The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today approved for withdrawing of the International Financial Services Centres Authority, 2019 Bill which was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on 12th February, 2019 and pending in the Rajya Sabha and introducing the International Financial Services Centres Authority Bill, 2019 in the Lok Sabha in the  ensuing session of the Parliament.

Benefits

Currently the banking, capital markets and insurance sectors in IFSC are regulated by multiple regulators i.e. RBI, SEBI and IRDAI.  The dynamic nature of business in the IFSCs necessitates a high degree of inter-regulatory coordination.  It also requires clarifications and frequent amendments in the existing regulations governing financial activities in IFSCs.

The development of financial services and products in IFSCs would require focused and dedicated regulatory interventions.  Hence a need is felt for having a unified financial regulator for IFSCs in India to provide world class regulatory environment to financial market participants.

Further, this would also be essential from an ease of doing business perspective. The unified authority would also provide the much needed impetus to further development of IFSC in India in-sync with the global best practices.

Background

The Union Cabinet in its meeting held on February 6, 2019 had approved the proposal for establishment of a unified authority for regulating all financial services through the introduction of the International Financial Services Centres Authority Bill 2019 in the Parliament.  Subsequently, the International Financial Services Centres Authority Bill, 2019 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on February 12, 2019 by the then Hon’ble Minister of State (Finance).

The Lok Sabha Secretariat has now conveyed that this is a Finance Bill under Article 117(1) of the Constitution and that it should be introduced in Lok Sabha accordingly with the recommendation of the President under Article 117(1) and 274(1) of the Constitution.

Unified IFSC regulator bill re-proposed for introduction following finance-bill procedural requirements and formal recommendation requirement. The International Financial Services Centres Authority Bill, 2019 is being reintroduced in the appropriate parliamentary chamber after withdrawal from the other chamber to create a unified regulator for IFSCs, addressing fragmented oversight by multiple regulators, enhancing inter-regulatory coordination, providing regulatory clarity and dedicated interventions for product and market development; the Bill is treated as a finance-bill requiring the constitutionally mandated recommendation for introduction.