Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/136 · issued 31 Aug 2009 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI now allows standalone Primary Dealers to classify up to 100% of paid-up capital as at end-March of the preceding financial year in government securities as Held to Maturity, easing mark-to-market volatility. Only securities bought in primary auctions qualify. This relaxation is available until March 2010.
The rule, in the simplest words
Standalone Primary Dealers can classify up to 100% of paid-up capital as Held to Maturity (HTM) for government securities.
Only securities bought in primary auctions qualify for HTM classification.
Transfers to/from HTM require board approval and must be at the least of cost, book value, or market value, with any depreciation fully provided for.
How it plays out — a real example
A treasury officer in Indore, Mr. Kumar, is responsible for managing the investment portfolio of a standalone Primary Dealer. He decides to classify 80% of their paid-up capital as HTM for government securities, as per the RBI's new guidelines. He ensures that only securities acquired in primary auctions are eligible for HTM classification and that transfers to/from HTM are done with board approval and at the least of cost, book value, or market value, with any depreciation fully provided for.
What changed
Previously, PDs had to keep all government securities in the trading book and mark them to market, with only net depreciation provided for. Now, standalone PDs can classify a portion of their G-sec portfolio as HTM, subject to board-approved policies and quarterly transfer limits. Only securities acquired in primary auctions are eligible, and the HTM amount is capped at 100% of the preceding year's paid-up capital.
What it means for you
This move reduces the P&L impact of market volatility for standalone PDs by allowing them to hold a portion of G-secs at cost. It provides balance sheet relief and encourages participation in primary auctions. However, transfers to/from HTM require board approval and must be at the least of cost, book value, or market value, with any depreciation fully provided for. Banks doing PD activities departmentally must continue following existing bank investment norms.
What you must do
Formulate a board-approved policy for HTM classification and transfer of government securities.
Ensure only securities acquired in primary auctions are classified as HTM, capped at 100% of paid-up capital as of end-March of the previous year.
Limit transfers to/from HTM to once per quarter and record at the least of acquisition cost, book value, or market value, providing for any depreciation.
Direct concurrent auditors to verify compliance with these instructions.
Note that this facility is available only until end-March 2010; plan accordingly.
RBI’s words: “The above guidelines have been reviewed and it has been decided to permit the PDs to continue holding of Government securities in HTM category until further advice.”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2009-10/136
IDMD.PDRD.No. 1050/ 03.64.00/2009-10
August 31, 2009
All Standalone Primary Dealers
Dear Sir,
Investment Portfolio of Primary Dealers-Relaxation in the existing norms
Please refer to our Master Circular RBI/2009-2010/56 IDMD.PDRS. 01 / 03.64.00 / 2009-10 dated July 1, 2009 on Operational Guidelines to Primary Dealers containing, inter alia , guidelines on investments in Government securities.
2. The existing guidelines do not allow Primary Dealers (PDs) to classify their investment portfolio as Held to Maturity (HTM) and their entire holdings are kept in trading book only. The securities held by the PDs are required to be marked-to-market periodically. While net depreciation, if any, is to be provided for, net appreciation, if any, is ignored.
3. The extant guidelines have been reviewed and it has been decided that stand-alone Primary Dealers would be allowed to categorize a portion of their Government Security portfolio in the HTM category subject to the following conditions:
The Transfer of securities to/from HTM shall be done as per the policy formulated by the Board.
Such transfers should be done with the approval of the Board, at the acquisition cost/ book value/ market value on the date of transfer, whichever is the least, and the depreciation, if any, on such transfer shall be fully provided for.
Only securities acquired by the PD under primary auction will be eligible for classification under HTM.
The quantum of securities that can be classified as HTM shall be restricted up to 100% of the paid up capital of the PD as at the end March of the preceding financial year.
Transfers to/from HTM shall be permitted only once in a quarter.
The profit on sale of securities, if any, from the HTM category shall first be taken to the P & L Account and thereafter be appropriated to the “Reserve Account”; loss on sale shall be recognized in the P & L Account.
The concurrent auditors should specifically verify compliance with these instructions.
The facility shall be available till the end of March 2010.
4. Banks undertaking PD activities departmentally may continue to follow the extant guidelines applicable to the banks in regard to the classification and valuation of the investment portfolio issued by our Department of Banking Operations and Development.
5. The above guidelines are effective from the date of this circular.
Yours faithfully
(K.V.Rajan)
Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/136 · issued 31 Aug 2009. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Ensure only securities acquired in primary auctions are classified as HTM, capped at 100% of paid-up capital as of end-March of the previous year.
📜 Compliance
Formulate a board-approved policy for HTM classification and transfer of government securities.
Limit transfers to/from HTM to once per quarter and record at the least of acquisition cost, book value, or market value, providing for any depreciation.
Direct concurrent auditors to verify compliance with these instructions.
Note that this facility is available only until end-March 2010; plan accordingly.
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 Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (Standalone Primary Dealers, Banks undertaking PD activities departmentally (must follow existing bank norms)), your first concrete step on “PDs Get HTM Option for G-Sec Portfolio” is: “Formulate a board-approved policy for HTM classification and transfer of government securities.” (RBI issued this 31 Aug 2009).
Circular: RBI/2009-10/136 -- PDs Get HTM Option for G-Sec Portfolio
Issued: 31 Aug 2009
Action required: Formulate a board-approved policy for HTM classification and transfer of government securities.
Action required: Ensure only securities acquired in primary auctions are classified as HTM, capped at 100% of paid-up capital as of end-March of the previous year.
Action required: Limit transfers to/from HTM to once per quarter and record at the least of acquisition cost, book value, or market value, providing for any depreciation.
Action required: Direct concurrent auditors to verify compliance with these instructions.
Action required: Note that this facility is available only until end-March 2010; plan accordingly.
Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
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.
💬 Banker Discussion
Discuss this circular with fellow bankers — reply, upvote what helps, report what doesn’t belong. Be professional; no client data. Views are the commenter’s own, not BankPulse’s.
BankPulse Compliance Evidence Pack — generated 03 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=5242&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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