CLSS guidelines cleared for middle income groups

The Centre's credit-linked interest subsidy scheme for housing loans taken by people in mid-income groups has been made effective from January 1 with EMIs to go down by over Rs 2,000 per month.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on December 31 last year announced Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme for Middle Income Groups — CLSS(MIG). Under it, interest subsidy of 4 per cent on housing loans of up to Rs 9 lakh for those with an income of Rs 12 lakh per year and of 3 per cent on housing loans of up to Rs 12 lakh for those having an income of Rs 18 lakh per year will be given.

The interest subsidy of 4 per cent under the scheme will bring down EMI by Rs 2,062 per month on a housing loan of Rs 9 lakh and interest subsidy of 3 per cent will reduce the monthly outgo by Rs 2,019 on Rs 12 lakh loan, considering normal housing loan interest rate of 8.65 per cent, he said.

With the scheme coming into effect from January 1, those who were sanctioned home loans and whose applications are under consideration since beginning of the year will be eligible for interest subsidy of up to Rs 2.35 lakh.

Middle income groups with annual incomes above Rs 6 lakh and up to Rs 18 lakh per year are eligible for interest subsidy on housing loans under the new CLSS(MIG).

Speaking on the occasion, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said urged the banks and other lending institution to adopt a pro-active approach to reach the benefits to MIG people. The scheme is initially envisaged for one year. As many as 70 lending institutions, including 45 Housing Finance Companies and 15 scheduled banks, signed MoU with National Housing Bank for implementation of CLSS(MIG). 

Commenting on the announcement, Parveen Jain, President, NAREDCO said, “The announcement of bringing the operational guidelines proves government’s intent to continue with the series of structured reforms subsequent to its earlier announcements.”       — PTI