March 2022 Central Govt Transactions: Closure & Reporting
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2021-22/176 · issued 24 Feb 2022 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI sets April 11, 2022 as the closure date for residual March 2022 central government transactions. Agency banks must segregate March and April scrolls, use special courier for late challans, and report March residual transactions separately to Link Cell until April 11.
The rule, in the simplest words
The government says all March 2022 money (like taxes or payments) must be counted in the old financial year (2021-22), even if the bank gets it in early April.
Banks must make two separate piles of papers: one for March leftover work (called 'March Residual') and one for new April work, from April 1 to April 11.
Branches that collect money must send March papers to the main branch by special courier or messenger before March 31, so they don't get lost.
The main branch must number the March leftover papers as 'March Residual-1', 'March Residual-2', and so on, and send them to the RBI's special team (Link Cell) every day until April 11.
How it plays out — a real example
An agency-banking (government business) officer in Indore receives a big tax payment on March 31, but the paper arrives at the main branch on April 2. The officer tells the main branch to put that paper in the 'March Residual' pile, not with April's work, and send it to the RBI's Link Cell with the label 'March Residual-1' so the government knows it belongs to the old year.
What changed
The Government of India fixed April 11, 2022 as the closure date for residual March 2022 transactions, replacing earlier procedures for FY 2020-21. Nodal/Focal Point branches must now prepare separate main scrolls for March residual and April transactions from April 1 to April 11, 2022, with sequential numbering for March residual scrolls.
What it means for you
Banks must ensure all March 2022 government collections and payments are accounted in FY 2021-22, even if processed in early April. This requires strict segregation of scrolls and daily reporting to Link Cell for CAS settlement, preventing mixing of fiscal years. Non-compliance could lead to reconciliation issues with government accounts.
What you must do
Instruct all receiving branches to use courier or special messenger for March 2022 challans/scrolls to Nodal/Focal Point branches by March 31.
Direct Nodal/Focal Point branches to prepare separate main scrolls for March residual (numbered March Residual-1, etc.) and April transactions from April 1 to April 11.
Ensure Link Cell segregates March residual advices and forwards them separately to RBI CAS Nagpur daily until April 11.
Communicate these instructions immediately to all concerned branches and ensure compliance with segregation and reporting timelines.
Who it affects
All agency banks handling central government transactions, Receiving branches (including non-local) of agency banks, Nodal/Focal Point branches, Link Cells at Nagpur
❓ Common questions
What is the deadline for reporting March 2022 residual transactions?
The closure date is April 11, 2022. All March residual transactions must be reported to RBI CAS Nagpur via Link Cell by this date, with separate scrolls and daily memos.
How should branches handle challans received after March 31 but dated March 2022?
Receiving branches must pass these to Nodal/Focal Point branches using special courier. Nodal branches then prepare separate March residual scrolls (numbered sequentially) and report them via separate Daily Memos to Link Cell until April 11.
What happens if April transactions are mixed with March residual scrolls?
RBI explicitly prohibits mixing. Nodal branches must maintain strict segregation: one set of scrolls for March residual and another for April transactions. Mixing could cause accounting errors and delay government account closure.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2021-22/176
CO.DGBA.GBD.No.S1422/42-01-029/2021-2022
February 24, 2022
All Agency Banks
Madam/Dear Sir,
Reporting and Accounting of Central Government transactions of March 2022
Please refer to Circulars DGBA.GBD.No.S140/42.01.029/2020-21 dated March 18, 2021 and DGBA.GBD.No.S26/42.01.029/2021-22 dated April 7, 2021 advising the procedure to be followed for reporting and accounting of Central Government transactions (including CBDT, CBIC, Departmentalized Ministries and Non-Civil Ministries) at the Receiving/Nodal/Focal Point branches of your bank for the Financial Year 2020-21.
2. The Government of India has decided that the date of closure of residual transactions for the month of March 2022 be fixed as April 11, 2022. In view of the ensuing closing of government accounts for the financial year 2021-22, receiving branches including those not situated locally, should adopt special arrangements such as courier service etc., for passing on challans/scrolls etc., to the Nodal/Focal Point branches so that all payments and collections made on behalf of government towards the end of March are accounted for in the same financial year. These instructions regarding special messenger arrangements may please be informed to all branches concerned.
3. As regards reporting of March 2022 transactions by Nodal/Focal Point branches in April 2022, the branches may be advised to follow the procedure as outlined in the Annex . To sum up, the nodal/Focal Point branches will be required to prepare separate set of scrolls, one pertaining to March 2022 residual transactions and another for April transactions during the first 11 days of April 2022. The Nodal/Focal Point branches should also ensure that the accounts for all transactions (revenues/tax collections/payments) are effected at the receiving branches up to March 31, 2022 in the accounts for the current financial year itself and are not mixed up with the transactions of April 2022. Also, while reporting transactions pertaining to March 2022 up to April 11, 2022, the transactions of April 2022 should not be mixed up with the residual transactions relating to March 2022.
