For an industry, terms of exchange still not clear

A proposal to reshape the money-changing industry has hit a stumbling block

- RAGHU MOHAN

When the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) came out with a draft licensing framework for the foreign exchange business late last year a key proposal was to have a new category: Forex correspondents (FxCs). It would have changed the way retail forex is bought and sold by giving a fillip to a new franchisee model.

But there has been no progress.

The 'draft licensing framework for authorised persons (APs)' under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999' was received with much interest when it was released in December 2023. It was last reviewed almost two decades ago (in March 2006); and the changes were expected to chisel a new ecosystem. Other than FxCs, it would have also created integrated firms like travel agencies which could trade in forex and also issue travel cards. The RBI's draft - had it been operational - would also have changed the business and made it more organised with higher governance standards.