Regulatory Capital and Capital Adequacy: From Accounting Residuals to Basel III Risk Standards
Regulatory capital ensures banks can absorb losses while continuing to serve the economy, evolving from simple balance‑sheet residuals to risk‑sensitive frameworks under Basel III that cover credit, counterparty, market, and off‑balance sheet risks comprehensively. Capital adequacy today blends risk‑weighted requirements with leverage and liquidity backstops, using standardized and internal model approaches bounded by output floors…
Read article Global Financial Crisis and Basel III: How Regulation Evolved
The Global Financial Crisis (GFC) exposed critical gaps in bank capital, liquidity, risk management, and oversight; Basel III was the international regulatory response to harden bank balance sheets, curb procyclicality, and improve resilience through higher-quality capital, liquidity standards, and systemic safeguards. The reforms reframed prudential policy around loss absorbency, credible buffers, and robust supervision to…
Read article Global Banking Regulation: From the Concordat to Basel II
Global banking regulation evolved to safeguard financial stability across borders, harmonize prudential norms, and prevent regulatory arbitrage. The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) has led this evolution through milestones like the 1975 Concordat, the 1988 Basel I Accord, the 1996 Market Risk Amendment, and the 2004 Basel II framework. Basel Committee overview The BCBS…
Read article Why Do Banks Need Regulation? A Deep Dive into Banking Supervision in India
Banks are the backbone of any modern economy, acting as custodians of public savings and providers of credit that fuel growth. However, given their central role, banks are also exposed to risks that, if left unchecked, can destabilize the financial system. This is why regulation and supervision are not just necessary but critical in maintaining…
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Risk Governance for Climate Resilience and Green Finance in Banking
India’s banking sector is integrating climate risk into core risk governance, aligning with Basel principles and emerging RBI frameworks on disclosures and green finance to safeguard stability and accelerate sustainable development. Climate in India India faces high exposure to physical climate risks—extreme heat, floods, cyclones, and erratic monsoons—with systemic implications for credit, liquidity, and operational…
Corporate Governance in Banking: Principles, Practices, and Global Benchmarks
Corporate governance has emerged as a cornerstone of sustainable growth and trust in the banking sector. Sound governance ensures that banks safeguard depositor interests, maintain strong internal controls, and balance profitability with systemic stability. With the growing complexity of financial systems, regulators worldwide have laid increasing emphasis on governance frameworks to protect the integrity of…
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