RBI's own words: “Attention of Authorised Dealers Category – I (AD Category – I) banks is invited to the Foreign Exchange Management (Foreign Exchange Derivative Contracts) Regulations, 2000 dated May 3, 2000 [ Notification No. FEMA 25/RB” — RBI/2011-12/353
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/338 · issued 28 Dec 2010 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI revised comprehensive guidelines for OTC foreign exchange derivatives and overseas hedging of commodity price and freight risks, effective February 1, 2011. Banks must ensure compliance with updated rules on product suitability, risk management, and user appropriateness.
The rule, in the simplest words
Banks must follow new rules for OTC forex derivatives and commodity hedging by February 1, 2011.
Banks must ensure product suitability, user appropriateness, and risk management for all derivative transactions.
Banks must update internal policies and training to comply with the new guidelines.
How it plays out — a real example
A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore must ensure that the gold-loan product is suitable for the customer's needs and that the customer understands the risks involved. The officer must also follow the bank's risk management framework to ensure that the loan is properly secured and that the customer's interests are protected.
What changed
RBI issued revised comprehensive guidelines for OTC foreign exchange derivatives and overseas hedging of commodity price and freight risks, replacing earlier norms. The updated framework, effective February 1, 2011, was developed after consulting banks, corporates, and other stakeholders. Existing derivative guidelines from DBOD circular of April 2007 will also apply to these foreign exchange derivatives.
What it means for you
Banks must align their OTC forex derivative and commodity hedging operations with the new comprehensive guidelines by the effective date. The revised rules aim to strengthen risk management practices and ensure product suitability for users. Non-compliance could lead to regulatory scrutiny, so banks should update internal policies and training accordingly.
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
Review the annexed comprehensive guidelines and update internal policies for OTC forex derivatives and commodity hedging by February 1, 2011.
Ensure all derivative transactions comply with the revised rules on user appropriateness, product suitability, and risk management.
Communicate the new guidelines to all relevant constituents and customers.
Align existing risk management frameworks with the updated requirements from the DBOD circular of April 2007.
Who it affects
Authorised Dealer Category I banks, Corporate clients using forex derivatives and commodity hedging, Risk management teams at banks
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
When do the revised guidelines take effect?
The comprehensive guidelines are effective from February 1, 2011.
Do the existing DBOD derivative guidelines still apply?
Yes, the guidelines from DBOD circular DBOD.No.BP.BC. 86/21.04.157/2006-07 dated April 20, 2007, and its amendments, apply mutatis mutandis to foreign exchange derivatives.
What is the legal basis for this circular?
The circular is issued under Sections 10(4) and 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999.
📜 This document’s life story (5 recorded events, each backed by RBI’s own words)
RBI’s words: “it has been decided to amend the eligibility criteria for the users of cost reduction structures as contained under para B I (1)(v) of A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 32 dated December 28, 2010”
RBI’s words: “Attention of Authorised Dealers Category – I (AD Category – I) banks is invited to the Foreign Exchange Management (Foreign Exchange Derivative Contracts) Regulations, 2000 dated May 3, 2000 [ Notific”
RBI’s words: “A.P. (DIR Series) circular no. 32 dated December 28, 2010, as amended from time to time”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2010-11/338
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 32
December 28, 2010
To
All Authorised Dealer - Category I banks
Madam / Sir
Comprehensive Guidelines on Over the Counter (OTC)
Foreign Exchange Derivatives and Overseas Hedging
of Commodity Price and Freight Risks
Attention of the Authorised Dealer Category - I (AD Category - I) banks is invited to Notification No. FEMA 25/2000-RB dated May 3, 2000 , as amended from time to time, which delineates the rules governing foreign exchange derivative contracts. Further, attention is also invited to the Comprehensive Guidelines on Derivatives issued by the Department of Banking Operations and Development (DBOD), Reserve Bank of India, vide their circular DBOD.No.BP.BC. 86/21.04.157/2006-07 dated April 20, 2007 which, among others, covers the broad principles to be followed for undertaking derivative transactions, appropriateness of the user, suitability of the product and risk management practices to be followed.
2. In the light of developments in the domestic and international financial markets, the extant guidelines on OTC foreign exchange derivatives, commodity price and freight risks have been revised in consultation with the banks, corporates and other stake holders. The Comprehensive Guidelines on Foreign Exchange Derivatives and Overseas Hedging of Commodity Price and Freight Risks are furnished in the Annex . The revised guidelines would be effective from February 01, 2011.
3. All the guidelines given in the Comprehensive Guidelines on Derivatives issued vide Circular DBOD.No.BP.BC. 86/21.04.157/2006-07 dated April 20, 2007 and subsequent amendments thereto would also apply, mutatis mutandis, to the foreign exchange derivatives.
4. The necessary amendments to Notification No. FEMA.25/RB-2000 dated May 3, 2000 [Foreign Exchange Management (Foreign Exchange Derivatives Contracts) Regulations, 2000] are being notified 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/2010-11/338 · issued 28 Dec 2010. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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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=6175&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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