| Date |
Event |
| 1 & 3 Jul 1991 |
External Payments Crisis. Rupee Devalued in two stages. Cumulative devaluation about
18 percent in USD terms. |
| Nov 1991 |
The Narsimahmam Committee Report suggested far reaching reforms in the Indian Banking
sector. These included a phased reduction in the SLR and CRR as well as accounting
standards, income recognition norms and capital adequacy norms. |
| Mar 1992 |
A dual exchange rate system called Liberalised Exchange Rate Management System (LERMS)
introduced. This was the initial step to enable a transition to a market determined
exchange rate system. |
| Apr 1992 |
Income recognition and asset classification norms introduced. Provisioning and Capital
adequacy standards specified. Indian Banks required to fulfill these norms by 1994
and 1996. |
| 22 Dec 1992 |
C. Rangarajan appointed Governor. |
| 1992 |
SEBI formulated ‘Insider Trading Regulations’. |
| 1993 |
Unified Exchange rate. |
| 1993 |
Guidelines for the establishment of private sector banks issued. This heralds a
new policy approach aimed at fostering greater competition. |
| 15 Jul 1994 |
Nationalised Banks allowed to tap the capital market to strengthen their capital
base. |
| Jun 1994 |
National Stock Exchange commenced operations |
| 1994 |
‘Committee on Reform of the Insurance Sector’, RN Malhotra. |
| Aug 1994 |
Rupee made convertible on the Current Account. Acceptance of Article VIII of the
Articles of Agreement of the IMF. |
| Oct 1994 |
Lending rates of commercial banks deregulated. Banks required to declare their Prime
Lending Rates (PLR). |
| 3 Feb 1995 |
Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Limited established as a fully owned subsidiary
of the Reserve bank. Commenced printing of Notes at Mysore on June 1 and at Salboni
on December 11. |
| Jun 1995 |
The Office of the Banking Ombudsman established for expeditious & inexpensive
resolution of customer complaints related to Banking services. |
| Oct 1995 |
Banks are allowed to fix their own interest rates on domestic term deposits with
maturity of two years. |
| 17 Sep 1996 |
RBI Web site made operational. |
| 1 Apr 1997 |
RBI & Government of India agree to replace the system of ad hoc Treasury Bills
with Ways and Means Advances ending automatic monetisation of fiscal deficits. |
| 6 Jun 1997 |
RBI Conducts first auction of 14 day Treasury Bills. In October, auction of 28 day
Treasury Bills was introduced. |
| 10 Jul 1997 |
Foreign Institutional Investors (debt funds) permitted to invest in dated Government
Securities. |
| 22 Nov 1997 |
Bimal Jalan appointed Governor. |
| 28 Nov 1997 |
A series of measures introduced in response to the Asian Currency Crisis. |
| 28 Nov 1997 |
Fixed rate repos in G-Secs introduced to give maneuverability in liquidity management;
and to bring orderly conditions in money and forex markets. |
| 19 Dec 1997 |
Capital Index Bonds introduced for first time. Inflation hedged instrument linked
to Wholesale Price Index. |
| Apr 1998 |
Recommendations on the harmonisation of the Role and Operations of Development Financial
Institutions and Banks paved the way for universal banking in India. |
| 11 Dec 1998 |
RBI Monetary Museum Web Site launched. |
| 20 Apr 1999 |
Interim Liquidity Adjustment Facility introduced. |
| Jul 1999 |
Interest Rate Swaps (IRS) and Forward Rate Agreements (FRAs) introduced as OTC derivatives. |
| Nov 1999 |
RBI issued guidelines to banks for the issuance of debit cards and smart cards to
ease pressure on physical cash. |
| 1999 |
Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 replaces FERA, 1973 with the objective of
‘facilitating external trade and payments’ and ‘promoting the orderly development
and maintenance of foreign exchange market in India’. The new act became operative
from June 2000 along with a sunset clause. |