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Financial Market

Financial Market

National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA)

National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) From the current fiscal year, auditors of 1,000 big Indian publicly traded businesses will need to submit transparency reports to the National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) in the required manner. It will raise investor confidence in auditors and enhance their credibility. About NFRA: NFRA was established by the Indian government in 2018 in accordance with section 132 (1) of the Companies Act, 2013. It is a regulator of audits. Background: After the role of auditors and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India came under scrutiny for alleged shortcomings in a number of corporate scandals,…

18 January, 2023 Financial Market

Sovereign Green Bonds

Sovereign Green Bonds The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will issue Sovereign Green Bonds for the first time in the current fiscal year in two tranches of Rs 8,000 crore each. On January 25 and February 9, the RBI would issue green bonds for five and ten years worth Rs 4,000 crore each. In November 2022, the government released the blueprint for the sovereign green bond. About the green bond: Companies, nations, and international organizations all offer green bonds, which guarantee fixed-income payments to investors while only funding initiatives that benefit the environment or the climate. The initiatives could involve,…

09 January, 2023 Financial Market

26th Financial Stability Report (FSR)

26th Financial Stability Report (FSR) The Reserve Bank published the Financial Stability Report's 26th edition.  The report details the Sub-Committee of the Financial Stability and Development Council's (FSDC) collective assessment of threats to financial stability and the financial system's resilience. India's banks and non-bank lenders are capable of withstanding even the worst macroeconomic stress, according to the RBI's most recent Financial Stability Report (FSR). The RBI's stress testing models have historically come under fire for having a sizable upward bias. Findings of the report: The stability of the financial system is being strengthened and resilient by the sound balance sheets…

01 January, 2023 Financial Market

Financial Consumer Protection (FCP)

Financial Consumer Protection (FCP) The OECD recently published a draft of proposed revisions to their 2011 High-level Principles on Financial Consumer Protection (FCP). More on the news: The OECD is working on ways to improve financial consumer protection, including determining what is needed to help consumers gain the confidence, knowledge, information, security, and choices they need to fully participate in financial markets. The OECD's principles address three interconnected themes: financial well-being, digitalization, and sustainable finance. The OECD's FCP principles for 2011 addressed ten thematic areas, including Market and consumer issues, Equitable and fair consumer treatment, Disclosures and transparency, and Financial education.…

26 November, 2022 Financial Market

India’s First Sovereign Green Bonds Framework

India’s First Sovereign Green Bonds Framework The final Sovereign Green Bonds Framework of India was just authorised by the Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs. It will be possible to raise money for green projects by issuing sovereign green bonds. What is the framework for sovereign green bonds? The Framework closely follows the Prime Minister's explanation of India's "Panchamrit" pledges at the Conference of Parties (COP) 26 in Glasgow in November 2021. India's dedication to its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets, set forth under the Paris Agreement, would be further strengthened. In order to approve important choices for the…

15 November, 2022 Financial Market

Sustainable Finance for the Future

Sustainable Finance for the Future A Committee on Sustainable Finance, appointed by the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), has submitted its report on Sustainable Finance, which includes recommendations for the development of the carbon market, among other things. What exactly is Sustainable Finance? Sustainable finance is defined as investment decisions that consider an economic activity's or project's environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors. Environmental factors include climate change mitigation and the use of renewable resources. Human and animal rights, as well as consumer protection and diverse hiring practises, are examples of social factors. The management, employee relations, and compensation…

07 October, 2022 Financial Market

INDIA'S FIRST BULLION EXCHANGE

INDIA'S FIRST BULLION EXCHANGE The Prime Minister recently launched India's first international bullion exchange - India International Bullion Exchange (IIBX)- in Gujarat. The bullion exchange was launched at the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) GIFT City in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Bullion refers to physical gold and silver of high purity often kept in the form of bars, ingots, or coins. It can be considered legal tender and is often held as reserves by central banks or held by institutional investors.   IIBX The National Stock Exchange, Multi Commodity Exchange, India INX International Exchange, National Securities Depository, and Central Depository Services Ltd…

30 July, 2022 Financial Market

Retail Direct Scheme and The Integrated Ombudsman

Retail Direct Scheme and The Integrated Ombudsman Scheme Context: This Topic is important for UPSE Prelims and GS Paper 3. How will the new scheme allow small investors to buy or sell government securities? Why were the three different ombudsman schemes repealed? The story so far: The RBI had announced proposals for the Retail Direct Scheme for investors in government securities and the Integrated Ombudsman Scheme in February. The schemes were unveiled by the Prime Minister on November 12. What is the Retail Direct Scheme? Under the Retail Direct Scheme, small investors can now buy or sell government securities (G-Secs),…

14 November, 2021 Financial Market

FSDC (Financial Stability and Development Council)

