The extant regulatory framework under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 requires clients to submit documentary evidence of underlying foreign currency exposure to Authorized Dealer Category-I banks at the time of booking of derivative contracts. With a view to easing the process of hedging, it is proposed to introduce a more liberalized framework for importers and exporters by reducing the documentary requirements for hedging trade transactions under the contracted exposure route. It may be recalled that an announcement to this effect was made in the Monetary Policy statement dated September 29, 2015.

A consultative paper with the draft operational guidelines is given in the Annex. Public comments are invited from banks, businesses having forex exposures, market participants and interested persons on the draft proposal by April 29, 2016. Comments may be furnished via e-mail or by post to the Chief General Manager, Reserve Bank of India, Financial Markets Regulation Department, Central Office, Fort, Mumbai-400 001.

Alpana Killawala

Principal Adviser

Hedging of currency risk: liberalised documentary requirements proposed to ease exporters' and importers' hedging under contracted route Proposal to liberalise documentary evidence requirements for residents hedging foreign currency exposures under the contracted exposure route, altering the current obligation to submit underlying exposure documents to Authorized Dealer Category I banks when booking derivative contracts. A consultative paper with draft operational guidelines is published and public comments from banks, market participants and businesses with forex exposure are invited to the Financial Markets Regulation Department prior to implementation.