Monetary and Financial Sector Reforms in India : A Central Banker's Perspective

Contents: Introduction. I. Monetary policy issues: 1. Monetary policy and prospects for investment in India. 2. The budget and the RBI: new directions. 3. Interest rates in India: status and issues. 4. Inflation in India: status and issues. 5. Monetary policy in India : objectives, instruments, operating procedures and dilemmas. II. Financial and banking sector issues: 6. Financial sector reforms and monetary policy: recent trends. 7. Financial sector reforms and the RBI’s balance sheet management. 8. Financial sector reform: review and prospects. 9. Banking soundness, monetary policy and macroeconomic management. 10. Corporate governance in financial sector. 11. Universal banking and beyond. III. External sector issues: 12. Capital flight: myths and realities. 13. Gold in the Indian economic system. 14. Gold Banking in India. 15. Exchange rate management dilemmas. 16. The Asian crisis: asking the right questions. 17. Managing capital flows. IV. Financial markets: 18. Development of debt markets in India. 19. Development of the money market in India. 20. Development of forex markets: the Indian experience. V. Fiscal issues: 21. Restructuring of public finances and macroeconomy stability. 22. Public debt: current issues. 23. State finances and RBI initiatives. Index.

"This book focuses on the essential aspects of monetary and financial sector reforms in India, delineating the broad framework in which such reforms were undertaken. The author, a reputed central banker, brings to bear his vast and varied experience to throw light on various vital topics such as monetary policy issues; financial and banking sector reforms; external sector issues; financial markets; and fiscal issues. The East Asian crisis, its consequences and the lessons for India have also been highlighted.

The collection of lectures (included in this book) provides a detailed analysis of the important challenges in the financial and monetary spheres. The lectures give insights into the evolution of policies and illustrate the complexities involved in translating the policy objectives into discrete policy actions and their operational significance. The policy perspectives would be of interest to academics, students, decision-makers, market participants, financial analysts and journalists." (jacket)