Need to popularise G-Secs among retail investors

Of the various investment avenues available to the public, the one that would have been the best from credit-risk perspective — government securities (also known as gilt-edged securities or gilts) — is conspicuous by its absence.

The reason is that the market is wholesale where the participants are financial institutions like banks, insurance companies, etc. Though, on paper, nothing prohibits an individual from entering that market, practically, it is out of bounds. The only security, issued by the government of India, available to retail investors is the 8% Savings (Taxable) Bond 2003, which has restrictions (it is not tradable in the secondary market and is not transferable) and the tenure is fixed at six years.

The government finances a large part of its deficit through market borrowings, i.e., by issuing government securities that are subscribed to by financial institutions. The SLR requirements of banks (currently at 23%) as well as the stable sovereign credit risk ensure there is no dearth of buyers at the auctions where these securities are sold. However, if the base is widened among retail or individual investors, there would be a deeper and widespread market for G-Secs. The SLR requirements of banks could be reduced, freeing up that much of funds towards loans to industry.

One way to popularize G-Secs among the retail/individual investors is to make it available as an easy-to-understand, investible product, like deposits, through banks and post offices. Prior to an auction, the RBI notifies, on behalf of the government, banks and other institutions

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