Great news for retail investors! The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is set to launch a mobile app for its Retail Direct portal. This app will make it even easier for you to invest in various government securities like bonds and Treasury bills directly from your phone.
What is the RBI Retail Direct Scheme?
Launched in November 2021, the Retail Direct Scheme allows individual investors to open an account with the RBI and directly invest in government securities. This scheme bypasses intermediaries, potentially saving you on fees.
Benefits of the Mobile App
The upcoming mobile app will offer greater convenience for investors. You’ll be able to buy and sell government securities on the go, anytime and anywhere. This increased accessibility is expected to deepen the G-sec market, making it more inclusive for retail investors.
How to Invest Through the Scheme
Here’s how you can participate in the Retail Direct Scheme:
- Open a Retail Direct Gilt (RDG) Account: You can open an account online through the RBI Retail Direct portal (https://rbiretaildirect.org.in/).
- Investment Options: The scheme offers two main investment routes:
- Primary Issuance: You can participate in government security auctions for fresh issuances.
- Secondary Market: You can buy and sell existing government securities on the NDS-OM platform.
- Investment Products: You can invest in various instruments including:
- Central Government Bonds
- State Government Bonds
- Treasury Bills
- Sovereign Gold Bonds
Eligibility and Account Requirements
To open an RDG account, you’ll need:
- A Rupee savings bank account in India
- PAN card
- KYC document (Aadhaar, Passport, Voter ID)
- Valid email address
- Valid mobile number
The account can be opened singly or jointly. Even non-resident Indian investors can participate.
Fees and Charges
There are no charges for opening and maintaining an RDG account.
Support for Investors
The RBI Retail Direct portal offers various support facilities, including:
- Account opening and management
- Bidding for government security auctions
- Information on Sovereign Gold Bonds
- Buying and selling securities in the secondary market
- Account statements, nominations, and transaction details
For further assistance, you can call the toll-free helpline (1800-267-7955) between 10 am and 7 pm or email them for any queries.
