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Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme 2021-22

  • Posted By
    10Pointer
  • Categories
    Economy
  • Published
    13th May, 2021

The Government, in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India, has decided to issue Sovereign Gold Bonds in six tranches from May 2021 to September 2021.

Context

The Government, in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India, has decided to issue Sovereign Gold Bonds in six tranches from May 2021 to September 2021.

What are Sovereign Gold Bonds?

  • Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs) are government securities that are denominated in grams of gold.
  • Substitute: They are substitutes of holding physical gold.
  • Cash redeem: Investors have to pay the issue price in cash form and the bonds will be redeemed in the cash on maturity.
  • Issue authority: The Bond is issued by Reserve Bank on behalf of the Government of India.
  • Advantage: It offers a superior alternative to hold gold in physical form.
  • The risks and costs of storage are eliminated.
  • Investors are assured of market value of gold at the time of maturity and periodical interest.
  • Sold through: The Bonds will be sold through Scheduled Commercial banks (except Small Finance Banks and Payment Banks), Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited (SHCIL),designated post offices, and recognised stock exchanges viz., National Stock Exchange of India Limited and Bombay Stock Exchange Limited.

Features of the Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme 2021-22

Sl. No.

Item

Details

1

Product name

Sovereign Gold Bond 2021-22

2

Issuance

To be issued by Reserve Bank of India on behalf of the Government of India.

3

Eligibility

The Bonds will be restricted for sale to resident individuals, HUFs, Trusts, Universities and Charitable Institutions.

4

Denomination

The Bonds will be denominated in multiples of gram(s) of gold with a basic unit of 1 gram.

5

Tenor

The tenor of the Bond will be for a period of 8 years with exit option after5th year to be exercised on the next interest payment dates.

6

Minimum size

Minimum permissible investment will be 1 gram of gold.

7

Maximum limit

The maximum limit of subscription shall be 4 KG for individual, 4 Kg for HUF and 20 Kg for trusts and similar entities per fiscal (April-March) notified by the Government from time to time. A self-declaration to this effect will be obtained. The annual ceiling will include bonds subscribed under different tranches during initial issuanceby Government and those purchased from the Secondary Market.

8

Joint holder

In case of joint holding, the investment limit of 4 KG will be applied to the first applicant only.

9

Issue price

Price of Bond will be fixed in Indian Rupees on the basis of simple average of closing price of gold of 999 purity, published by the India Bullion and Jewellers Association Limited for the last 3 working days of the week preceding the subscription period.

10

Payment option

Payment for the Bonds will be through cash payment (upto a maximum of `20,000) or demand draft or cheque or electronic banking.

11

Issuance form

The Gold Bonds will be issued as Government of India Stock under GS Act, 2006.

The investors will be issued a Holding Certificate for the same.

The Bonds are eligible for conversion into demat form.

12

Redemption price

The redemption price will be in Indian Rupees based on simple average of closing price of gold of 999 purity,of previous 3 working days published by IBJA Ltd.

13

Sales channel

Bonds will be sold through Commercial banks, Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited (SHCIL), designated post offices (as may be notified) and recognised stock exchanges viz., National Stock Exchange of India Limited and Bombay Stock Exchange, either directly or through agents.

14

Interest rate

The investors will be compensated at a fixed rate of 2.50 percent per annum payable semi-annually on the nominal value.

15

Collateral

Bonds can be used as collateral for loans. The loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is to be set equal to ordinary gold loan mandated by the Reserve Bank from time to time.

16

KYC documentation

Know-your-customer (KYC) norms will be the same as that for purchase of physical gold. KYC documents such as Voter ID, Aadhaar card/PAN or TAN /Passport will be required.Every application must be accompanied by the ‘PAN Number’ issued by the Income Tax Department to individuals and other entities.

17

Tax treatment

The interest on Gold Bonds shall be taxable as per the provision of Income Tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961). The capital gains tax arising on redemption of SGB to an individual has been exempted. The indexation benefits will be provided to long term capital gains arising to any person on transfer of bond.

18

Tradability

Bonds will be tradable on stock exchanges within a fortnight of the issuance on a date as notified by the RBI.

19

SLR eligibility

Bonds acquired by the banks through the process of invoking lien/hypothecation/pledge alone, shall be counted towards Statutory Liquidity Ratio.

20

Commission

Commission for distribution of the bond shall be paid at the rate of 1% of the total subscription received by the receiving offices and receiving offices shall share at least 50% of the commission so received with the agents or sub agents for the business procured through them.

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