This document provides an overview of the Indian financial system. It discusses key components of the system including financial markets, instruments, intermediaries and their functions. The financial system consists of money markets, capital markets, foreign exchange markets and credit markets. It facilitates the flow of funds from surplus to deficit agents through various financial institutions and markets. Major institutions include banks, non-banking financial companies and development finance institutions. Key instruments in money markets are treasury bills, commercial papers and certificates of deposit. The capital market includes equity and debt instruments. The roles of the financial system are to facilitate transactions, mobilize savings, allocate capital and monitor managers. It aims to efficiently transfer funds from lenders to borrowers.

1. ASSIGNMENT ON
INDIAN FINANCIAL SYSTEM
SUBJECT: FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
SUBMITTED TO
Professor Dr.S.V.RamanaRao.
SUBMITTED BY:
A.Saikumar (2b4-01)
M.Harish (2b4-15)
Swapna (2b4-04)
SriSudha (2b4-22)
SaiSarath (2b4-27)
V.Varsha (2b4 38).
FINANCIAL SYSTEM

2. Financial System of any country consists of financial markets, financial
intermediation and financial instruments or financial productsThe term
"finance" in our simple understanding it is perceived as equivalent to
'Money'.But finance exactly is not money, it is the source of providing funds
for a particular activity. Thus public finance does not mean the money with
the Government, but it refers to sources of raising revenue for the activities
and functions of a Government. Here some of the definitions of the word
'finance',
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth
Edition defines the term as under1:"The science of the management of money and other assets.";
2: "The management of money, banking, investments, and credit. ";
3: "finances Monetary resources; funds, especially those of a government or
corporate body"
4: "The supplying of funds or capital."
Finance therefore represents the resources by way funds needed for a
particular activity. We thus speak of 'finance' only in relation to a proposed
activity. Finance goes with commerce, business, banking etc. Finance is also
referred to as "Funds" or "Capital", when referring to the financial needs of
a corporate body.. resources needed personally by an individual for his
family and individual needs and resources needed by a business organization
to carry on its functions intended for the achievement of its corporate goals.
INDIAN FINANCIAL SYSTEM
The economic development of a nation is reflected by the progress of the
various economic units, broadly classified into corporate sector, government
and household sector. While performing their activities these units will be
placed in a surplus/deficit/balanced budgetary situations.
There are areas or people with surplus funds and there are those with a
deficit. A financial system or financial sector functions as an intermediary
and facilitates the flow of funds from the areas of surplus to the areas of
deficit. A Financial System is a composition of various institutions, markets,
regulations and laws, practices, money manager, analysts, transactions and
claims and liabilities.

3. In a financial system different parties participate in or performdifferent
functions but the common feature of all those functions is The transfer of
money from surplus to deficit economic agents. Examples:
– Bank deposits.
– Use of means of payments (cheques or electronically).
– Managing risk through investing in pensions or using
insurance.
– Direct investment through buying and selling equities and
bonds.
Transfer of funds from ultimate lenders to ultimate borrowers can be made
through direct lending; through trading in organized securities markets or
indirectly through financial intermediaries.
Financial System;
The word "system", in the term "financial system", implies a set of complex
and closely connected or interlined institutions, agents, practices, markets,
transactions, claims, and liabilities in the economy. The financial system is
concerned about money, credit and finance-the three terms are intimately
related yet are somewhat different from each other. Indian financial system
consists of financial market, financial instruments and financial
intermediation. These are briefly discussed below;
The role of a financial system
The Financial System provides the environment in which the
Individual investors and companies operate.
Financial system participants:
– Individuals.
– Companies.
– Financial institutions, private and public organizations.
– Governments.
Functions of the financial system:
– Facilitations of transfer of money.
– Primary and secondary security markets.
– Financial services.

4. Well integrated set of subsystems which facilitates the flow of funds
from area of surplus to the areas of deficit in efficient & effective way.
The financial systems of most developing countries are characterized by coexistence and co-operation between the formal and informal financial
sectors.
 The formal financial sector is characterized by the presence of an
organized, institutional and regulated system which caters to the
financial needs of the modern spheres of economy.
 The informal financial sector is an unorganized, non-institutional and
non-regulated system dealing with traditional and rural spheres of the
economy.
Financial Institutions
Financial institutions (FI) are companies that act as mediators between
surplus and deficit economic agents.
Financial Institutions:
– Deposit takers (Banks).
– Non-deposit takers(NBFCs).
- Development financial institutions.

