RBI unveils five-year National Financial Education plan

 

On 20^th August, 2020 the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released a National Strategy for Financial Education (NSFE) : 2020-2025 document to be implemented in the next five year.

It is the second NSFE , the first one being released in 2013.

Key Points

• The NSFE: 2020-2025 intends to support the vision of the Government of India and the Financial Sector Regulators by empowering various sections of the population to develop adequate knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviour which are needed to manage their money better and to plan for the future.

• The NSFE document was released by M.K. Jain, Deputy Governor of RBI.

• The document NSFE (2020-2025) is prepared by the National Centre for Financial Education (NCFE).

• The Technical Group on Financial Inclusion and Financial Literacy (TGFIFL) would be responsible for periodic monitoring and implementation of National Strategy for Financial Education. TGFIL was set up in November 2011 by the FSDC.

• The strategy will develop credit discipline and encourage availing credit from formal financial institutions as per requirement.

• It will improve usage of digital financial services in a safe and secure manner.

• It emphasizes a multi-stakeholder-led approach for empowering various sections of the population to develop adequate knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviour which are needed to manage their money better and to plan for the future i.e. ensuring their financial well-being.

• The document recommends adoption of a '5 C' approach for dissemination of financial education in the country.

• The strategy also suggests adoption of a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to assess the progress made.

 

'5 C' Approach

• Content : Financial Literacy content for various sections of population.

• Capacity : Develop the capacity and ‘Code of Conduct’ for financial education providers.

• Community : Evolve community led approaches for disseminating financial literacy in a sustainable manner.

• Communication : Use technology, media and innovative ways of communication for dissemination of financial education messages.

• Collaboration : Streamline efforts of other stakeholders for financial literacy. 

 

Objectives

• To inculcate financial literacy concepts among the various sections of the society through financial education and encourage active savings behaviour.

• To educate on managing risk at various life stages through relevant and suitable insurance cover and plan for old age and retirement through coverage of suitable pension products.

• Knowledge about rights, duties and avenues for grievance redressal.

• To improve research and evaluation methods to assess progress in financial education.

• Establish credit discipline and promote the necessity to receive credit from formal financial institutions.

• Plan for old age and retirement through coverage of suitable pension products.

• Improving usage of digital financial services in a safe and secure manner.

 

What is Financial Education & Financial Literacy

• Financial Education is the ability to understand how money works. In other words it is defined as the process by which financial consumers/investors improve their understanding of financial products, concepts and risks and through information, instruction and/or objective advice, develop the skills and confidence to become more aware of financial risks and opportunities, to make informed choices, to know where to go for help and to take other effective actions to improve their financial well-being.

• Financial Literacy is the ability to understand and apply different financial skills effectively including personal financial management, budgeting, and saving. In comparison, the lack of such skills leads to financial analphabetism. Financial literacy supports the pursuit of financial inclusion by empowering the customers to make informed choices leading to their financial well-being.

 

 

National Centre for Financial Education (NCFE)

NCFE is a Section 8 (Not for Profit) Company under the Companies Act, 2013 promoted by Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) and Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).

It aims to undertake massive Financial Education campaign to help people manage money more effectively to achieve financial well being by accessing appropriate financial products and services through regulated entities with fair and transparent machinery for consumer protection and grievance redressal.

 

Conclusion

Though, Strengthening financial inclusion in the country has been one of the important developmental agendas of both the Government of India and the four financial sector regulators (RBI, SEBI, IRDAI and PFRDA) and many important financial inclusion initiatives have been taken by the government such as Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana, social security schemes viz. Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, Atal Pension Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mann Dhan Yojana (PM-SYM) and Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana. 

But, India still needs to go a long way towards achieving a respectable rate of financial literacy that is crucial for inclusive development. For this reason, new modes such as social media networks should be effectively implemented in addition to the already existing distribution mechanisms for disseminating financial education messages.