FIIs can now use domestic G-Secs as cash segment collateral
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/393 · issued 12 Apr 2010 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI now allows FIIs to pledge domestic government securities (within the USD 5 billion SEBI limit) and AAA-rated foreign sovereign securities as collateral for cash segment trades on Indian stock exchanges, in addition to cash. Cross-margining between cash and derivative segments is prohibited.
The rule, in the simplest words
FIIs (foreign investors) can now use Indian government bonds (G-Secs) as collateral (security for a loan) for buying/selling shares in the cash market (normal stock trading).
They can also use AAA-rated foreign government bonds as collateral for cash market trades, in addition to cash.
The total value of Indian government bonds used as collateral cannot exceed USD 5 billion (set by SEBI, the market regulator).
You cannot use the same government bond as collateral for both cash market and derivatives (futures/options) trades at the same time—this is called cross-margining and is banned.
How it plays out — a real example
Ravi, a forex & trade-finance officer in Indore, updates his bank's system to accept Indian government bonds as collateral from an FII client. He explains to the client that they can now pledge these bonds for cash market trades, but reminds them that the same bonds cannot be used for both cash and derivative trades at once, and the total must stay under the USD 5 billion limit.
What changed
Previously, FIIs could only offer cash and AAA-rated foreign sovereign securities as collateral for derivative segment trades. Now, they can also use domestic government securities (acquired under FEMA 20/2000) and AAA-rated foreign sovereign securities as collateral for cash segment transactions, subject to SEBI's overall limit of USD 5 billion for domestic G-Secs. Cross-margining of these G-Secs between cash and derivative segments is not allowed.
What it means for you
This expands the collateral options for FIIs in the cash market, potentially increasing their participation and liquidity. Banks acting as authorized dealers must update their collateral management processes and ensure clients understand the new eligible instruments and the cross-margining restriction. The move aligns with SEBI norms and aims to deepen the government securities market.
What you must do
Update internal systems to accept domestic government securities and AAA-rated foreign sovereign bonds as collateral for FII cash segment transactions.
Inform FII clients about the new collateral options and the prohibition on cross-margining between cash and derivative segments.
Monitor compliance with the USD 5 billion overall limit set by SEBI for domestic G-Sec collateral.
Coordinate with stock exchanges and SEBI for operational guidelines once issued.
Who it affects
Category-I Authorised Dealer banks, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs), Recognized stock exchanges in India
❓ Common questions
Can FIIs use the same domestic government securities as collateral for both cash and derivative segments?
No, cross-margining of government securities between cash and derivative segments is not allowed. Each segment must have separate collateral arrangements.
What is the limit for domestic government securities that FIIs can pledge as collateral?
The overall limit is USD 5 billion, as specified by SEBI from time to time. FIIs must ensure their collateral stays within this cap.
Are there any changes to collateral rules for the derivative segment?
No, the existing guidelines for FII collateral in the derivative segment remain unchanged. Only cash segment rules are expanded.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2009-10/393
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.47
April 12, 2010
To
All Category – I Authorised Dealer banks
Madam / Sir,
Maintenance of Collateral by Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs)
for transactions in the cash segment
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 and Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of Security by a Person Resident Outside India) Regulations, 2000, notified vide Notification No. FEMA 20/2000-RB dated May 3, 2000, as amended from time to time and A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 4 dated July 28, 2006.
2. Presently, FIIs are permitted to offer cash and foreign sovereign securities with AAA rating as collateral to the recognized Stock Exchanges in India for their transactions in the derivative segment. As per the extant Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) norms, the FIIs are required to post collaterals for their transactions in the cash segment of the market. It has been decided, in consultation with the Government of India and the SEBI, to permit the FIIs to offer domestic Government Securities (acquired by the FIIs in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 5 to Notification No. FEMA 20/2000-RB dated May 3, 2000, as amended from time to time and subject to the overall limits specified by the SEBI from time to time; the current limit being USD 5 billion), and foreign sovereign securities with AAA rating, as collateral to the recognized Stock Exchanges in India, in addition to cash, for their transactions in the cash segment of the market. However, cross-margining of Government Securities (placed as margins by the FIIs for their transactions in the cash segment of the market) shall not be allowed between the cash and the derivative segments of the market. The operational guidelines in this regard will be issued separately by the SEBI.
3. The existing guidelines on collateral for the FIIs transactions in the derivative segment shall remain unchanged.
4. Necessary amendments to the Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of Security by a Person Resident Outside India) Regulations, 2000 notified vide Notification No. FEMA 20/2000-RB dated May 3, 2000 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 are without prejudice to permissions / approvals, if any, required under any other law.
Yours faithfully,
(Salim Gangadharan)
Chief General Manager-in-Charge
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/393 · issued 12 Apr 2010. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Update internal systems to accept domestic government securities and AAA-rated foreign sovereign bonds as collateral for FII cash segment transactions.
Inform FII clients about the new collateral options and the prohibition on cross-margining between cash and derivative segments.
Monitor compliance with the USD 5 billion overall limit set by SEBI for domestic G-Sec collateral.
📜 Compliance
Coordinate with stock exchanges and SEBI for operational guidelines once issued.
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 Credit Manager at a bank this circular applies to (Category-I Authorised Dealer banks, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs), Recognized stock exchanges in India), your first concrete step on “FIIs can now use domestic G-Secs as cash segment collateral” is: “Update internal systems to accept domestic government securities and AAA-rated foreign sovereign bonds as collateral for FII cash segment transactions.” (RBI issued this 12 Apr 2010).
Circular: RBI/2009-10/393 -- FIIs can now use domestic G-Secs as cash segment collateral
Issued: 12 Apr 2010
Action required: Update internal systems to accept domestic government securities and AAA-rated foreign sovereign bonds as collateral for FII cash segment transactions.
Action required: Inform FII clients about the new collateral options and the prohibition on cross-margining between cash and derivative segments.
Action required: Monitor compliance with the USD 5 billion overall limit set by SEBI for domestic G-Sec collateral.
Action required: Coordinate with stock exchanges and SEBI for operational guidelines once issued.
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=5583&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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