1. Monopoly of Note Issue:
Under Section 22 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, the Bank has the sole
right to
issue bank notes of all denomination. The distribution of one rupee notes and
coins and small coins all over the country is undertaken by the Reserve Bank
as agent of the Government. The Reserve Bank has a separate Issue Department
which is entrusted with the issue of currency notes. The Reserve Bank of India is
required to maintain gold and foreign exchange reserves of Rs. 200 crores, of
which at least Rs. 115 crores should be in gold. The system as it exists today
is known as the Minimum Reserve System.
issue bank notes of all denomination. The distribution of one rupee notes and
coins and small coins all over the country is undertaken by the Reserve Bank
as agent of the Government. The Reserve Bank has a separate Issue Department
which is entrusted with the issue of currency notes. The Reserve Bank of India is
required to maintain gold and foreign exchange reserves of Rs. 200 crores, of
which at least Rs. 115 crores should be in gold. The system as it exists today
is known as the Minimum Reserve System.
2. Banker to the
Government:
The
Reserve Bank of India serves as a banker to the Central Government
and the State Governments. It is its obligatory function as a central bank. It
provides a full range of banking services to these Governments, such as:
and the State Governments. It is its obligatory function as a central bank. It
provides a full range of banking services to these Governments, such as:
(a) Maintaining and operating of
deposit accounts of the Central and State
Government.
Government.
(b) Receipts and collection of
payments to the Central and State Government.
(c) Making payments on behalf of
the Central and State Government.
(d) Transfer of funds and
remittance facilities of the Central and State
Governments.
Governments.
(e) Managing the public debt and
issue of new loans and Treasury Bills of
the Central Government.
the Central Government.
(f) Providing ways and means
advances to the Central and State governments
to bridge the interval between expenditure and flow of receipts of revenue.
to bridge the interval between expenditure and flow of receipts of revenue.
(g) Advising the Central/State
governments on financial matters, such as the
quantum, timing and terms of issue of new loans. For ensuring the success of
government loan operations, the RBI plays an active role in the gilt-edged market.
quantum, timing and terms of issue of new loans. For ensuring the success of
government loan operations, the RBI plays an active role in the gilt-edged market.
(h) The bank also tenders advice to
the government on policies concerning
banking and financial issues, planning as resource mobilisation. The Government
of India consults the Reserve Bank on certain aspects of formulation of the
country’s Five Year Plans.
banking and financial issues, planning as resource mobilisation. The Government
of India consults the Reserve Bank on certain aspects of formulation of the
country’s Five Year Plans.
(i) The Reserve Bank
represents the Government of India as member of the
International Monetary Fund and World Bank.
International Monetary Fund and World Bank.
3. Banker’s Bank:
The
Reserve Bank has the right of controlling the activities of the banks in
the country. All the commercial banks, co-operative banks and foreign banks in
the country have to open accounts with the bank and are required to keep a certain
portion of their deposits as reserves with the Reserve Bank.
the country. All the commercial banks, co-operative banks and foreign banks in
the country have to open accounts with the bank and are required to keep a certain
portion of their deposits as reserves with the Reserve Bank.
4. Lender of the Last Resort:
The
scheduled banks can borrow from the Reserve Bank on the basis of
eligible securities. They can also get the bills of exchange rediscounted. The
Reserve Bank acts as the clearing house of all the banks. It adjusts the debits and
credits of various banks by merely passing the book entries.
eligible securities. They can also get the bills of exchange rediscounted. The
Reserve Bank acts as the clearing house of all the banks. It adjusts the debits and
credits of various banks by merely passing the book entries.
5. Credit Control:
the
Reserve Bank of India is the controller of credit, i.e., it has the power
to influence the volume of credit created by bank in India. It can do so through
changing the bank rate or through open market operation. The Reserve Bank of
India is armed with many more powers to control the Indian money market.
to influence the volume of credit created by bank in India. It can do so through
changing the bank rate or through open market operation. The Reserve Bank of
India is armed with many more powers to control the Indian money market.
Every
bank has to get a licence from the Reserve Bank of India to do
banking business within India. The licence can be cancelled by the Reserve Bank
if certain stipulated conditions are not fulfilled. Every bank will have to get the
permission of the Reserve Bank before it can open a new branch. Each scheduled
bank must send a weekly return to the Reserve Bank showing, in detail, its
assets and liabilities. This power of the bank to call for information is also intended
to give it effective control of the credit system. The Reserve Bank has also the
power to inspect the accounts of any commercial bank.
banking business within India. The licence can be cancelled by the Reserve Bank
if certain stipulated conditions are not fulfilled. Every bank will have to get the
permission of the Reserve Bank before it can open a new branch. Each scheduled
bank must send a weekly return to the Reserve Bank showing, in detail, its
assets and liabilities. This power of the bank to call for information is also intended
to give it effective control of the credit system. The Reserve Bank has also the
power to inspect the accounts of any commercial bank.
As supreme banking
authority in the country, the Reserve Bank of India,
therefore, has the following powers:
therefore, has the following powers:
(a) It holds the cash reserves of all the scheduled bank.
(b) It controls the credit operation of banks through quantitative and qualitative
controls.
controls.
(c) It controls the banking system through the system of licensing, inspection
and calling for information.
and calling for information.
(d) It acts as the lender of the last
resort by providing rediscount facilities to
scheduled banks.
scheduled banks.
6. Custodian of Foreign Exchange
Reserves:
The
Reserve Bank has the responsibility of maintaining the external value
of the rupee. There is centralisation of the entire foreign exchange reserves of the
country with the Reserve Bank to avoid fluctuations in the exchange rate.The RBI
has the authority to enter into foreign exchange transactions both on its own
account and on behalf of government. The bank is also empowered to buy and sell
foreign exchange from and to scheduled banks in amounts of not less than the
equivalent of Rs. 1 lakh.
of the rupee. There is centralisation of the entire foreign exchange reserves of the
country with the Reserve Bank to avoid fluctuations in the exchange rate.The RBI
has the authority to enter into foreign exchange transactions both on its own
account and on behalf of government. The bank is also empowered to buy and sell
foreign exchange from and to scheduled banks in amounts of not less than the
equivalent of Rs. 1 lakh.