5. Functions of financial institutions:
– provision of payment mechanism.
– facilitation of lending and borrowing.
– provision of insurance, foreign exchange and other services.
• Banks are increase and facilitate money supply.
• Banks are closely regulated.
FINANCIAL MARKETS
A Financial Market can be defined as the market in which financial assets
are created or transferred. As against a real transaction that involves
exchange of money for real goods or services, a financial transaction
involves creation or transfer of a financial asset. Financial Assets or
Financial Instruments represents a claim to the payment of a sum of money
sometime in the future and /or periodic payment in the form of interest or
dividend.
Money Market- The money market ifs a wholesale debt market for low-risk,
highly-liquid, short-term instrument. Funds are available in this market for
periods ranging from a single day up to a year. This market is dominated
mostly by government, banks and financial institutions.
Capital Market - The capital market is designed to finance the long-term
investments. The transactions taking place in this market will be for periods
over a year.
Forex Market - The Forex market deals with the multicurrency
requirements, which are met by the exchange of currencies. Depending on
the exchange rate that is applicable, the transfer of funds takes place in this
market. This is one of the most developed and integrated market across the
globe.
Credit Market- Credit market is a place where banks, FIs and NBFCs
purvey short, medium and long-term loans to corporate and individuals.
Financial Instruments
Money Market Instruments
The money market can be defined as a market for short-term money and
financial assets that are near substitutes for money. The term short-term
means generally a period upto one year and near substitutes to money is
used to denote any financial asset which can be quickly converted into money
with minimum transaction cost.

6. Some of the important money market instruments are briefly discussed
below;
1. Call/Notice Money
2. Treasury Bills
3. Term Money
4. Certificate of Deposit
5. Commercial Papers
1. Call /Notice-Money Market
Call/Notice money is the money borrowed or lent on demand for a very short
period. When money is borrowed or lent for a day, it is known as Call
(Overnight) Money. Intervening holidays and/or Sunday are excluded for this
purpose. Thus money, borrowed on a day and repaid on the next working
day, (irrespective of the number of intervening holidays) is "Call Money".
When money is borrowed or lent for more than a day and up to 14 days, it is
"Notice Money". No collateral security is required to cover these
transactions.
2. Inter-Bank Term Money
Inter-bank market for deposits of maturity beyond 14 days is referred to as
the term money market. The entry restrictions are the same as those for
Call/Notice Money except that, as per existing regulations, the specified
entities are not allowed to lend beyond 14 days.
3. Treasury Bills.
Treasury Bills are short term (up to one year) borrowing instruments of the
union government. It is an IOU of the Government. It is a promise by the
Government to pay a stated sum after expiry of the stated period from the
date of issue (14/91/182/364 days i.e. less than one year). They are issued at
a discount to the face value, and on maturity the face value is paid to the
holder. The rate of discount and the corresponding issue price are
determined at each auction.
4. Certificate of Deposits
Certificates of Deposit (CDs) is a negotiable money market instrument nd
issued in dematerialized form or as a Usance Promissory Note, for funds
deposited at a bank or other eligible financial institution for a specified time
period. Guidelines for issue of CDs are presently governed by various
directives issued by the Reserve Bank of India, as amended from time to time.
CDs can be issued by (i) scheduled commercial banks excluding Regional

