RBI's own words: “Please refer to our Master Circular No. RBI/2011-12/96 dated July 1, 2011” — RBI/2012-13/82
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/96 · issued 01 Jul 2011 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI consolidated all instructions on nomination for Relief/Savings Bonds into a single master circular, effective July 1, 2011. Agency banks must follow updated rules for nomination, variation, cancellation, and acknowledgment, including NRI nominations for 8% Savings (Taxable) Bonds, 2003.
The rule, in the simplest words
A person who owns a Relief/Savings Bond (a special government savings certificate) can name one or more people (nominees) who will get the bond money if the owner dies.
The nomination must be made before the bond matures (before the bond's time is up and it pays out).
If you name more than one nominee and one dies, the surviving nominees still get the bond money.
You can change or cancel a nomination by making a new one and telling your bank in writing.
If the nominee is a child (minor), you can name an adult to receive the money for the child until the child grows up.
How it plays out — a real example
An agency-banking (government business) officer in Indore is helping a customer fill out a nomination form for a Relief Bond. The customer wants to name her two children as nominees, but one is a minor. The officer explains she can appoint her brother as the adult receiver for the minor child, and reminds her to submit the form before the bond matures. The officer then issues an 'Acknowledgement of Nomination' as required by the new master circular.
What changed
RBI issued a revised Master Circular (DGBA.CDD No. H 9022 / 13.01.299 / 2011-12) consolidating all prior instructions on nomination facility for Relief/Savings Bonds, updated up to June 30, 2011. The circular replaces earlier individual circulars and provides a single reference for agency banks.
What it means for you
Agency banks now have a unified document to handle nominations for Relief/Savings Bonds, reducing confusion from multiple circulars. Banks must ensure compliance with nomination rules, including the ability for NRIs to be nominees for 8% Savings (Taxable) Bonds, 2003, and proper acknowledgment issuance.
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
Update internal procedures to align with the consolidated master circular for nomination facility.
Train staff on nomination rules, including NRI nominations for 8% Savings (Taxable) Bonds, 2003.
Issue 'Acknowledgement of Nomination' to investors as required.
Ensure cancellation of nomination is processed when holders substitute, cancel, or transfer bonds.
Who it affects
State Bank of India and associate banks, 17 nationalized banks, Axis Bank Ltd, ICICI Bank Ltd, IDBI Bank, HDFC Bank Ltd, Stock Holding Corporation of India Ltd, All agency banks handling Relief/Savings Bonds
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
Can an NRI be nominated for Relief/Savings Bonds?
Yes, for 8% Savings (Taxable) Bonds, 2003, the sole or joint holders can nominate an NRI. Remittance of interest or maturity value will follow NRI regulations.
What happens if a nominee is a minor?
The bond holder(s) can appoint a person (not a minor) to receive the bond proceeds on behalf of the minor nominee in case of the holder's death during the nominee's minority.
When does a nomination automatically cancel?
A nomination cancels automatically if the holder applies for substitution or cancellation and it is registered, or if the holder transfers the certificate to another party.
📜 This document’s life story (1 recorded event, each backed by RBI’s own words)
RBI’s words: “Please refer to our Master Circular No. RBI/2011-12/96 dated July 1, 2011”
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2011-12/96
DGBA.CDD No. H 9022 / 13.01.299 / 2011-12
July 1, 2011
Ashadha 10, 1933 (S)
The Chairman / Managing Director
State Bank of India and Associate banks
17 Nationalized banks
Axis Bank Ltd / ICICI Bank Ltd / IDBI Bank / HDFC Bank Ltd /
Stock Holding Corporation of India Ltd
Dear Sir/Madam
Master Circular on Nomination facility in Relief / Savings Bonds
The Department of Government and Bank Accounts, Central Office, RBI has been issuing instructions relating to nomination facility for Relief/Savings bond holders from time to time. In order to enable Agency Banks to have all the current operative instructions on the above subject at one place, a revised Master Circular on ‘Nomination facility in Relief/Savings Bonds’ has been prepared which is updated up to 30th June every year. Accordingly, the amended circular giving the updated position up to 30.06.2011 is enclosed . You may also access the circular on our website www.rbi.org.in
Please acknowledge receipt.
