UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 26th March 2025

Home UPSC Current Affairs IMF Asks Indian Banks to Adopt Global Norms for Credit Risk Management

IMF Asks Indian Banks to Adopt Global Norms for Credit Risk Management

Why in News?

In March 2025, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) released its Financial System Stability Assessment (FSSA) report for India as part of the Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP). The report, released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), highlights India’s financial sector progress since 2017 while recommending adoption of global risk norms like IFRS 9, and enhanced oversight in credit risk, insurance, and cybersecurity.

Key Highlights of the IMF’s FSSA Report

Credit Risk Management:

- Indian banks are advised to adopt International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS 9) to improve credit provisioning and risk classification.
- IMF recommends tighter supervision of:
  - Individual loans
  - Collateral valuation
  - Connected borrower groups

Resilience of the Financial Sector:

- Since 2017, India’s financial system has become more diverse and resilient.
- Banks and NBFCs have sufficient capital buffers to withstand moderate financial shocks.
- The sector has recovered from past NPAs, IL&FS crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Inclusion and Digital Infrastructure:

- Public Digital Infrastructure (PDI) like UPI, Aadhaar, and Jan Dhan has deepened retail financial inclusion.
- Financial Inclusion Index improved from 43.4 in 2017 to 64.2 in 2024.
- Over 548 million Jan Dhan accounts have been opened with a collective balance of ₹2.45 trillion.

NBFC and Insurance Sector Evolution:

- The NBFC sector is now more interconnected with the banking sector.
- The insurance sector has remained stable due to better regulation and digital innovation.
- The IMF urges adoption of risk-based solvency frameworks and stronger group supervision in insurance.

Credit Access to Underserved Sectors:

- IMF calls for legal, tax, and information infrastructure reforms to promote digital and asset-based lending for underserved sectors, including MSMEs.

Emerging Risks Identified by IMF

Cybersecurity:
- RBI has improved cybersecurity oversight, but the IMF recommends:
  - Expanded crisis simulations
  - Market-wide stress testing
  - Cross-sectoral resilience analysis
Climate Change Risks:
- Climate-related financial risks are manageable for now, but:
  - Granular data and climate risk mapping are needed.
  - Scenario-based stress testing should be introduced.
Systemic Contagion:
- Interconnectedness of financial entities could pose systemic risks.
- Requires continuous macroprudential monitoring.

Relevance for India’s Financial Sector Governance

Aligning with Global Norms:
- Adoption of IFRS 9 and risk-based supervision will:
  - Improve transparency and global investor confidence
  - Enhance India’s integration into global financial markets
Deepening Financial Inclusion:
- India’s digital financial ecosystem has expanded rapidly.
- Targeted reforms can further improve access to formal credit, especially for rural populations, women, and MSMEs.
Strengthening Regulatory Architecture:
- The report underscores the need for:
  - Cross-sectoral coordination between RBI, SEBI, IRDAI
  - Upgradation of regulatory and supervisory frameworks
  - Real-time credit monitoring and risk analytics

Way Forward

Phased adoption of IFRS 9 across public and private sector banks.
Upgrade credit risk models, particularly in NBFCs and cooperative banks.
Strengthen data infrastructure for climate and cybersecurity risk analysis.
Create integrated supervision units across financial regulators for systemic risk monitoring.
Enhance financial literacy and grievance redressal to ensure inclusive access.

Conclusion

The IMF’s FSSA report provides both validation of India’s financial sector resilience and a roadmap for future reforms. As India aspires to become a $5 trillion economy, aligning with global risk management norms, enhancing credit infrastructure, and ensuring systemic resilience will be critical for sustainable and inclusive financial sector growth.