RBI/2019-20/194

DGBA.GBD.No.1799/42.01.029/2019-20

March 27, 2020

All Agency Banks

Dear Sir / Madam

Annual Closing of Government Accounts – Transactions of Central / State Governments – Special Measures for the Current Financial Year (2019-20)

All government transactions done by agency banks for Financial Year 2019-20 must be accounted for within the same financial year. Taking into account the current unprecedented situation across the country to tackle the Covid-19 situation, the following arrangements are put in place to report and account for Government transactions for March 31, 2020.

2. All agency banks should keep their designated branches open for over the counter transactions related to government transactions upto the normal working hours on March 31, 2020.

3. Government transactions through Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) System will operate for extended time on March 31, 2020 for which Department of Payment and Settlement Systems (DPSS), Reserve Bank of India will issue necessary instructions. Transactions through National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) will continue upto 2400 hours as hitherto on March 31, 2020.

4. Special clearing will be conducted for collection of government cheques on March 31, 2020 for which DPSS, RBI will issue necessary instructions.

5. Regarding reporting of Central and State Government transactions to RBI, including uploading of GST / e-receipts luggage files, the reporting window on March 31, 2020 will be extended and kept open till 1200 hours on April 1, 2020.

6. Agency banks may take note and give adequate publicity to the special arrangements made as above.

Yours faithfully

(Charulatha S Kar)

Chief General Manager

Annual closing of government accounts extended settlement and reporting hours to ensure accounting within the financial year. Agency banks must record all government transactions for the financial year within that year; designated branches are to remain open for over the counter government transactions up to normal hours on March 31. RTGS will operate with extended hours, NEFT will continue until midnight, and a special clearing will be conducted for government cheques. The reporting window for Central and State government transactions, including GST/e receipt uploads, is extended and kept open until 1200 hours on April 1. Agency banks must publicize these special arrangements.