7. Rural Banks (RRBs) and Local Area Banks (LABs); and (ii) select all-India
Financial Institutions that have been permitted by RBI to raise short-term
resources within the umbrella limit fixed by RBI. Banks have the freedom to
issue CDs depending on their requirements. An FI may issue CDs within the
overall umbrella limit fixed by RBI, i.e., issue of CD together with other
instruments viz., term money, term deposits, commercial papers and
intercorporate deposits should not exceed 100 per cent of its net owned
funds, as per the latest audited balance sheet.
5. Commercial Paper
CP is a note in evidence of the debt obligation of the issuer. On issuing
commercial paper the debt obligation is transformed into an instrument. CP
is thus an unsecured promissory note privately placed with investors at a
discount rate to face value determined by market forces. CP is freely
negotiable by endorsement and delivery. A company shall be eligible to issue
CP provided - (a) the tangible net worth of the company, as per the latest
audited balance sheet, is not less than Rs. 4 crore; (b) the working capital
(fund-based) limit of the company from the banking system is not less than
Rs.4 crore and (c) the borrowal account of the company is classified as a
Standard Asset by the financing bank/s. The minimum maturity period of CP
is 7 days. The minimum credit rating shall be P-2 of CRISIL or such
equivalent rating by other agencies.
Capital Market Instruments
The capital market generally consists of the following long term period i.e.,
more than one year period, financial instruments; In the equity segment
Equity shares, preference shares, convertible preference shares, nonconvertible preference shares etc and in the debt segment debentures, zero
coupon bonds, deep discount bonds etc.
Financial Services:
The term ―financial service‖ means anyservice of a financial nature offered
by afinancial service supplier of a Party.Financial services include all
insurance andinsurance-related services, and all bankingand other financial
services (excludinginsurance).Financial services include thefollowing
activities:
A, Insurance and Insurance-Related Services(AA) direct insurance
(including co- insurance):
(a)Life
(b)Non-life

8. (B) Reinsurance and retrocession;
(C) Insurance intermediation, such asbrokerage and agency;
(D) Services auxiliary to insurance, suchas consultancy, actuarial,
riskassessment and claim settlementservices;
Banking and Other Financial Services(Excluding Insurance)
(AA) acceptance of deposits and otherrepayable funds from the
public;
(BB) lending of all types, includingconsumer credit, mortgage
credit,factoring and financing of commercialtransaction;
(CC) financial leasing
(DD) all payment and money transmissionservices, including credit, charge
anddebit cards, travelers cheques andbankers drafts;
(EE) guarantees and commitments;
(FF) trading for own account or for accountof customers, whether on an
exchange,in an over-the-counter market orotherwise, the following:
(a)Moneymarketinstruments(including cheques, bills,certificates
of deposits);
(b)Foreignexchange;
(c)Derivativeproductsincluding,butnot limited to, futures andoptions;
(d)Exchangerateandinterestrateinstruments, including productssuch as
swaps, forward rateagreements;
(ee)transferablesecurities;
(ff)othernegotiableinstrumentsandfinancial assets, includingbullion;
(GG) participation in issues of all kinds ofsecurities, including underwriting
andplacement as agent (whether publicly orprivately) and provision of
servicesrelated to such issues;
(HH) money broking;

9. Functions of financial services
1. Facilitating transactions (exchange of goods and services) in the economy.
2. Mobilizing savings (for which the outlets would otherwise be much more
limited).
3. Allocating capital funds (notably to finance productive investment).
4. Monitoring managers (so that the funds allocated will be spent as
envisaged).
5.Transforming risk (reducing it through aggregation and enabling it to be
carried by those more willing to bear it).
Characteristics and Features of Financial Services
i) Customer-Specific: Financial services are usually customer focused. The
firms providing these services, study the needs of their customers in detail
before deciding their financial strategy, giving due regard to costs, liquidity
and maturity considerations. Financial services firms continuously remain in
touch with their customers, so that they can design products which can cater
to the specific needs of their customers. The providers of financial services
constantly carry out market surveys, so they can offer new products much
ahead of need and impending legislation. Newer technologies are being used
to introduce innovative, customer friendly products and services which
clearly indicate that the concentration of the providers of financial services
is on generating firm/customer specific services.
ii) Intangibility: In a highly competitive global environment brand image is
very crucial. Unless the financial institutions providing financial products
and services have good image, enjoying the confidence of their clients, they
may not be successful. Thus institutions have to focus on the quality and
innovativeness of their services to build up their credibility.
iii) Concomitant: Production of financial services and supply of these
services have to be concomitant. Both these functions i.e. production of new
and innovative financial services and supplying of these services are to be
performed simultaneously.
iv) Tendency to Perish: Unlike any other service, financial services do tend
to perish and hence cannot be stored. They have to be supplied as required
by the customers. Hence financial institutions have to ensure a proper
synchronization of demand and supply.

