Source: The Hindu Business Line Author: Rajalakshmi Nirmal The Center's moves to stop domestic market prices of agricultural commodities from falling, be it by increasing the minimum support price (MSP), hiking import duty or levying a minimum import price (as in the case of pepper), have not been effective. While market prices do go up … Continue reading Why crop prices are falling despite higher MSP, stiffer import tariffs

The Bangladesh–China–India–Myanmar Forum for Regional Cooperation (BCIM) is a sub-regional organisation of Asian nations aimed at greater integration of trade and investment between the four countries. BCIM Economic Corridor The BCIM Economic Corridor is an initiative conceptualized for significant gains through sub-regional economic cooperation within the BCIM. The multi-modal corridor will be the first expressway between India and China and will pass through Myanmar and Bangladesh. … Continue reading BCIM Forum and BCIM Corridor

The Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) is a method that provides feedback to voters. It is an independent verification printer machine and is attached to electronic voting machines. It allows voters to verify if their vote has gone to the intended candidate. VVPATs are a second line of verification and are particularly useful in … Continue reading Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail

Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) is a multi-disciplinary organization under Ministry of Corporate Affairs, consisting of experts in the field of accountancy, forensic auditing, law, information technology, investigation, company law, capital market and taxation for detecting and prosecuting or recommending for prosecution white-collar crimes/frauds. SFIO has head office in New Delhi and regional offices in … Continue reading Serious Fraud Investigation Office

Council for Advancement of People's Action and Rural Technology (CAPART) was formed in 1986, as a nodal agency for catalysing and coordinating the emerging partnership between voluntary organisations and the Government for sustainable development of rural areas. CAPART was formed by amalgamating two agencies the 'Council for Advancement of Rural Technology' (CART) and People's Action … Continue reading Council for Advancement of People’s Action and Rural Technology

The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) is an office within the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. It is the nodal agency to deal with cyber security threats like hacking and phishing. It strengthens security-related defence of the Indian Internet domain. CERT-In has been designated under Section 70B of Information Technology (Amendment) Act 2008 to serve as the … Continue reading Indian Computer Emergency Response Team

The marginal cost of funds based lending rate (MCLR) refers to the minimum interest rate of a bank below which it cannot lend, except in some cases allowed by the RBI. It is an internal benchmark or reference rate for the bank. The MCLR methodology for fixing interest rates for advances was introduced by the … Continue reading Marginal cost of funds based lending rate (MCLR)

Basis point (BPS) refers to a common unit of measure for interest rates and other percentages in finance. One basis point is equal to 1/100th of 1%, or 0.01%, or 0.0001, and is used to denote the percentage change in a financial instrument. The relationship between percentage changes and basis points can be summarized as … Continue reading Basis point (BPS)

LIBOR or ICE LIBOR (previously BBA LIBOR) is a benchmark rate, which some of the world’s leading banks charge each other for short-term loans. It stands for Intercontinental Exchange London Interbank Offered Rate and serves as the first step to calculating interest rates on various loans throughout the world. LIBOR is administered by the ICE Benchmark Administration (IBA), and … Continue reading What is ‘LIBOR’

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. IUCN, headquartered in Switzerland, was established on 5 October 1948. As the first global environmental union, it brought together governments and civil society organisations with a shared goal to protect nature. Its aim was to encourage international … Continue reading International Union for Conservation of Nature