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State Govt Account Settlement: New T+3/T+5 Timelines & Interest

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Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2006-2007/291 · issued 21 Mar 2007 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI mandates uniform T+3 (local) and T+5 (outstation) working-day settlement for State Government transactions from April 1, 2007. Delayed remittances attract interest at Bank Rate + 2% (for Rs.1 lakh+) or tiered rates for smaller amounts. Banks must align reporting with Central Government norms.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore collects a State Government tax payment on Monday. Since the collecting branch and the focal point branch are in the same city, she must settle it with RBI by Thursday (T+3 working days). If she misses that deadline, the bank will pay interest at Bank Rate + 2% for the delay, starting from Friday.

What changed

RBI partially modifies its February 2003 instructions on State Government account settlement. The new circular aligns State Government transaction timelines with existing Central Government rules: T+3 working days for local transactions and T+5 for outstation transactions, using the RBI calendar. Delayed period interest is now calculated from the day after the prescribed put-through date, not from the transaction date.

What it means for you

Banks handling State Government accounts must tighten internal processes to meet stricter settlement deadlines or face interest penalties. The uniform framework simplifies compliance but increases operational pressure, especially for outstation branches. Interest on delays is now more punitive for larger amounts (Bank Rate + 2%), while smaller transactions have a grace period of 5 calendar days at Bank Rate only.

What you must do

Who it affects

All Public Sector Banks (excluding IDBI Bank Ltd.), Branches handling State Government tax and non-tax receipts, Focal point branches for State Government accounts, Treasury and operations teams managing government transaction settlements

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).

What is the new timeline for settling State Government transactions with RBI?

Local transactions (same city/agglomeration) must settle within T+3 working days, and outstation transactions within T+5 working days, where T is the day money is available to the bank branch. The RBI calendar determines working days.

How is delayed period interest calculated under the revised rules?

Interest is charged for the actual delay period starting from the day after the prescribed put-through date. For transactions of Rs.1 lakh and above, the rate is Bank Rate + 2%. For smaller amounts, delays up to 5 calendar days attract Bank Rate only; beyond 5 days, the full delay period is charged at Bank Rate + 2%.

When does the revised procedure take effect?

The new rules come into effect from April 1, 2007. Banks must ensure compliance from that date for all State Government transactions.

📜 This document’s life story (1 recorded event, each backed by RBI’s own words)
Partially modified by Penal Interest on Excess/Double Claims in State Govt Accounts
RBI’s words: “partial modifications were done in the para 5.11 of the "Memorandum of Instructions on Accounting and Reconciliation of State Government Transactions".”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2006-2007/291 DGBA. GAD. No. H- 14061/ 31.04.008/2006-07 March 21, 2007 The Chairman & Managing Director/ Managing Director All Public Sector Banks (excluding IDBI Bank Ltd.) Dear Sir, Maintenance of State Government Accounts – Recovery of Interest on delayed remittances (State Government Transactions) Please refer to our circular DGBA. GAD. No. 1377/ 31.04.008/ 2002-03 dated February 22, 2003 wherein our instructions regarding the implementation of the recommendations of the Working Group on "Accounting and Reconciliation of State Government Transactions" were conveyed to Banks. In partial modifications of the instructions contained in para 5.11 (A) and 5.11 (B) of the "Memorandum of Instructions" forwarded with our circular referred to above, we advise as under: 2. With a view to bringing in uniformity in time-frame for reporting both Central and State Government Transactions to the Reserve Bank, it has been decided with the approval of Comptroller and Auditor General of India that the existing procedure applicable to Central Government transactions, as explained below, may also be made applicable to State Government transactions. (a) Local Transactions - wherever the collecting bank branch and the focal point branch of the bank are in the same city/agglomeration, the settlement of transaction with RBI shall be completed within T+3 working days (where T is the day when money is available to the bank branch). For calculating the working days, the RBI calendar will be followed. (b) Outstation Transactions- wherever the collecting bank branch and the focal point branch of the bank are in different cities/agglomeration, the settlement of transaction with RBI shall be completed within T+5 working days (where T is the day when money is available to the bank branch). For calculating the working days, the RBI calendar will be followed. (c) In case of both the local and outstation transactions, the put through date, i.e. the date of settlement with the RBI shall be kept outside this time limit of T+3 and T+5 working days, respectively. (d) Delayed period interest shall be imposed on the banks for the actual delayed period and not from the date of transaction. In other words, the ‘delay period’ calculation will start from the day following the prescribed put through date. (e) The period of delay in respect of transactions of Rs.1 lakh and above shall attract delayed period interest at Bank Rate + 2%. (f) For transactions below Rs.1 lakh each, the delayed period interest shall be levied at the Bank Rate for delays up to 5 calendar days and at the Bank Rate + 2 % in case of delays above 5 calendar days for the full period of delay. (g) The above instructions at para 4 (a) to (f) shall also be applicable in respect of Non-Tax and all other Government receipts. (The Bank Rate will be the rate notified by the RBI from time to time as applicable at the time of transaction). 3. The revised procedure will come into effect from April 1, 2007. The procedure for claiming/ recovering of delayed period interest will remain unchanged and it will be charged irrespective of the amount of remittance involved in a particular transaction. 4. You may bring the revised procedure to the notice of your branches accredited to conduct State Government transactions and advise them to strictly adhere to the prescribed time schedule for reporting State Government transactions. 5. All the State Governments are being advised about the revised procedure. Yours faithfully, (M. T. Varghese) General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2006-2007/291 · issued 21 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
  • Train branch staff on the new delay interest calculation: actual delay period starts from the day after the put-through date, not the transaction date.
  • Ensure focal point branches and collecting branches coordinate effectively to meet settlement deadlines.
  • Communicate revised procedures to all branches accredited for State Government business before April 1, 2007.
⚙️ Operations
  • Update internal SOPs for State Government transactions to enforce T+3 (local) and T+5 (outstation) settlement timelines using RBI's working day calendar.
📜 Compliance
  • Monitor transactions of Rs.1 lakh and above separately to avoid higher interest at Bank Rate + 2%.
Grouped from the action items above — a single circular may involve more than one team.
Worked example & action-note template

Example: if you are an Operations officer at a bank this circular applies to (All Public Sector Banks (excluding IDBI Bank Ltd.), Branches handling State Government tax and non-tax receipts, Focal point branches for State Government accounts, Treasury and operations teams managing government transaction settlements), your first concrete step on “State Govt Account Settlement: New T+3/T+5 Timelines & Interest” is: “Update internal SOPs for State Government transactions to enforce T+3 (local) and T+5 (outstation) settlement timelines using RBI's working day calendar.” (RBI issued this 21 Mar 2007).

  1. Circular: RBI/2006-2007/291 -- State Govt Account Settlement: New T+3/T+5 Timelines & Interest
  2. Issued: 21 Mar 2007
  3. Action required: Update internal SOPs for State Government transactions to enforce T+3 (local) and T+5 (outstation) settlement timelines using RBI's working day calendar.
  4. Action required: Train branch staff on the new delay interest calculation: actual delay period starts from the day after the put-through date, not the transaction date.
  5. Action required: Monitor transactions of Rs.1 lakh and above separately to avoid higher interest at Bank Rate + 2%.
  6. Action required: Ensure focal point branches and collecting branches coordinate effectively to meet settlement deadlines.
  7. Action required: Communicate revised procedures to all branches accredited for State Government business before April 1, 2007.
  8. Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
  9. Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
  10. 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=3368&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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