Magazine

Vidya Lakshmi Portal and PM-Vidyalaxmi Scheme: A One-Stop Platform for Education Loans in India

The Vidya Lakshmi Portal is a government-run, single-window platform designed to help students access education loans and government scholarships in one place. It streamlines the process of applying for multiple loan schemes across various banks, ensuring transparency and convenience for aspiring students. The Pradhan Mantri Vidyalaxmi (PM-Vidyalaxmi) Scheme, accessed through this portal, specifically offers collateral-free…

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Parking Cash Smartly: Liquid Funds vs Ultra-Short Term Funds Explained

Liquid funds and ultra-short term funds are both SEBI-defined debt mutual fund categories designed for short horizons, but they differ mainly in portfolio duration, liquidity mechanics, risk-return profile, and use-cases for treasury and personal cash management. ​ Definitions and portfolio Investment horizon Liquidity and redemption Risk sensitivity Return potential and volatility Costs and loads Operational…

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Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) in India: Balance-Sheet Impact, Credit Transmission, and Macroeconomic Effects

The Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) requires banks to hold a minimum share of Net Demand and Time Liabilities in liquid assets such as cash, gold, and government securities, shaping banks’ balance sheets, credit supply, and interest rates while supporting financial stability and government debt markets. A higher SLR restrains bank lending capacity and can firm…

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Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) in India: Transmission, Bank Balance Sheets, and Macroeconomic Impact

The Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) is a core liquidity tool of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) that directly alters banks’ lendable resources, influences interest rates and credit growth, and transmits into inflation and output dynamics in the wider economy. Higher CRR tightens liquidity and credit conditions, while lower CRR releases primary liquidity, supporting credit…

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