Government securities are channels of fund collections for the central government, state governments, and other local government bodies in India, mainly to finance infrastructure development and bridge budget gaps. They have been providing a safe and reliable environment for Indian investors of all sorts for many years. The diversity within the G sec market has added to its popularity. The variety from tenure to payout features to tax benefits has allowed investors with long, mid, as well as short term investment goals to find a suitable fit. Earlier, the market was accessible to banks and large financial institutions, but RBI has made them available to retail investors with its Retail Direct Scheme.
Different types of government securities are issued throughout the year, and notifications are provided in advance to inform the willing investors. Join us as we explore the versatile types of government securities, understand how they are issued and how they work, and draft a comprehensive investment guide!
G Sec Investment Guide
Follow the steps mentioned below to make an informed investment decision regarding government securities and invest seamlessly!
Step 1: Know How Government Securities Work.
The government issues a security whenever it requires funding. Government security is basically a loan the government is taking from the investors. A tenure is specified along with the interest rate. As the investors purchase the security, the government pays interest at pre-set intervals throughout the tenure and returns the principal amount (the face value of the security) on maturity.
Step 2: Learn How to Keep Track of Government Securities Issuance
RBI is charged with the issuance of government securities. It holds regular auctions for the same. After consultation with the government, RBI publishes a half-yearly calendar with the amount to be borrowed, tenure, and other details regarding the securities, along with the dates of auctions. One week prior to the auction, a notification and a press communique are published. RBI also issues a press release and advertisements.
Step 3: Pick from the Different Types of G Secs
Government securities can be classified based on tenure, type of interest rate, special features, and so on!
Short Term Options
The central government of India issues two types of short term securities. Investors can park their investments for a short term and enjoy good returns and security. The features are almost similar. The securities are issued at a discounted price. No coupons are paid; investors are compensated by generating the original face value of the securities. The only point of differentiation is the maturity period.
- Treasury Bills: These securities can be issued with a lock-in period of 91 days, 182 days, or 364 days.
- Cash Management Bills: These securities are generally issued with a tenure of less than 91 days.
Long Term Options
The central government and state governments offer long term securities with tenures ranging up to 40 years. Investors have several options here to meet long term investment goals.
- Dated Securities/ Treasury Bond/ Government Bond
The Indian Government issues dated securities or treasury bonds. They have various features to align with different investment needs.
| Govt Security Bonds | Best Suited for |
|---|---|
| Fixed Rate Bonds | Earning interest at a stable rate and creating an income source with regular payouts. |
| Floating Rate Bonds | Availing benefits of market rate hikes |
| Capital Indexed Bonds | Obtaining a hedge against inflation by tying the capital investment amount with an inflation index |
| Inflation Indexed Bonds | Acquiring a safeguard against inflation by linking the capital investment amount and interest with an inflation index |
| Bonds with Call/Put options | Allowing issuers to buy (call) the bond back and investors to sell (put) the bond back to the issuers before maturity |
| Special Securities | Compensating entities like food companies, oil marketing companies, etc. (example: food bond, oil bond, etc.) |
| STRIPS | Keeping the benefits of both regular payouts and zero coupon bonds |
| Sovereign Gold Bonds | Enjoying the perks of gold investment without having to physically keep it |
| 7.75% Saving (Taxable) Bonds | Receiving consistent, stable returns and avoiding risk exposure |
- SDLs
The state governments in India offer state development loans or SDLs to fund different development projects. The lock-in period can go up to 10 years or more. Interest rates generally remain fixed for the entire period.
- Other Long Term Securities
Local government bodies, like municipal corporations and PSUs (public sector undertakings with the government holding more than 51% stake), also offer long-term securities with tenures ranging up to 15 years or more and 30 years, respectively.
Step 4: Understand the Key Features
While some securities may have some different characteristics than others, the following are some common key features available.
High Safety
Since the government directly backs these securities, the chances of defaulting are low to non-existent.
Steady Returns
In most cases, the interest rates are fixed, and payouts are credited at regular intervals without any miss. So, steady returns are assured, creating a regular income source.
Significant Liquidity
Government securities indeed have specific tenures, but they also have provisions allowing investors to sell the securities back to the issuer or trade in the secondary market before maturity.
Step 5: Check Out the Direct Investment Process
A direct investment in government securities and bonds is possible for retail investors on the Retail Direct Portal. Investors must open a Retail Direct Gilt or Gilt Securities Account. Once the account is opened, investors can participate in primary auctions and also enjoy access to the secondary market. No charges are levied for account opening or management.
Investment in Government Securities with GoldenPi
GoldenPi presents a user-friendly platform, streamlining and simplifying investment in government securities. Its database is updated in real time, allowing investors to access securities as soon as they are available. Investors can further complete all their research and comparison without spending a lot of time or effort as the platform enlists all crucial details, from interest rates to maturity periods to payouts to credit ratings.
How to invest in government securities? GoldenPi has 3 simple steps!
- Complete your KYC on the platform. It will take a short time, and you can upload soft copies of documents to complete documentation.
- Check out the available securities and select one.
- Complete the payment and you are good to go!
FAQs About Government Securities
1. How long does it take to credit the purchased bond units?
Once you have made the payment and the order is confirmed, the purchased units will be transferred to your Demat account on T+1 day, i.e., the next trading day.
2. What is the easiest way to invest in government bonds?
You can invest in government bonds effortlessly on GoldenPi. It will require you to complete the KYC, which you can do by providing some details and uploading soft copies of documents. Next, you can choose the bond you want to invest in and make the payment.
3. What documents are needed to complete KYC before I can invest in government securities?
You will need the following documents to complete the KYC.
- Pan Card
- Address Proof (For example – Aadhaar/Driving License/Passport/Voter ID)
- Cancelled Cheque with your name printed, latest bank statement, or last 2 month’s bank statement with your name, account number, and IFSC code
- The latest Demat CMR Copy, latest eCAS statement of CDSL/NSDL, or latest holding statement (it must mention DP ID and Client ID). You can get it from your brokers.
4. How are government securities taxed?
Here is how government securities are taxed:
- For T-bills: It is a zero coupon bond issued with a discount and returns the original face value. The appreciation generated in maturity will be a short-term gain and, hence, is subject to short term capital gain (STCG) tax at the applicable slab rate.
- For bonds: The generated interest is considered other income and is taxable as per your slab rate. If there is any appreciation, long term capital gain (LTCG) will be taxed at 10% or, with indexation, at 20%, and short term capital gain as per the slab rate.
Note that if a G-Sec held for more than 3 years is considered LTCG, and less than 3 years is STCG.
5. What does an auction calendar look like?
You will see RBI’s stamp, website, and mail address in the top-right corner, along with the date of the release. An auction calendar will be titled according to the securities and maturity period. A brief introduction to the securities. It will be followed by a table displaying the week of the auctions, amounts, and security-wise allocations.
6. What is a deal slip of government securities?
Every transaction entered by the trading desk should generate a deal slip. It contains information about the nature of the deal, the name of the counterparty, whether it is a direct deal or one via a broker, the security details, the date and time of the contract, date of settlement. The slip should have an accurate serial number and be verified to ensure it is correctly accounted for. It is generated after a security is bought and everything is finalized.
