FII Collateral Norms: Demat Accounts for Foreign Sovereign Securities
No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2007-2008/99 · issued 19 Jul 2007 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI now permits SEBI-approved clearing corporations and members to open demat accounts abroad for holding foreign sovereign securities (AAA-rated) offered as collateral by FIIs for derivative trades. This liberalises earlier procedures and aligns with SEBI guidelines.
What changed
Earlier, FIIs could only offer AAA-rated foreign sovereign securities as collateral to recognised stock exchanges. Now, clearing corporations and their clearing members can open and maintain demat accounts with foreign depositories to hold, pledge, and transfer these securities. They can also remit proceeds from corporate actions and liquidate the securities if needed.
What it means for you
This move simplifies collateral management for FIIs in the Indian derivatives market, reducing operational friction. For banks acting as AD Category-I, it means facilitating these new account openings and remittances for clients. It also enhances the attractiveness of Indian exchanges for foreign investors by aligning with global practices.
Historical instruction — do not use for current compliance. This is what was required at the time; it no longer reflects current RBI requirements. If no replacement rule is linked above, that only means none is recorded on our register yet — it does not prove no later applicable rule exists. Confirm on the official RBI source below.
What banks were required to do at the time
Inform your FII clients and constituents about the new facility to open demat accounts abroad for collateral securities.
Ensure compliance with SEBI guidelines when processing requests for opening demat accounts or remitting proceeds.
Advise clearing corporations to submit monthly reports on foreign sovereign security balances to RBI by the 10th of the following month.
Who it affects
AD Category-I banks, SEBI-approved clearing corporations, Clearing members of stock exchanges, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs)
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-19 15:37 IST
Status change: withdrawn05 Aug 2026, 04:00 IST
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
What types of securities can be held in these new demat accounts?
Only foreign sovereign securities with AAA rating that are offered as collateral by FIIs for their derivative transactions.
Do we need separate RBI approval for each demat account opening?
No, the circular permits this under the existing FEMA regulations, subject to SEBI guidelines. However, AD banks must ensure all transactions comply with FEMA and SEBI rules.
What reporting is required for clearing corporations?
Clearing corporations must report the monthly balances of foreign sovereign securities held as non-cash collateral to RBI's Foreign Investment Division by the 10th of the following month.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2007-2008/99
A. P. (Dir Series) Circular No. 02
July 19, 2007
To
All Category - I Authorised Dealer Banks
Madam / Sir,
Maintenance of collateral by FIIs for transactions in derivative segment- Opening of demat
accounts by Clearing Corporations and Clearing Members
Attention of Authorised Dealer Category – I (AD Category - I) banks is invited to Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of any foreign Security) Regulations, 2004 notified vide Notification No. FEMA 120/RB-2004 dated July 7, 2004 , as amended from time to time, and A. P. (Dir Series) Circular No. 4 dated July 28, 2006 permitting Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) to offer foreign sovereign securities with AAA rating as collaterals to recognized Stock Exchanges in India for their transactions in the derivatives segment.
2. With a view to further liberalise the procedure, it has been decided in consultation with the Government of India and SEBI to permit SEBI approved clearing corporations of stock exchanges and their clearing members to undertake the following transactions subject to the guidelines issued from time to time by SEBI in this regard :
i) to open and maintain demat accounts with foreign depositories and to acquire, hold, pledge and transfer the foreign sovereign securities, offered as collateral by FIIs;
ii) to remit the proceeds arising from corporate action, if any, on such foreign sovereign securities; and
iii) to liquidate such foreign sovereign securities if the need arises.
3. Clearing Corporations shall report, on a monthly basis, the balances of foreign sovereign securities, held by them as non-cash collaterals of their clearing members to the Chief General Manager, Reserve Bank of India, Foreign Exchange Department, Foreign Investment Division, Central Office, Mumbai. The report should be submitted by the 10th of the following month to which it relates.
4.Necessary amendments to the Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of Any Foreign Security) Regulations, 2004 notified vide FEMA Notification No.FEMA 120/RB-2004 dated July 7, 2004 will be issued separately.
5. AD Category – I banks may bring the contents of this circular to the notice of their constituents and customers concerned.
6.The directions contained in this circular have been issued under sections 10(4) and 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999) and is without prejudice to permissions/approvals, if any, required under any other law.
Yours faithfully,
(Salim Gangadharan)
Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2007-2008/99 · issued 19 Jul 2007. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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BankPulse Compliance Evidence Pack — generated 05 Aug 2026 · status cross-checked against RBI’s official withdrawal register (refreshed weekly). Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=3726&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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