Why customer protection is central to financial inclusion
India needs a robust and comprehensive financial customer protection regime, which it currently lacks. Imagine the following scenario. Raja and Rani are a low-income householder couple with two children in elementary school. They also take care of Raja’s ailing mother. The household’s monthly income is ₹20,000.
Moving towards harmonisation in financial regulation: Let’s start with capital
Higher capital adequacy norms locking up funds
Digital Deception: Navigating the maze of social engineering frauds in the age of instant transactions
These fraudulent messages have proliferated during the pandemic, where fraudsters induce panic or excitement that impairs the customers’ ability to think clearly.
Let’s not conflate microfinance with self-help-group financing
The microfinance industry has witnessed moves by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to revise the regulatory framework (March 2022) for it and also caution it against an exclusive focus on business growth (November 2022).
Tackling customer protection issues in life insurance for low-income households
Insurance companies should align their sales practices to generate the best outcomes for low income households by ensuring easy access to a variety of products with disclosures that provide accurate information.
G20 meeting echoed importance of digital public infrastructure but there are four challenges
The promise of SP-ODEs is compelling but it is worth reiterating that deploying them would not automatically translate into better welfare delivery.
How govt surveys can be updated to better understand the financial lives of Indian households
There is a need for updated dataset on households’ consumption patterns, increased frequency of surveys on households’ balance sheet, and to collect data on financial well-being.
Why endowment plan, a traditional life insurance scheme, is part of most household finances
Unlike term plans that provide life risk cover or unit-linked schemes, where returns are market-linked, endowment plans offer maturity benefits upon survival & minimum guaranteed return.
How important is a ‘key facts statement’ and what it does (or doesn’t) tell you about your loan
Unlike terms & condition document, key facts statement is a simple, page-long snapshot of key information about a loan. However, depth of information it offers can be shallow.
Suitable or unsuitable? Understanding the role of credit in finances of low-income households
Low-income households seek loans often, but credit is suitable if it helps sustain or improve financial well-being. This is what must be ensured by lenders, regulators & policymakers.
