SEBI’s proposed changes can spruce up investment advisory regulations
The new proposals can significantly increase the number of RIAs by relaxing the requirement of having a Master’s degree and prior work experience and by lowering net-worth requirements.
Notes from Consumers International’s Global Congress 2023
Consumer protection in financial services is a core component of Dvara Research’s mission, activities and its advocacy agenda. In this regard, I had the opportunity to participate at Consumers International’s Global Congress 2023, in Nairobi, Kenya, in December 2023.
Our Response to RBI’s Draft Omnibus Framework for recognising Self-Regulatory Organisations (SROs) for Regulated Entities (REs)
In this blogpost, we present our comments primarily to the former, but significantly implicating the latter. We include both frameworks since they cover similar subject matter – the creation of an SRO.
Moving towards harmonisation in financial regulation: Let’s start with capital
Higher capital adequacy norms locking up funds
Unpacking user-centricity of the MFIN Customer Redress Mechanism (MFIN-CGRM) Findings and recommendations
MFIN India and Dvara Research partner to gather insights on users’ experience of navigating the MFIN-Customer Grievance Redress Mechanism (MFIN-CGRM). The study deploys mixed methods — a primary survey of over 300 users, stakeholder interviews and desk research to understand the user-centricity of the MFIN-CGRM.
Recommendations Submitted to the Independent Expert Group for Strengthening the MDBs, under the G20
The SDG Agenda, the sovereign debt crisis and the climate crisis will need brave leadership from not just individual governments of both the global north and the south, but also groups such as the United Nations, the G20, G7 and others, to closely negotiate tough decisions that can have enough impact on the triple inequality – of wealth, carbon and power.
RBI’s ‘Financial Stability Reports’ and Stress Testing Methodologies
Analysing the contents of the Reserve Bank of India’s biannual FSRs and the methodology of the RBI’s supervisory stress tests reveals that there is scope for improvement, specifically regarding the continuity in the tracking of certain risk drivers, the extent of commentary on the information, and aspects of stress tests.
The factors making customers check out from the Account Aggregator journey
This post presents design elements that providers can use to make the consent artefacts more effective for constrained users. These design recommendations emerge from the insights from an immersive behavioural field study we conducted with 60 constrained customers through a gamified simulation of an AA transaction.
A Review of Life Insurance Distribution in India Regulatory Design of Distribution Channels and Incentive Structures
Large gaps exist in life insurance coverage in India. The paper examines this issue through a supply-side lens by examining the two key features—the distinction between the agent and the broker model and the alignment of incentive structures with product life-cycle servicing.
Financial Services Can Be More Humane
Tremendous efforts have gone into creating new authoritiessuch as the Central Consumer Protection Authority.