10. v) People based services: Marketing of financial services has to be people
intensive and hence it‘s subjected to variability of performance or quality of
service. The personnel in financial services organization need to be selected
on the basis of their suitability and trained properly, so that they can perform
their activities efficiently and effectively.
vi) Market Dynamics: The market dynamics depends to a great extent, on
socioeconomic changes such as disposable income, standard of living and
educational changes related to the various classes of customers. Therefore
financial services have to be constantly redefined and refined taking into
consideration the market dynamics. The institutions providing financial
services, while evolving new services could be proactive in visualizing in
advance what the market wants, or being reactive to the needs and wants of
their customers.
Scope of Financial Services
Financial services cover a wide range of activities. They can be broadly
classified into two, namely:
i. Traditional. Activities
ii.Modern activities.
i. Traditional Activities
Traditionally, the financial intermediaries have been rendering a wide range
of services encompassing both capital and money market activities. They can
be grouped under two heads, viz.
1. Fund based activities and
2. Non-fund based activities.
Fund based activities: The traditional services which come under fund based
activities are the following:
Underwriting or investment in shares, debentures, bonds, etc. of new issues
(primary market activities).
Dealing in secondary market activities.
Participating in money market instruments like commercial
Papers, certificate of deposits, treasury bills, discounting of bills etc.
Involving in equipment leasing, hire purchase, venture capital, seed capital,

11. Dealing in foreign exchange market activities. Non fund based activities
Non fund based activities
Financial intermediaries provide services on the basis of non-fund activities
also. This can be called ‗fee based‘ activity. Today customers, whether
individual or corporate, are not satisfied with mere provisions of finance.
They expect more from financial services companies. Hence a wide variety of
services, are being provided under this head. They include:
Managing the capital issue — i.e. management of pre-issue and post-issue
activities relating to the capital issue in accordance with the SEBI guidelines
and thus enabling the promoters to market their issue.
Making arrangements for the placement of capital and debt instruments with
investment institutions.
Arrangement of funds from financial institutions for the clients‘ project cost
or his working capital requirements.
Assisting in the process of getting all Government and other clearances.
ii. Modern Activities
Beside the above traditional services, the financial intermediaries render
innumerable services in recent times. Most of them are in the nature of nonfund based activity. In view of the importance, these activities have been in
brief under the head ‗New financial products and services‘. However, some
of the modern services provided by them are given in brief hereunder.
Rendering project advisory services right from the preparation of the project
report till the raising of funds for starting the project with necessary
Government approvals.
Guiding corporate customers in capital restructuring.
Acting as trustees to the debenture holders.
Recommending suitable changes in the management structure and
management style with a view to achieving better results.
Structuring the financial collaborations / joint ventures by identifying
suitable joint venture partners and preparing joint venture agreements.
Rehabilitating and restructuring sick companies through appropriate scheme
of reconstruction and facilitating the implementation of the scheme.
Hedging of risks due to exchange rate risk, interest rate risk, economic risk,
and political risk by using swaps and other derivative products.

12. Managing In- portfolio of large Public Sector Corporations.
Undertaking risk management services like insurance services, buy-hack
options etc.
Advising the clients on the questions of selecting the best source of funds
taking into consideration the quantum of funds required, their cost, lending
period etc.
Guiding the clients in the minimization of the cost of debt and in the
determination of the optimum debt-equity mix.
Promoting credit rating agencies for the purpose of rating companies which
want to go public by the issue of debt instrument.
Undertaking services relating to the capital market, such as 1)Clearing
services, 2)Registration and transfers, 3)Safe custody of securities,
4)Collection of income on securities.
Regulators
The formal financial system comes under the regulations of
 The ministry of finance (MOF),
 Reserve Bank of India (RBI),
 Securities and Exchange board of India (SEBI) and other regulatory
bodies.
Reference:
 Khan M Y, "Indian Financial System, Tata McGraw-Hill, New Delhi,
2001
 Mishra R K, An Overview of financial services, financial services,
emerging trends, Delta, Hyderabad, 1997.
 www.nseindia.com
www.rbi.org.in
www.sebi.gov.in,www.indiainfoline.com