Yours faithfully,
(S.K. Bal)
General Manager
Master Circular
Relief Bond / Savings Bond Schemes
Nomination facility
A sole holder or all the joint holders (investors) of a Relief/Savings Bond other than in the form of promissory note or bearer bond may nominate one or more persons who in the event of death of the sole holder/all the joint holders, as the case may be, would be entitled to the Relief/Savings Bond and to the payment thereon, provided that the person or each of the persons nominated is himself / herself competent to hold a similar bond.
The nomination should be made before maturity of the bond.
When nomination has been made in favour of two or more nominees, in the event of the death of either or any of them, the surviving nominee or nominees, as the case may be, shall be entitled to the Relief/Savings Bond and payment thereon.
A nomination made by the holder(s) of a Relief/Savings Bond may be varied or cancelled by making a fresh nomination in the prescribed manner and intimated the same in writing to the designated branch of the authorised public/private sector bank.
If the nominee is a minor, the holder(s) of the Relief/Savings Bond may appoint any person, not being a minor, to receive the proceeds of a Relief/Savings Bond on behalf of the nominee in the event of his/her/their death during the minority of the nominee.
The investor(s) may make separate nomination for each investment in a BLA (subject to (ii) above).
Agency Banks to issue ‘Acknowledgement of Nomination’.
In case of 8 % Savings (Taxable) Bonds, 2003 (currently the only bond in respect of which subscription is open), the sole holder or all the joint holders can also nominate a Non-resident Indian (NRI) as his/her/their nominee(s) and remittance of interest payment and/or maturity value, as the case may be, will be governed by the regulations as applicable to NRIs.
Exceptions – No nomination is permissible in the following cases:-
When the BLA is held by an adult on behalf of a minor;
When the holder has no beneficial interest in the BLA but holds it in an official or fiduciary capacity.
Cancellation of Nomination : A nomination previously made will stand automatically cancelled -
if the holder(s) applies to the Agency banks for substitution or cancellation of the nomination and the substitution and cancellation is duly registered by the office;
if the holder(s) transfers the Certificate to another party.
The various circulars issued by this Department based on which the above Master Circular is prepared are listed below:
Ref. Memorandum of Procedure Page 3
Ref.CO.DT.13.01.201/4087/2000-01 dt.16-2-2001
Ref.CO.DT.13.01.201/4854/2000-01 dt.19-3-2001
Ref.CO.DT.13.01.298/H-3410/2003-04 dt.20-12-2003
Ref.CO.DT.13.01.299/H-3426/2003-04 dt.20-12-2003
Ref. DGBA.CDD. No.H-2173/13.01.299/2008-09 dated 2-09-2008
(In case detailed clarifications are required on specific issues, the circulars indicated above may please be referred to.)
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/96 · issued 01 Jul 2011. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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=6555&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.
Help us keep this accurate
Found an inaccuracy or have an improvement? Tell us. Every report is reviewed by our team before any change is made — nothing goes live unverified.
Public beta — plain-English informational summaries. Always verify against the official RBI source (circular number cited on every page) before making compliance, credit, treasury, audit, or operational decisions. · Join our WhatsApp channel ↗
BANKPULSE · FREE DAILY BRIEF
Get RBI updates for your role
Every important RBI update, decoded in plain English — for your career, exams & financial awareness.
We collect only your email, name and role, used solely to send your brief — never sold or shared. Withdraw anytime via the unsubscribe link in any email. Independent platform, not affiliated with the RBI. Information, not legal advice.
REPORT AN ERROR · BETA
Spotted an error? Earn 500 BankPulse Credits
Help us stay accurate. If your correction is verified true and approved by our founder, you earn 500 BankPulse Credits — redeemable when the platform monetises.
Reviewed by a human before any credit is awarded. We never change the site from crowd input without verification.
WANT A NEW FEATURE · BETA
What would make BankPulse more useful for you?
Tell us what to build next — a tool, a data view, a role page, anything. We read every suggestion.
Thank you — your ideas directly shape what we build.