FSDC (Financial Stability and Development Council) With a view to strengthening and institutionalizing the mechanism for maintaining financial stability, enhancing inter-regulatory coordination and promoting financial sector development, the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) was set up by the Government as the apex level forum in December 2010. The Chairman of the FSDC is the Finance Minister and its members include the heads of financial sector Regulators (RBI, SEBI, PFRDA, IRDA & FMC) Finance Secretary and/or Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Secretary, Department of Financial Services, and Chief Economic Adviser. The Council can invite experts to its meeting if required.…

28 August, 2021 Financial Market

Currency Swap Agreement between SL & India

Currency Swap Agreement between SL & India The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) settled a $400 million currency swap facility from the Reserve Bank (RBI) of India. What is a Currency Swap Facility? The term swap means exchange. Under this agreement, two contracting countries loan each other a specified amount in local currencies. Currency swap agreements involve trade in local currencies, where countries pay for imports and exports at pre-determined rates of exchange without the involvement of a third-country currency like the US dollar. Benefits of Currency Swap facility: The swap operations carry no exchange rate or other market…

07 February, 2021 Financial Market

UNDP and PCMC join hands for ‘first social impact bond’

 UNDP and PCMC join hands for ‘first social impact bond’ Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, Pune has recently signed an MoU with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India to co-create India’s first Social Impact Bond (SIB). This is the first time that a government body will act as the ‘outcome funder’ in a bond, whereas traditionally most government-funded public projects require large and early investments by the government with a substantial gestation period of outcomes and involve various kinds of risks. A Social Impact Bond also called a pay-for-success bond or pay-for-success financing or simply social bond is basically a contract with public sector authority,…

02 January, 2021 Financial Market

IFSCA becomes Associate Member of IOSCO

 IFSCA becomes Associate Member of IOSCO The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) has become an Associate Member of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO). The headquarters of IOSCO is at Madrid, Spain. The IOSCO is the international organization of the world’s securities regulators, covering more than 95% of the world’s securities markets, and is also the global standard-setter for the securities sector. It works intensively with the G20 and the Financial Stability Board (FSB) on the global regulatory reform agenda. With this new membership, IFSCA will get the platform to exchange information at the global level and regional level on areas of common interests and…

02 January, 2021 Financial Market

Special Drawing Rights: IMF

Special Drawing Rights: IMF Recently, the Finance Minister of India opposed a general allocation of new Special Drawing Rights (SDR) by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) because it might not be effective in easing Covid-19-driven financial pressures. The Finance Minister was concerned that such a major liquidity injection could produce potentially costly side-effects if countries used the funds for irrelevant purposes. The new SDR allocation will provide all 189 members with new foreign exchange reserves with no conditions. Imp Points The SDR is neither a currency nor a claim on the IMF. Rather, it is a potential claim on the freely usable currencies of IMF members. SDRs can be exchanged for…

18 April, 2020 Financial Market

World Bank’s ease of doing business ranking (India 63rd Rank)

World Bank’s ease of doing business ranking (India 63rd Rank) Context: India hiked 14 places to the 63rd position on the World Bank’s ease of doing business ranking India is  among the top 10 performers on the list for the third time in a row New Zealand, Singapore and Hong Kong topped World Bank applauded the reform efforts undertaken by the India in its report India is the first country of its type to jump this year by 14 position. From 140 to 63: 140th position in 2014. 100th position in 2018 77th position in 2019 63rd now Reasons : ‘Make in India’…

25 October, 2019 Financial Market

Government responds to downturn with steps to boost growth

GS-III: Government responds to the downturn with steps to boost growth Context The announcements come at a time when the perception that the slowdown has been aggravating in recent weeks and spreading across sectors. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a partial rollback of the enhanced surcharge on foreign portfolio investors (FPI) levied in the Budget and indicated a review of the surcharge levy for high net worth individuals as well. Announcements Surcharge on long and short term capital gains arising from transfer of equity shares has been withdrawn. The CSR violation would be treated as a civil offence, and not…

24 August, 2019 Financial Market

Fiscal wheels must also roll in order to make monetary policy effective.

GS-III: Fiscal wheels must also roll in order to make monetary policy effective Context Through four successive reductions in this year, RBI has reduced the repo rate by 110 basis points to 5.4%. Status of the rate cut The economy has been slow to respond to these incremental monetary stimuli.  Quarterly growth data show a continuing slowdown, mainly driven by sluggish demand, due to both external and domestic factors. There is substantial excess capacity in the manufacturing sector. With unutilized capacity, temporary and casual employees are being laid off and wage hikes are being postponed, reducing levels of aggregate disposable…

06 August, 2019 Financial Market

Governing India through fiscal math

GS-III: Governing India through fiscal math Context While it is important for a government to pursue a sound economic policy, including management of the public finances, it is yet another matter to make a fetish of any one aspect of it. The latter appears to govern this government’s approach to policy when the fiscal deficit is given pride of place in its self-assessment. Thread of fiscal discipline Soon after the Budget for 2019-20 was presented, one of the Finance Minister’s predecessors remarked that “fiscal prudence rewards economies”. It figured in the most recent Economic Survey, and its anticipated magnitude for 2019-20…

02 August, 2019 Financial Market

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