Financial Inclusion in India - Mandira Sarma
Commencement: February 2008
This study aims to analyse the problem and extent of financial exclusion and its implications in India. In particular, the study attempts to understand the ‘unbanked’ segment of the economy from the demand as well the supply side.
This study is being carried out in two phases: Phase I consists of a survey of the relevant literature and an analysis of secondary data. The literature survey is aimed at understanding the core issues and identifying gaps in the literature. The secondary data analysis is aimed at understanding the extent of financial exclusion in India and the socio-economic, regional and geographical profile of those who are financially excluded. This analysis will also help identify study areas for field survey(s) to be carried out in Phase II of the project.
In the Phase II of the project, survey-based studies in the most unbanked and the least unbanked states in India will be carried out. In each of the study areas, two sets of sample surveys will be conducted, one for the bankers operating in the area and the second one for the financially excluded households, to understand the supply-and demand sides of the problem of financial exclusion in India.
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South-South FDI, Third World Multinationals and Development: South Africa, East Africa and India – Amit Shovan Ray, Subhasis Bera and Shikha Gupta
Sponsoring Agency: The EDGE Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa
Commencement: September 2007
The study based on a detailed questionnaire, canvassed by way of interviews of about 200 firms, tries to identify the factors that explain the difference in behaviour of FDI emanating from developed and developing economies. The field work and primary data collection includes firms from OECD and developing countries that have invested in India and also Indian firms investing abroad
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Updating the information on India’s compliance with International Standards and Codes and Business Indicators – Rajiv Kumar and Sirjjan Preet
Sponsoring Agency: Westchester Group, USA
Commencement: September 2008
The Asian crisis of 1997 emphasized the need for greater information exchange and international co-operation in financial supervision and surveillance. Finance ministers and central bank governors of G-7 nations convened a Financial Stability Forum (FSF) that later came up with 12 Key Standards for Sound Financial Systems. This gave momentum to a broad-based multilateral agenda for strengthening financial systems and the stability of international financial markets. The compendium of 12 key standards serves as an international benchmark for good practice and sound financial system. Country specific circumstances lead to variation in international endorsement and priority implementation of the standards but they also ensure that the economies function well, both at the national and international level.
Against this backdrop, this study entails a comprehensive assessment of the Indian financial sector covering banking, securities and insurance sectors with a view to:
- gauge the vulnerabilities affecting Indian financial system
- measure the robustness of our institutional and market infrastructure
- identify the risks and structural weaknesses
- oversee action needed to address these
- verify if the regulatory and supervisory practices are consistent with international best practices.
The overall purpose is to gauge the strengths and vulnerabilities of the Indian financial system as a whole, as well as of the parts.
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