4. Kindly issue necessary instructions in the matter to your branches concerned immediately.
Yours faithfully
(R. Kamalakannan)
Chief General Manager
Encl: As above
ANNEX
Reporting of March 2022 transactions
Beginning from April 1, 2022, the Nodal/Focal Point branches will segregate on a daily basis all scrolls/challans pertaining to March 2022 received from the receiving branches concerned and prepare separate main scrolls for:
(a) scrolls for transactions of March 2022 or earlier period (i.e. effected during the previous financial year 2021-22) and
(b) scrolls pertaining to current transactions (i.e. those effected from April 1, 2022 onwards).
2. The main scrolls for March 2022 transactions prepared from April 1 to April 11, 2022 are to be distinctly marked as March Residual – 1, March Residual – 2 and so on upto April 11, 2022. In other words, serial number should be allotted in consecutive order for each main scroll of March 2022 transactions sent from April 1 to April 11, 2022. These scrolls along with the copies of daily summary of Receipts and Payments prepared separately for March 2022 transactions will be forwarded to the Departmental Officials concerned (i.e. Zonal Accounts Officers/Pay and Accounts Officers and Designated Officers) in the usual way. The Nodal/Focal Point branches will also be required to report the above transactions to the Link Cell through separate Daily Memos. These advices must be sent to enable the Link Cell of each bank at Nagpur, to make daily settlement with Reserve Bank of India, Central Accounts Section (CAS) Nagpur. On receipt of advices from the Nodal/Focal Point branches, the Link Cell should segregate the advices for the March Residual transactions and forward them separately to Reserve Bank of India, CAS, Nagpur. This procedure should continue upto and inclusive of April 11, 2022 only. All transactions reported thereafter by the receiving branches will be reported and accounted for in the usual manner in the accounts of the month of report irrespective of the date of transaction. Following the special arrangements for March 2022 transactions, it is necessary for the Nodal/Focal Point branches to prepare two sets of DMS to be submitted to Zonal Accounts Officers/Pay and Accounts Officers for March 2022 transactions – one for transactions upto March 31, 2022 and another for March Residual transactions adjusted by Nodal/Focal Point branches with Reserve Bank of India, Central Accounts Section, Nagpur, during April 1 to April 11, 2022.
3. Since the Nodal/Focal Point branch will also be reporting the April 2022 transactions pertaining to year 2022-23 in addition to March 2022 Residual transactions, monthly statement for April 2022 transactions should be compiled and furnished to Zonal Accounts Officers/Pay and Accounts Officers in the usual way. In order to distinguish the April 2022 (year 2022-23) and March Residual Transactions, the statement pertaining to March Residual Transactions should be clearly marked as "March Residual Account". The statement of March (Residual) Transactions should be sent by all Focal Point Branches to Zonal Accounts Officers/Pay and Accounts Officers latest by April 18, 2022.
Note: As advised in our circular GA.NB.No.376/42.01.001/1995-96 dated May 22, 1996 all the cheques/amounts realized on or before March 31, 2022 should be treated as transactions relating to the current financial year as "March 2022 or March Residual Transactions", the reporting of which may take place during the month of April (upto April 11, 2022). But if any cheque is tendered on or before March 31, 2022 and realised on or after April 1, 2022, it will be treated as transaction for the next financial year as "April Transactions". Accordingly, the banks will prepare separate scrolls for March 2022 and April 2022 (Financial year 2022-23) transactions.
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2021-22/176 · issued 24 Feb 2022. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Instruct all receiving branches to use courier or special messenger for March 2022 challans/scrolls to Nodal/Focal Point branches by March 31.
Direct Nodal/Focal Point branches to prepare separate main scrolls for March residual (numbered March Residual-1, etc.) and April transactions from April 1 to April 11.
Communicate these instructions immediately to all concerned branches and ensure compliance with segregation and reporting timelines.
📜 Compliance
Ensure Link Cell segregates March residual advices and forwards them separately to RBI CAS Nagpur daily until April 11.
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 Branch Manager at a bank this circular applies to (All agency banks handling central government transactions, Receiving branches (including non-local) of agency banks, Nodal/Focal Point branches, Link Cells at Nagpur), your first concrete step on “March 2022 Central Govt Transactions: Closure & Reporting” is: “Instruct all receiving branches to use courier or special messenger for March 2022 challans/scrolls to Nodal/Focal Point branches by March 31.” (RBI issued this 24 Feb 2022).
Circular: RBI/2021-22/176 -- March 2022 Central Govt Transactions: Closure & Reporting
Issued: 24 Feb 2022
Action required: Instruct all receiving branches to use courier or special messenger for March 2022 challans/scrolls to Nodal/Focal Point branches by March 31.
Action required: Direct Nodal/Focal Point branches to prepare separate main scrolls for March residual (numbered March Residual-1, etc.) and April transactions from April 1 to April 11.
Action required: Ensure Link Cell segregates March residual advices and forwards them separately to RBI CAS Nagpur daily until April 11.
Action required: Communicate these instructions immediately to all concerned branches and ensure compliance with segregation and reporting timelines.
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=12248&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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