The government securities market of India is blooming as investment is no longer limited to large institutions and has been facilitated for retail investors. The Retail Direct Scheme of RBI has allowed individual investors to partake in primary auctions along with secondary market trading on the Retail Direct Portal. Government securities are issued as per requirements, RBI holds auctions for willing investors, and the deals are made. Investors enjoy lucrative returns in the form of periodic interest payments or discounted bond prices.
The objectives of investors are easy to comprehend here, while the issuing governments also have specific goals to attain. In this context, government securities in India play a crucial role, as they help in achieving both investor safety and government funding needs. Fund collection is the focus of government securities, but there is more to explore and understand here.
Read on as we explain the purpose of issuing the various types of government securities throughout the year.
Major Reasons Behind Issuance of Government Securities
Government securities are issued by the central or state government of India. Short term securities like treasury bills, with tenure ranging from 91 days to 364 days, and cash management bills, with tenure below 91 days, are mostly offered by the central government. Long term securities like government or treasury bonds and state development loans are offered by central and state governments, respectively.
Short term securities are issued to meet short term or temporary funding requirements, while long term securities are targeted toward financing long-going projects.
Below are the primary objectives behind government securities.
Budget Deficit Financing
Government income is defined by the union budget. It includes revenue receipts and capital receipts. Revenue receipts consist of direct and indirect taxes. On the other hand, capital receipts are created with disinvestment receipts and borrowings. Non-tax revenues are also generated from PSU profits, loan interest, government service fees, foreign aid, and so on. A government uses this income revenue to meet its expenditures.
However, like any organization or individual, a government can also face a gap between the income generated and the expenditure to occur. When a fiscal deficit appears, a government needs more capital or a new source of revenue. Government securities are among the different avenues a government (central or state) makes up for deficits.
Likewise, a local governing entity, like a municipal corporation and PSUs (public sector undertakings), also collects capital from the issuance of municipal bonds and PSU bonds.
Public Debt Management
The term investment portfolio needs no introduction. An investor puts significant effort and thought into drafting the most balanced and profitable portfolio. The same strategy, however, does not work for all investors and all investment goals. Even the investment recommendations change based on what an investor wishes to achieve. Similarly, when taking different credit cards and loans, one plans efficiently to ensure no payment or EMI schedule is disrupted.
The government must also adequately plan and execute its public debt management. Borrowing is crucial and its need can appear at different times. The government may have to opt for several lines of credit over time. So, diversifying the debt portfolio into different types of securities will allow the government to create an attainable payment schedule and follow it seamlessly.
Use of Government Securities
Funds collected via an investment in government securities can go towards different projects and Objectives. Here are the common uses for socio-economic causes.
Infrastructure Development
Infrastructure development is key for an improved way of life as well as the economic growth of a country. Railways, highways, airports, hospitals, and many such large-scale development projects are often initiated by the government. Income revenues can be used to finance them and so can be government securities.
For instance, if a government requires capital to build an airport, it can evaluate the overall cost and issue short term, mid term, or long term securities to collect funds for it. Once the project is done (in this case, the airport is up and running) the profit generated by it can also be used for repayment.
These kinds of projects can motivate economic activity by creating job opportunities, improving connectivity, and encouraging overall economic growth.
Social Welfare
A government requires funding for several social welfare projects, including but not limited to providing affordable housing, healthcare, and education. These projects can be financed with capital supplied by the issuance of government securities.
Special Securities
The Indian Government often issues special securities, like oil bonds and food bonds. These securities are offered to entities like oil marketing companies and the Food Corporation of India.
Let’s take oil bonds as an example for understanding the special securities. The government issues oil bonds to compensate oil marketing companies to offset losses suffered. It is done to safeguard consumers from hikes in crude oil prices.
Serving Dual Purpose: Fund Collection for Government & Safe Investment Channels for Investors
On the one hand, the government uses securities of various types to overcome obligations created by expenditures exceeding the earned revenues. On the other hand, these securities turn out to become better and reliable investment channels for investors.
Government security is considered to be highly secure as it is supported by a sovereign authority, which reduces the chance of default to almost non-existent. Furthermore, G sec investment can offer several perks, such as fixed rates, steady returns, regular income sources, and tax benefits.
Invest in Government Securities with GoldenPi
G sec invest has become more convenient and accessible than ever with GoldenPi. It has a rich database that displays a wide spread of information, including the latest issuance. You can check out all the government securities available for investment and read about all the details regarding them.
GoldenPi further offers an easy-to-follow guide on how to invest in government securities!
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- Step 1: Proceed with the compulsory KYC.
- Step 2: Select government security from the available options.
- Step 3: Pay to confirm the order.
The purchased bonds unit will be credited to the Demat Account on the next trading day (T+1 day).
FAQs About Why are Government Securities Issued?
1. How are government securities issued?
RBI issues government securities through auctions on behalf of the government. After thorough consultations with the government on the required amount, maturity period, and other details, RBI issues a press release and several newspaper advertisements one week before the auction. The auction is conducted as per schedule ( for example, on Fridays for dated securities and Tuesdays for state development loans). Retails investors can go on the Retail Direct Portal to participate in the auctions.
2. Which government securities are available for retail investors?
Earlier, only large-scale institutional investors could invest in government securities. However, the Retail Direct Scheme was recently introduced, which permitted retail investors to invest. At present, retail investors can invest in treasury bills as well as treasury or government bonds without any hassle.
3. What is the maximum range of tenure available under the G SEC securities in India?
Government securities are quite flexible in terms of tenure, meaning there are options with versatile tenures, including short term, mid term and long term. Investors can study their options, evaluate their objectives, and then come to a decision.
Here is the range of maturity periods of different government securities.
- The maturity period of T-bills can be between 91 and 364 days.
- The maturity period of cash management bills is less than 91 days.
- The maturity period for government bonds can be up to 40 years.
- The maturity period for SDLs can be up to 35 years.
4. What is the minimum investment in G-sec?
One of the best parts of government securities is the economic minimum cap. Investors can start investing in G secs with as low as INR 10,000. It is important to note that the minimum ceiling can vary for certain securities. For instance, the lowest investment amount for sovereign gold bonds is the amount equivalent to the price of 1 gram of gold.
5. What are the benefits of investing in G Secs?
There are multiple benefits of investing in government securities.
- Low to zero default risk since the securities have a sovereign guarantee
- Convenient for meeting short, med, and long-term investment goals, thanks to the different lock-in periods
- Fixed interest rate, indicating consistent returns and better financial planning
- Period coupon payments, creating a regular income source
- Significant liquidity, made possible by the transactions in the secondary market
6. How to access the latest government securities issued by RBI?
You can stay updated with recent issues of government securities with the help of GoldenPi. It keeps updating in real-time. Not just the securities, you will also find all the important associated details. Once you have made a selection on the security to invest in, you can do so on GoldenPi itself. There’s a seamless KYC process that you can take care of within a short time. Then, it is just a matter of making the payment.
