The Problem of the Rupee, Its Origin and Its SolutionAmbedkar, B. R. (Bhimrao Ramji)
History
The Problem of the Rupee, Its Origin and Its Solution
Ambedkar, B. R. (Bhimrao Ramji)
Currency question -- India
A year after the agreements were executed difficulties arose with
the Bank of Bengal, which had locked up the funds to such an
extent that it was unable to meet the demands of the Government on
the public balances it held. Negotiations were therefore opened
in 1863 for the revision of the agreements, and the revised
agreements came into force on January 2, 1866. They contained the
following provisions regarding the public balances: (1)
Undertaking by Government to maintain in the hands of the banks at
their head offices an “average cash balance” of 70 lakhs at the
Bank of Bengal, 40 lakhs at the Bank of Bombay, and 25 lakhs at
the Bank of Madras, “so far as the same may conveniently be done.”
(2) Permission to the banks to use the whole balances for the time
being deposited with them for banking purposes. (3) The right to
interest from Government when the Government balance at the head
offices of the Bank of Bengal, Bank of Bombay, and Bank of Madras
fell below the minima of 45 lakhs, 25 lakhs, and 20 lakhs
respectively. (4) Permission to employ “the whole of the balances
(at branches) however large for the time being” for banking
purposes, subject to the condition that each branch should “at all
times be ready to meet the drafts of the Government" to the extent
of the Government balances at the branch.
These revised agreements were to remain in force till March 1,
1874. In 1874 the question of the revision of the charters of the
Presidency banks was under consideration, and it was the aim of
the Government to continue to the banks the right to use the whole
Government balances. Just at this time (1874) difficulties
occurred with the Bank of Bombay and the Government could not draw
upon their balances. This led to a reconsideration of the policy
of merging the Government balances with the bank balances and
leaving them in the custody of the banks. After a somewhat
lengthy discussion the Government of India reverted to the system
of Independent Treasury by instituting what were called Reserve
Treasuries at the headquarters of the Presidencies which held the
Government balances previously held by the Presidency banks. For a
history of this episode _see_ House of Commons Returns 109 and 506
of 1864; also J. B. Brunyate, _An Account of the Presidency
Banks_, Chap. VII.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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