RBI Tightens ODI Guarantee Rules for Step-Down Subs
No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/241 · issued 10 Sep 2013 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI has amended ODI rules: corporate guarantees for second-generation or lower step-down operating subsidiaries now require the Indian party to indirectly hold 51% or more stake, removing the 'directly' clause from the earlier 'directly or indirectly' condition. This tightens approval route conditions.
What changed
The earlier rule allowed corporate guarantees for step-down operating subsidiaries if the Indian party directly or indirectly held 51% or more stake. The amendment removes 'directly', so only indirect holding of 51% or more qualifies for the approval route.
What it means for you
Indian companies can no longer rely on direct shareholding to issue guarantees for deeper-tier overseas subsidiaries; only indirect ownership counts. Banks must verify the indirect holding structure strictly before processing such guarantees under the approval route.
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 ODI processing checklists to reflect the removal of 'directly' from the 51% holding condition.
Train staff to verify indirect ownership chains for step-down subsidiary guarantees.
Advise corporate clients to restructure holdings if they plan to issue guarantees for second-generation or lower subsidiaries.
Review existing guarantee approvals to ensure compliance with the amended rule.
Who it affects
AD Category-I banks processing ODI guarantees, Indian companies with multi-tier overseas subsidiaries, Compliance teams handling foreign investment approvals
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2013-14/241
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 41
September 10, 2013
To
All Category - I Authorised Dealer Banks
Madam/ Sir,
Overseas Direct Investment – Amendment
Attention of the Authorised Dealer (AD - Category I) banks is invited to para 2(iv)(b) of A. P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 69 dated May 27, 2011 on Overseas Direct Investment – Liberalization / Rationalization, which reads as under:
“(b) Further, it has also been decided that issue of corporate guarantee on behalf of second generation or subsequent level step down operating subsidiaries will be considered under the Approval Route, provided the Indian Party directly or indirectly holds 51 per cent or more stake in the overseas subsidiary for which such guarantee is intended to be issued.”
2. The contents of the paragraph are amended to read as under:
“(b) Further, it has also been decided that issue of corporate guarantee on behalf of second generation or subsequent level step down operating subsidiaries will be considered under the Approval Route, provided the Indian Party indirectly holds 51 per cent or more stake in the overseas subsidiary for which such guarantee is intended to be issued.”
3. All other contents of the A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 69 dated May 27, 2011 shall remain un-changed.
4. AD - Category I banks may bring the contents of this circular to the notice of their constituents and customers concerned.
5. 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,
(C.D.Srinivasan)
Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/241 · issued 10 Sep 2013. 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=8396&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.