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The State Bank of India (SBI) has been authorized by the Finance Ministry to issue and encash electoral bonds during the Phase of Sale XXIX, which is scheduled from November 6-20, 2023. This comes as part of the Electoral Bond Scheme, last updated on November 7, 2022, via Gazette Notification.
The Indian Government has permitted SBI to issue and encash these bonds via its 29 designated branches. The bonds, valid for a period of 15 days from issuance, can be procured by Indian citizens or domestic entities either singly or jointly. They are available exclusively to eligible political parties registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. To qualify for these bonds, parties must have secured at least 1% of votes in the previous General Election to either House of the People or Legislative Assembly.
Once purchased, these bonds must be deposited within their validity period by an eligible political party into an authorized bank account for same-day credit. No payments will be provided if an eligible political party deposits them beyond this validity period. The process is facilitated by 29 SBI branches across various State/Union Territories.
The Electoral Bond Scheme was initiated in 2018 by India’s government through a gazette notification. It was designed to allow citizens or entities incorporated or established in India to individually or jointly procure electoral bonds. The funds raised through this scheme are intended to support eligible political parties, with encashment exclusively via authorized bank accounts.
InvestingPro Insights
As the State Bank of India (SBI) continues its role in the issuance and encashment of electoral bonds, it’s essential to consider the financial health of the bank. According to InvestingPro data, SBI has a market cap of 102.47M USD. Over the last twelve months as of Q2 2023, the bank has seen a revenue growth of 5.67%, with a quarterly increase of 11.6% in Q2 2023. Despite a negative P/E ratio of -87.59, the bank has managed to maintain a gross profit margin of 100%.
InvestingPro Tips suggest that SBI has been experiencing accelerating revenue growth and consistently increasing earnings per share, which are positive indicators of financial stability. However, the bank is also noted for its low earnings quality, with free cash flow trailing net income. This suggests that the bank might be facing challenges in generating sufficient cash to support its operations.
In addition, SBI is a prominent player in the banking industry and has managed to provide high returns on book equity to its shareholders. This, coupled with the fact that the bank has raised its dividend for 3 consecutive years, could make SBI an attractive option for investors seeking regular income.
InvestingPro offers an additional 14 tips related to SBI’s performance, providing a more in-depth analysis of the bank’s financial situation. This can be particularly useful for investors interested in the long-term potential of the bank, especially in the light of its role in the Electoral Bond Scheme.
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