PDs Allowed to Continue HTM Classification for G-Secs
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/343 · issued 09 Mar 2010 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI has extended the permission for standalone Primary Dealers to hold government securities under HTM classification until further notice, removing the earlier March 31, 2010 deadline. All existing conditions from the August 2009 circular remain unchanged.
The rule, in the simplest words
Standalone Primary Dealers (special money-trading companies) can keep government bonds (loans to the government) in the 'Hold to Maturity' (keep until they are paid back) group forever now, no end date.
The old rule said this was only allowed until March 31, 2010, but now it's allowed until the RBI says stop.
All other rules from the August 2009 circular still apply, like how much can be in this group.
Banks that do Primary Dealer work inside their bank must follow normal bank rules, not this special rule.
How it plays out — a real example
A treasury officer in Indore, Priya, works at a bank that also has a Primary Dealer desk. She checks the new rule and tells the desk manager: 'You can keep holding those government bonds in the 'Hold to Maturity' pile forever now, no more March 31 deadline. But remember, our bank's own investment rules still apply to us, not this special PD rule.'
What changed
The earlier circular allowed PDs to classify a portion of their government securities as HTM only until March 31, 2010. This new circular removes that sunset date, permitting continued HTM classification until further advice. No other conditions from the August 2009 circular have been altered.
What it means for you
Standalone PDs get ongoing flexibility to manage their investment portfolio without the pressure of a fixed HTM deadline, reducing mark-to-market volatility on those securities. Banks that conduct PD activities departmentally must still follow standard bank investment classification rules, not this PD-specific relaxation.
What you must do
Update internal investment classification policies for standalone PDs to reflect indefinite HTM eligibility for government securities.
Ensure all other conditions from the August 31, 2009 circular (RBI/2009-10/136) remain in force and are complied with.
For banks with departmental PD operations, continue applying the existing bank-level guidelines for investment portfolio classification and valuation.
Does this circular change any conditions from the August 2009 circular?
No. Only the expiry date (March 31, 2010) has been removed. All other conditions from the earlier circular continue to apply unchanged.
Are banks that do PD work departmentally covered by this relaxation?
No. Banks undertaking PD activities departmentally must continue to follow the standard investment classification and valuation guidelines issued by RBI's Department of Banking Operations and Development.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2009-10/343
IDMD.PDRD.No.3843/03.64.00/2009-10
March 9, 2010
All Standalone Primary Dealers
Dear Sir
Investment Portfolio of Primary Dealers – Extension of HTM Category for PDs
Please refer to the circular RBI/2009-10/136- IDMD.PDRD.No.1050/03.64.00/2009-10 dated August 31, 2009 allowing the standalone Primary Dealers (PDs) to categorize a portion of their Government securities portfolio in the Held to Maturity (HTM) category, subject to certain conditions, till March 31, 2010. 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. All other conditions specified in the circular referred to above will continue to apply.
2. Banks undertaking PD activities departmentally may continue to follow the extant guidelines applicable to banks in regard to the classification and valuation of the investment portfolio issued by our Department of Banking Operations and Development.
Yours faithfully
(K.V.Rajan)
Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/343 · issued 09 Mar 2010. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
For banks with departmental PD operations, continue applying the existing bank-level guidelines for investment portfolio classification and valuation.
📜 Compliance
Update internal investment classification policies for standalone PDs to reflect indefinite HTM eligibility for government securities.
Ensure all other conditions from the August 31, 2009 circular (RBI/2009-10/136) remain in force and are complied with.
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), your first concrete step on “PDs Allowed to Continue HTM Classification for G-Secs” is: “Update internal investment classification policies for standalone PDs to reflect indefinite HTM eligibility for government securities.” (RBI issued this 09 Mar 2010).
Circular: RBI/2009-10/343 -- PDs Allowed to Continue HTM Classification for G-Secs
Issued: 09 Mar 2010
Action required: Update internal investment classification policies for standalone PDs to reflect indefinite HTM eligibility for government securities.
Action required: Ensure all other conditions from the August 31, 2009 circular (RBI/2009-10/136) remain in force and are complied with.
Action required: For banks with departmental PD operations, continue applying the existing bank-level guidelines for investment portfolio classification and valuation.
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=5529&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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