This report by the external expert panel (“the panel”) examines the effectiveness and appropriateness of the safeguards assessments policy in the five years since its last review in 2010. In addition to expressing an opinion on the effectiveness and appropriateness of the safeguards assessment policy, the panel also makes recommendations to the Executive Board for its consideration to improve and optimize the benefits to be garnered from the safeguards assessment policy. The panel’s opinion is based on (i) consultations with key stakeholders, including central bank authorities, IMF Executive Directors’ offices, Fund and World Bank staff; (ii) examination of safeguards assessment and other Fund-specific documents; and (iii) study of international reference materials.

This report by the external expert panel (“the panel”) examines the effectiveness and appropriateness of the safeguards assessments policy in the five years since its last review in 2015. In addition to expressing an opinion on the effectiveness and appropriateness of the safeguards assessment policy, the panel also makes recommendations to the Executive Board for its consideration to improve and optimize the benefits to be garnered from the safeguards assessment policy. The panel’s opinion is based on (i) consultations with key stakeholders, including central bank authorities, IMF Executive Directors’ offices, and Fund staff; (ii) examination of safeguards assessment and other Fund-specific documents; and (iii) study of international reference materials.

This paper reviews experience with the safeguards assessment policy since the last review in 2010. The policy is subject to periodic reviews by the Executive Board. The policy’s main objective is to mitigate risks of misuse of Fund resources and misreporting of monetary data under Fund arrangements. Consistent with past reviews, an external panel of experts provided an independent perspective on the implementation of the policy.

Banking Theory and Practice covers the entire gamut of topics in the field of banking–from its evolution to the latest trends. The Indian banking system is undergoing unprecedented changes as a result of new legislations and reforms in response to the contemporary needs. The present edition has kept pace with these developments, including the changes in legislation, growing globalization of banking, as well as the expansion of the banking business to meet the needs of customers for a wider range of services. The book, which was initially aimed to serve the needs of undergraduate students, has over the years deepened and widened in both scope and contents. It is now an essential resource not only for undergraduate students, but also for professional bankers and those who pursue more advanced and practically oriented studies on the subject. KEY FEATURES • Subject matter thoroughly revised and statistical data updated • Covers the move towards universal banking, virtual banking, green banking • Includes flexi bank accounts and speed clearing • Covers Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2011 • A new chapter on Financial Stability, especially in the Indian context • Covers changes in the operating procedure of monetary policy • Payments and settlement system and its development in India, including introduction of NEFT, CTS, National ECS, MICR cheques and RTGS • Learning objectives at the beginning of each chapter • Summary and review questions at the end of each chapter

Controversies over issues such as genetically engineered food, foot-and-mouth disease and the failure of risk models in the global financial crisis have raised concerns about the quality of expert scientific advice. The legitimacy of experts, and of the political decision-makers and policy-makers whom they advise, essentially depends on the quality of the advice. But what does quality mean in this context, and how can it be achieved? This volume argues that the quality of scientific advice can be ensured by an appropriate institutional design of advisory organisations. Using examples from a wide range of international case studies, including think tanks, governmental research institutes, agencies and academies, the authors provide a systematic guide to the major problems and pitfalls encountered in scientific advice and the means by which organisations around the world have solved these problems.