The Reserve Bank of India [ Get Quote ] on Thursday allowed Non-Resident Indians to hedge currency risk for external commercial borrowings (ECBs) denominated in rupees with Indian banks.

The new guideline aims at mitigating currency risk attached with the rupee borrowings. RBI had allowed overseas borrowings in the local currency in September.

RBI said micro finance NGOs have been permitted to avail of ECBs designated in rupee, under the automatic route, from overseas organisations and individuals as per the guidelines.

It has been decided to allow non-residents to hedge their currency risk in respect of ECBs denominated in rupees with banks in India, RBI said in a notification.

Non-residents invest in products like forward foreign exchange contracts, foreign currency-INR options and foreign currency-INR swaps with rupee as the currency.