BSE to launch bidding platform for retail investor in G-secs from December 3

Leading exchange BSE said it is launching from on Monday an online bidding platform for retail investors in non-competitive bidding of government securities (G-secs) and Treasury bills (T-bills).

"BSE to launch 'BSE-Direct' for retail investors in non-competitive bidding of G-sec and T-bills from December 03, 2018," the exchange said in a Friday release.

Bidding for G-sec and T-bills will end on T-1 day (a day before the auction date) at 5 pm, it added.

"BSE-Direct platform will offer easy access to participants and will certainly act as an efficient mechanism for delivering government securities to retail client," said BSE MD and chief executive Ashishkumar Chauhan.

Under the non-competitive bidding scheme, eligible investors apply for a certain amount of securities in an auction without mentioning the price or yield. The scheme was introduced by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in January 2002.

The RBI conducts auction for G-Sec and T-Bills on a weekly basis where 5 per cent of the notified amount is allotted for eligible investors under the scheme for non-competitive bidding facility.

Investments in government securities are one of the safer investment options available to retail investors as these are risk free instruments and provide portfolio diversification and are available for longer investment durations.