TITLE: Reserve Bank of India Updates Access Criteria for Government Securities Trading Platform
BODY:
On October 18, 2024, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the Reserve Bank of India (Access Criteria for NDS-OM) Directions, 2024, updating access criteria for the Negotiated Dealing System-Order Matching (NDS-OM) electronic trading platform used in India's government securities market.
The RBI expanded direct access to NDS-OM to a broader set of regulated entities and streamlined the application process. Entities now eligible for direct access include banks, standalone primary dealers, non-banking financial companies (including housing finance companies), all India financial institutions, mutual funds, provident funds, pension funds, insurance companies, and regulated market infrastructure institutions for specific purposes. The RBI may also grant direct access to other entities on a case-by-case basis.
To obtain direct access, eligible entities must maintain a Subsidiary General Ledger (SGL) account with the RBI, hold a current account with the RBI or a Designated Settlement Bank, and hold membership of the securities settlement segment of the Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL). Entities may apply directly to the RBI's Financial Markets Regulation Department or alternatively seek access through the Master Directions on Access Criteria for Payment Systems. The RBI retains discretion to grant, suspend, or terminate access based on eligibility maintenance, regulatory compliance, market abuse prevention, and public interest considerations. Entities not meeting direct access requirements may seek indirect access through entities holding direct access.
The directions supersede previous circulars dated May 27, 2008 and November 18, 2011, and came into effect immediately upon issuance.