Govt launches Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme for 2018 -19

Govt launches Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme for 2018 -19: Government of India, in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India, has decided to issue Sovereign Gold Bonds-2018-19 as part of efforts to cut down gold imports and lower the current account deficit. The scheme retains the incentives offered in the earlier trancheof 2.5% interest rate and capital gains tax exemption on redemption. Payment for the bonds can be made through demand draft, cheque and electronic banking, while cash payment is allowed up to a maximum of 20,000.

The Sovereign Gold Bonds will be issued every month from October 2018 to February 2019 as per the calendar specified below:

S. No.	Tranche	Period of Subscription	Date of Issuance
1	2018-19 Series II	October 15-19, 2018	October 23, 2018
2	2018-19 Series III	November 05-09, 2018	November 13, 2018
3	2018-19 Series IV	December 24-28, 2018	January 01, 2019
4	2018-19 Series V	January 1418, 2019	January 22, 2019
5	2018-19 Series VI	February 04-08, 2019	February 12, 2019

The Bonds will be sold through banks, Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited (SHCIL), designated post offices, and recognised stock exchangesviz., National Stock Exchange of India Limited and Bombay Stock Exchange Limited. The features of the Bond are given below:

Sl. No.	Item	Details
1	Product name	Sovereign Gold Bond 2018-19.
2	Issuance	To be issued by Reserve Bank India on behalf of the Government of India.
3	Eligibility	The Bonds will be restricted for sale to resident entities including 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 in 5th, 6thyear and 7thyear to be exercised on the interest payment dates.
6	Minimum size	Minimum permissible investment will be 1 gram of gold.
7	Maximum limit	The maximum limit of subscribed 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 bondssubscribed under different tranches during initial issuance by 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. The issue price of the Gold Bonds will be`50 per gram less for those who subscribe online and pay through digital mode.
10	Payment option	Payment for the Bonds will be through cash payment (up to 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 previous 3 working dayssimple average of closing price of gold of 999 purity published by IBJA.
13	Sales channel	Bonds will be sold through banks, Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited (SHCIL), designated post offices (as may be notified) and recognised stock exchangesviz., 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. The lien on the bonds shall be marked by the depositary by the authorized banks. The loan against SGBs would be subject to decision of the lending bank/institution and cannot be inferred as a matter of right by the SGB holder.
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 the investor(s).
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 Rupee one per hundred Rupees the total subscription received by the receiving offices and receiving offices shall share at least paise 50 per hundred Rupees of the commission so received with the agents or sub agents for the business procured through them.

DSM/RM