Reserve  Bank  of  India  (RBI)  in  its  ‘Statement  on  Developmental  and Regulatory Policies’ dated October 09, 2020 had announced that the Real Time Gross Settlement System (RTGS) will be available round the clock on all days  of  the  year  from  December  2020.  The  National  Electronic  Funds Transfer (NEFT) system is also made available round the clock since December 2019 by RBI.

SEBI   vide   Circular   no.    SEBI/HO/CDMRD/DRMP/CIR/P/2019/149   dated November 29, 2019 had mandated that the cut off time for the purpose of determining minimum threshold of margins (Initial Margin/Extreme Loss Margin) to be collected by Members from their clients shall be 5:00 PM for commodity derivative contracts having trading hours beyond 5:00 PM due to the limitations with availability of banking channels beyond 5:00 PM.

As both RTGS and NEFT facilities are now functional round the clock on all days, SEBI Circular no. SEBI/HO/CDMRD/DRMP/CIR/P/2019/149 dated November 29, 2019 stands withdrawn. Consequently, the Risk Parameter Files currently used by the Clearing Corporations for collecting margins from the Members shall also be used for generating margin obligations from the clients throughout the trading hours in the commodity derivatives segment

Accordingly, in the framework prescribed for enabling verification of upfront collection of margins from clients vide SEBI Circular no. SEBI/HO/MRD2/DCAP/CIR/P/2020/127 dated July 20, 2020, para 2 of clause (i) of Annexure to the circular is modified as under:

“Further, for commodity derivatives segment, clearing corporations shall send an  additional  minimum  two  snapshots  for  commodity  derivative  contracts which are traded till 9:00 PM and additional minimum three snapshots for the commodity derivatives contracts which are traded till 11:30/11:55 PM. Margins/EOD margins shall be determined as per the relevant Risk Parameter Files.”

The circular shall be effective from January 15, 2022.

This circular is issued in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 11 (1) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992, to protect the interests of investors in securities and to promote the development of, and to regulate the securities market.

This circular is available on SEBI website at  www.sebi.gov.in.