Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/142 · issued 24 Jul 2012 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notifies AD Category-I banks about Exim Bank's USD 250 million Line of Credit to Nepal for infrastructure projects. At least 75% of contract value must be sourced from India. Banks must guide exporters on GR/SDF forms and commission rules.
The rule, in the simplest words
AD Category-I banks must inform exporters about Exim Bank's USD 250 million LOC to Nepal.
At least 75% of contract value must be sourced from India for infrastructure projects.
No agency commission is payable under the LOC, but exporters can use their own EEFC funds for commission after full payment realization.
How it plays out — a real example
A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore advises an Indian exporter to source at least 75% of the contract value from India for a highway project in Nepal, as per the RBI's guidelines for Exim Bank's USD 250 million LOC. The officer also reminds the exporter that no agency commission is payable under the LOC, but they can use their own EEFC funds for commission after full payment realization.
What changed
Exim Bank signed a Line of Credit agreement with Nepal on October 21, 2011, effective June 29, 2012, for USD 250 million. The credit finances Indian exports for infrastructure projects like highways, airports, and hydropower. Last date for LC opening and disbursement is 48 months from project completion for project exports, or 72 months (October 20, 2017) from agreement date for supply contracts.
What it means for you
Indian exporters can now tap this LOC to supply machinery, equipment, and services to Nepal's infrastructure sector. Banks must ensure at least 75% Indian content in contracts, though the government may relax this. No agency commission is payable under the LOC, but exporters can use their own EEFC funds for commission after full payment realization.
What you must do
Inform exporter customers about Exim Bank's USD 250 million LOC to Nepal and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
Ensure shipments under this LOC are declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions.
Allow remittance of agency commission only after full contract value realization and compliance with existing commission rules.
Advise exporters that no agency commission is payable under the LOC; if needed, they must use own resources or EEFC balances.
Who it affects
AD Category-I banks, Indian exporters to Nepal, Exim Bank
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Stated effective dateeffective June 29, 2012
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-18 18:35 IST
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
What is the minimum Indian content required under this LOC?
At least 75% of the contract price must be supplied from India. The remaining 25% can be procured from outside India, but the government may reduce the Indian content upon request.
Can exporters pay agency commission under this LOC?
No agency commission is payable under the LOC. However, exporters may use their own resources or EEFC balances to pay commission in free foreign exchange after full contract value realization.
What is the last date for opening LCs under this LOC?
For project exports, LCs must be opened within 48 months from the scheduled completion date of the contract. For supply contracts, the deadline is 72 months from the agreement execution date, i.e., October 20, 2017.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2012-13/142
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.9
July 24, 2012
To
All Category - I Authorised Dealer Banks
Madam / Sir,
Exim Bank's Line of Credit of USD 250 million
to the Government of Nepal
Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has concluded an Agreement dated October 21, 2011 with the Government of Nepal , making available to the latter, a Line of Credit (LOC) of USD 250 million (USD two hundred fifty million) for financing eligible machinery, equipments, goods and services including consultancy services for the purpose of infrastructure projects such as highways, airports, bridges, irrigation, roads, railways and hydropower projects in Nepal. The machinery, equipment, goods and services including consultancy services from India for exports under this Agreement are those which are eligible for export under the Foreign Trade Policy of the Government of India and whose purchase may be agreed to be financed by the Exim Bank under this Agreement. Out of the total credit by Exim Bank under this Agreement, the goods and services including consultancy services of the value of at least 75 per cent of the contract price shall be supplied by the seller from India and the remaining 25 percent goods and services (other than consultancy services) may be procured by the seller for the purpose of Eligible Contract from outside India; provided however that, at the request of borrower and with the approval of Government of India, Exim Bank may consider reduction in the Indian content.
2. The Credit Agreement under the LOC is effective from June 29, 2012 and the date of execution of Agreement is October 21, 2011. Under the LOC, the last date for opening of Letters of Credit and Disbursement will be 48 months from the scheduled completion date(s) of contract(s) in the case of project exports and 72 months (October 20, 2017) from the execution date of the Credit Agreement in the case of supply contracts.
3. Shipments under the LOC will have to be declared on GR / SDF Forms as per instructions issued by the Reserve Bank from time to time.
4. No agency commission is payable under the above LOC. However, if required, the exporter may use his own resources or utilize balances in his Exchange Earners’ Foreign Currency Account for payment of commission in free foreign exchange. Authorised Dealer Category- l (AD Category-l) banks may allow such remittance after realization of full payment of contract value subject to compliance with the prevailing instructions for payment of agency commission.
5. AD Category-I banks may bring the contents of this circular to the notice of their exporter constituents and advise them to obtain full details of the Line of Credit from the Exim Bank’s office at Centre One, Floor 21, World Trade Centre Complex, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai 400 005 or log on to www.eximbankindia.in .
6. The Directions contained in this circular have been issued under sections 10(4) and 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999 (42 of 1999) and are without prejudice to permissions / approvals, if any, required under any other law.
Yours faithfully,
(Rashmi Fauzdar)
Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/142 · issued 24 Jul 2012. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (AD Category-I banks, Indian exporters to Nepal, Exim Bank), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's USD 250 mn Line of Credit to Nepal” is: “Inform exporter customers about Exim Bank's USD 250 million LOC to Nepal and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.” (RBI issued this 24 Jul 2012).
Circular: RBI/2012-13/142 -- Exim Bank's USD 250 mn Line of Credit to Nepal
Issued: 24 Jul 2012
Action required: Inform exporter customers about Exim Bank's USD 250 million LOC to Nepal and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
Action required: Ensure shipments under this LOC are declared on GR/SDF forms as per RBI instructions.
Action required: Allow remittance of agency commission only after full contract value realization and compliance with existing commission rules.
Action required: Advise exporters that no agency commission is payable under the LOC; if needed, they must use own resources or EEFC balances.
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
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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=7469&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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