Inflation-indexed bonds likely in a month: RBI

12 Apr 2013 Evaluate

In a move to wean away investors from gold as a hedge against inflation, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is planning to launch inflation-indexed bonds (IIB) within a month, to encourage individuals to invest more in such instruments than in gold. Bonds, being a part of the government borrowing programme, are likely to be for a 7-15 years term.

While addressing an event, the RBI Deputy Governor H R Khan said, ‘right now the plan is that it will be issued like any other government security. What we are proposing is that non-competitive portion (retail portion), we have higher percentage of bidding, it could be 10%, it could be 15%, or 20%. So, it will be earmarked for the small fellows, trusts or individual, those who have gilt accounts.’

The finance ministry is in discussions with the central bank to finalize the structure and tenor of the bonds, which will have their own guidelines and features. Further, it will be linked to Wholesale Price Index (WPI) and will be indexed every six months.

These instruments could be either in the form of inflation-indexed bonds or inflation indexed-national security certificates and retail investors can get these without participating in the auction at the cut-off price. Earlier, Finance Minister, in his Budget speech, had proposed to introduce these instruments to protect savings from inflation, especially the savings of the poor and middle classes. 

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