Introduction

India's economic progress, which is largely dependent on the Financial Sector, is not only a key factor of stability in the global economy, but also a source of immense economic opportunity for the world. The far-reaching changes in the Indian economy since liberalization in the early 1990s have had a deep impact on the Indian financial sector. India’s financial sector has been one of the fastest growing sectors in the economy. The economy has witnessed increased private sector activity including an explosion of foreign banks, insurance companies, mutual funds, venture capital and investment institutions. The various steps taken by the government and the regulators since liberalization to meet the challenges of a complex financial architecture have ensured that a new face of the Indian financial sector is emerging to culminate into a strong, transparent and resilient system.

Several new instruments and products have been introduced. Existing sectors have been opened to new private players. The entry of new players has led to existing players upgrading their product offerings and distribution channels. Financial intermediaries too have gradually moved to internationally acceptable norms for income recognition, asset classification, provisioning and capital adequacy. This has given a strong impetus to the development and modernization of the financial sector. Going forward the aim would be to achieve international standards in this area within the shortest possible time frame. With this firm resolve, CCI’s Financial Sector aims to facilitate a comprehensive forum for dialogue between India Inc. and policy makers thereby aiming to provide necessary directions to all stake holders and business processes.

The mandate of the Department of Financial Services covers the functioning of Banks, Financial Institutions, Insurance Companies and the National Pension System. The Department is headed by the Secretary, (Financial Services) who is assisted by three Additional Secretary (AS), six Joint Secretaries (JS), two Economic Advisers (EA) and a Deputy Director General (DDG).

The Department of Financial Services (DFS) oversees several key programs/initiatives and reforms of the Government concerning the Banking Sector, the Insurance Sector and the Pension Sector in India. Initiatives and reforms relating to Financial Inclusion, Social Security, and Insurance as a Risk Transfer mechanism; Credit Flow to the key sectors of the economy/ farmers/ common man are some of the key focus areas being dealt by the Department. The key flagship schemes being currently run/managed by the Department include the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), Atal Pension Yojana (APY), Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY) and the Stand Up India Scheme.

The Department provides policy support to the Public Sector banks (PSBs), Public Sector Insurance Companies (PSICs) and Development Financial Institutions (DFIs) like National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd. (IIFCL), National Housing Bank (NHB), Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank), Industrial Finance Corporation of India (IFCI). It also monitors the performance of these PSBs, PSICs and DFIs and undertakes policy formulation in respect of the Banking and Insurance Sector in India. This Department deals with legislative and policy issues pertaining to the concerned regulatory bodies i.e. the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) and the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). DFS also deals with the legislative framework relating to debt recovery.