RBI notifies interest waiver scheme on moratorium loans, directs banks, lending institutions to comply

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has notified the Centre’s scheme for ex-gratia payment of the difference between interest on loans of up to Rs 2 crore in a bid to provide amid the pandemic.

In a notification, RBI said: “All lending institutions are advised to be guided by the provisions of the Scheme and take necessary action within the stipulated timeline.”

The finance ministry wants all payments to be credited in the accounts of borrowers well before Diwali by November 5.

Under the scheme, the ex gratia payment — the difference between compound interest and simple interest for six months — will be made to borrowers whose aggregate loan sanctions and outstanding is not more than Rs 2 crore as on February 29, 2020. All categories of loans — MSME, education, housing, personal, consumer — and credit card dues will be eligible.

The scheme can be availed by designated class of borrowers from March 1 to August 31, 2020.

Housing loans, education loans, credit card dues, auto loans, MSME loans, consumer durable loans and consumption loans come under the ambit of the scheme.

As per the scheme, the lending institutions shall credit the difference between compound interest and simple interest with regard to the eligible borrowers in respective accounts for the said period irrespective of whether the borrower fully or partially availed the moratorium on repayment of loan announced by the RBI on March 27, 2020.

The lending institution after crediting the amount will claim the reimbursement from the Central government. All banks and NBFCs are covered under the scheme.

The government has clarified that the payment does not constitute a legal, contractual or equitable liability of the Central government and is only an ex-gratia payment to borrowers in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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