hours from March 26-31, 2007, keep counters open on March 31 even if a holiday, and conduct special evening clearings on March 30-31 to ensure all government tax receipts are credited by fiscal year-end.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

As an agency-banking (government business) officer in Indore, I need to ensure that our bank's counters are open late on March 31, 2007, to accommodate taxpayers who want to make last-minute payments. I also need to coordinate with the local clearing house to conduct special clearings in the evening to ensure that all government tax receipts are processed and credited before the fiscal year closes.

What changed

RBI, in consultation with the Controller General of Accounts, mandated extended banking hours for government business counters from March 26 to March 31, 2007, including on March 31 even if it is a holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act. Special clearing with return clearing was also ordered for the evenings of March 30 and 31, 2007, to realize and credit government accounts by March 31.

What it means for you

Agency banks must prepare for late-hour taxpayer rush and ensure all government tax receipts are processed and credited before the fiscal year closes. Banks need to coordinate with local clearing houses for special clearings and keep counters operational even on holidays. This is a one-time operational directive for FY 2006-07 year-end closing.

What you must do

Who it affects

State Bank of India and its associate banks, All public sector banks, IDBI Ltd., HDFC Bank Ltd., ICICI Bank Ltd., UTI Bank Ltd., Jammu & Kashmir Bank Ltd., Regional Offices of RBI

❓ Common questions

Why are extended hours and special clearings needed for FY 2006-07 closing?

To handle the year-end rush of tax payments and ensure all government transactions are accounted for by March 31, 2007, as required by the Government of India.

What if March 31, 2007 is a bank holiday in my state?

You must still keep government business counters open on that day, as the directive overrides the holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act for these transactions.

Who must approve the special clearing on March 30 and 31?

The President of the local Clearing House run by RBI or the agency bank must approve the special clearing, considering operational convenience at each centre.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2006-07/293 DGBA.GAD.No.H-14214/42.01.029/2006-07 March 23, 2007 The Chairman & Managing Director / Managing Director State Bank of India and its Associate Banks / All Public Sector Banks / IDBI Ltd. / HDFC Bank Ltd. / ICICI Bank Ltd. / UTI Bank Ltd. / Jammu & Kashmir Bank Ltd. Dear Sir, Annual Closing of Government Accounts - Transactions of Central/State Governments - Special Measures for the Current Financial Year (2006-07) With a view to facilitating accounting for all the Government transactions of the current financial year (2006-07) by March 31, 2007 as desired by the Government of India and in order to meet the probable rush of tax-payers towards the end of the year, it has been decided, in consultation with Controller General of Accounts, Government of India, to take the following special measures in regard to conduct of Government transactions: i) All Regional Offices of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and branches of Agency banks conducting Government business will suitably  extend the banking hours  to conduct Government business by keeping their counters open for the purpose from March 26, 2007 to March 31, 2007 to facilitate receipt of taxes etc. from members of public even at late hours. ii)  The Regional Offices of RBI and branches of Agency banks conducting Government business will keep their counters open even in the States where March 31, 2007 is declared a holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act and conduct Government transactions as indicated in para (i) above. iii) Special clearing (with return clearing) will be conducted in the evening/night of March 30 and 31, 2007, with the approval of the President of local Clearing Houses run by Reserve Bank of India/Agency bank keeping in view the operational convenience at the local centres so that the clearing instruments received from members of public are realized and credited to Government account by March 31, 2007. 2. You are requested to issue immediate instructions to all concerned and implement the above instructions. 3. Please acknowledge receipt. Yours faithfully, (M.T. Varghese) General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2006-07/293 · issued 23 Mar 2007. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
🧰 Tools — save, print, templates & related
Who does what — compliance checklist
🏦 Branch Manager
  • Extend banking hours for government business counters from March 26 to March 31, 2007, to accommodate late tax payments.
  • Keep counters open on March 31, 2007, even if it is a local holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act.
  • Issue immediate instructions to all branches handling government business to implement these measures.
⚙️ Operations
  • Arrange special evening/night clearings on March 30 and 31, 2007, with local clearing house approval to ensure same-day credit to government accounts.
Grouped from the action items above — a single circular may involve more than one team.
Worked example & action-note template

Example: if you are a Branch Manager at a bank this circular applies to (State Bank of India and its associate banks, All public sector banks, IDBI Ltd., HDFC Bank Ltd., ICICI Bank Ltd., UTI Bank Ltd., Jammu & Kashmir Bank Ltd., Regional Offices of RBI), your first concrete step on “Year-End Govt Account Closing: Special Measures for FY 2006-07” is: “Extend banking hours for government business counters from March 26 to March 31, 2007, to accommodate late tax payments.” (RBI issued this 23 Mar 2007).

  1. Circular: RBI/2006-07/293 -- Year-End Govt Account Closing: Special Measures for FY 2006-07
  2. Issued: 23 Mar 2007
  3. Action required: Extend banking hours for government business counters from March 26 to March 31, 2007, to accommodate late tax payments.
  4. Action required: Keep counters open on March 31, 2007, even if it is a local holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act.
  5. Action required: Arrange special evening/night clearings on March 30 and 31, 2007, with local clearing house approval to ensure same-day credit to government accounts.
  6. Action required: Issue immediate instructions to all branches handling government business to implement these measures.
  7. Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
  8. Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
  9. Evidence filed in compliance register on: ____________
Built only from this circular’s own published fields — not legal advice; always confirm against the official RBI source.

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Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=3369&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by our expert reviewer, CA Amit Jain. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; is our own plain-English paraphrase, not RBI’s original wording.
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