RBI to kick start sale of inflation-linked bonds on June 4

16 May 2013 Evaluate

To de-motivate investors of gold as a hedge against rising prices and in-line with the Budget proposal to introduce instruments that will protect savings of poor and middle classes from inflation and motivate household sector to save in financial instruments rather than buy gold, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), is all set to launch inflation-linked bonds every month, starting June 4, 2013.  The central bank in consultation with government, has decided to launch Inflation Indexed Bonds (IIBs) and the first tranche of the IIBs-2013-14 for Rs 1,000-2,000 crore will be issued on June 4 with a maturity period of 10 years. The total issue size will be Rs 12,000-15,000 crore in 2013-14. Following the first tranche, bonds will be issued on last Tuesday of every month.

Initially, the first series will be open for all categories of investors including institutional investors, while the second series beginning October - will be reserved solely for retail investors. Further, the final Wholesale Price Index (WPI) with four months lag will be used for providing inflation protection in this product. Moreover, IIBs will be having a fixed real coupon rate and a nominal principal value that is adjusted against inflation.  At maturity, the adjusted principal or the face value, whichever is higher, will be paid.

Gold and silver imports last month were up by 138%, y-o-y, to $7.5 billion. The issue of surging gold imports has become a concern for both, the government as well as the RBI, since its puts additional pressure on Current Account Deficit (CAD), which has already widened to historic high of 6.7% in third quarter of 2012-13. This is the second major move by the RBI in three days to discourage investments in gold, which on May 13 had placed restrictions on banks to import gold.

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