HomeCirculars › RBI/2009-10/365

PPF Scheme: Cheque deposit date & minor account rules

No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/365 · issued 29 Mar 2010 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI aligns PPF cheque deposit date with other small savings schemes: date of realisation, not tender. Also reiterates that only one parent (father or mother) can open a PPF account for a minor child.

What changed

Earlier, for PPF, the date of deposit for a local cheque or demand draft was the date of tender. Now, it will be the date of realisation, bringing PPF in line with Post Office Savings Schemes and Senior Citizens Savings Scheme. The change is effective from February 10, 2010, per Government of India letter.

What it means for you

Banks must update their systems to record the date of realisation as the deposit date for PPF cheque payments, not the tender date. This affects interest calculation and deposit deadlines for subscribers. Additionally, banks must ensure only one parent opens a PPF account for a minor, as per existing rules.

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

Who it affects

All agency banks handling PPF accounts, PPF subscribers depositing via cheque or demand draft, Branch staff processing PPF transactions

❓ 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 date of deposit for PPF cheque payments?

From February 10, 2010, the date of deposit for a local cheque or demand draft is the date the amount is realised, not the date of tender. This aligns PPF with other small savings schemes.

Can both parents open a PPF account for the same minor child?

No. As per Ministry of Finance clarification, either father or mother can open a PPF account on behalf of a minor child, but not both.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2009-10/365 DGBA.CDD. H - 7530/15.02.001/2009-10 March 29, 2010 The Chairman and Managing Director / Managing Director Government Accounts Department, Head Office State Bank of India / State Bank of Indore / State Bank of Patiala / State Bank of Bikaner & Jaipur / State Bank of Travancore / State Bank of Hyderabad / State Bank of Mysore / Allahabad Bank / Bank of Baroda / Bank of India / Bank of Maharashtra / Canara Bank / Central Bank of India / Corporation Bank / Dena Bank / Indian Bank / Indian Overseas Bank / Punjab National Bank / Syndicate Bank / UCO Bank / Union Bank of India / United Bank of India / Vijaya Bank / IDBI Bank / ICICI Bank Dear Sir/Madam, Public Provident Fund Scheme, 1968: 1) Clarification regarding reckoning of the date of deposit 2) Reiteration of instructions on opening of an account for a minor 1. Reckoning the date of deposit in case of cheque payment: (a) As you are aware, in terms of Ministry of Finance letter No. F. 3(9)-PD/72 dated September 4, 1972, in the case of Public Provident Fund Scheme, 1968 (PPF) "when a subscriber makes a deposit by local cheque or demand draft , the date of tender of cheque or draft at the Accounting Office is treated as date of deposit , provided the related cheque is honoured on presentation for encashment." However, in case of all other Small Savings Schemes of the Government of India (GoI), such as, Post Office Savings Schemes (POSS), as also Senior Citizens Savings Scheme, 2004 (SCSS), if the money is deposited in the account by means of a cheque (local or outstation), the date of encashment of the cheque is treated as the date of deposit. (b) In order to bring uniformity in the reckoning of the date of deposit in the PPF vis-à-vis POSS and SCSS, the GoI, vide their letter F. No.7/7/2008/NS-II dated February 10, 2010, have decided that hereafter in modification of Ministry of Finance letter No.F.3(9)-PD/72 dated September 4, 1972 "when a deposit is made in the PPF account by means of a local cheque or demand draft by the subscriber, the date of realization of the amount will be the date of deposit."    (c) You may bring this to the notice of your branches undertaking PPF business and ensure that the same is also incorporated in the computerized system. The information should also be duly displayed at the branches for awareness of the customers. 2. Opening of an account for a minor: (a) In view of complaints being received about non-opening of accounts for minor by some Agency banks, it is reiterated that as per Rule 3 (1) of PPF Scheme, 1968, an individual may, on his own behalf or on behalf of a minor, of whom he is the guardian, subscribe to the Public Provident Fund. Further it is reiterated that as clarified, vide Ministry of Finance letter F.7/34/88/-NS II dated November 17, 1989, either father or mother can open a PPF account on behalf of his/her minor child but not both. (b) You are advised to reiterate these instructions to your branches operating the PPF Scheme. Yours faithfully, (Sangeeta Lalwani) Deputy General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/365 · issued 29 Mar 2010. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=5551&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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