Pig Butchering Scam

Source:  NIE Context: The government has issued an alert about the ‘Pig Butchering Scam’, a cyber fraud targeting unemployed youth, students, and vulnerable individuals. The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) and Google are collaborating to combat this scam, which involves money laundering and cyber slavery. About Pig Butchering Scam: What is the Pig Butchering Scam? …

FATF launched the Mutual Evaluation Report (MER) for India

Syllabus: Internal Security: Money laundering Source: FATF   Context: India has made significant progress in complying with FATF standards and tackling illicit finance, but it needs to continue improving as its economy grows. The (Mutual Evaluation Report) MER on AML (Anti-money laundering) and CFT (Countering Terror Financing) measures placed India in the “regular follow-up” category, …

Money Mule

Source: ET Context: Banks are intensifying scrutiny on new sole proprietorship and individual current accounts to combat ‘money mule’ activities, aiming to deter money laundering and digital frauds.   What is a Money Mule? A money mule is a person who allows their bank account to be used by criminals to transfer illegally obtained money. …

Blocking orders against 22 illegal betting apps

Facts for Prelims (FFP)   Source: IE Context: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued blocking orders against 22 illegal betting apps and websites, including the Mahadev online betting platform, following the investigations by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into the illegal betting app syndicate.   What is Mahadev app case? The case …

FCRA and NGO

GS Paper 2 Syllabus: Governance   Source: Indian Express  Context: Recently, The Ministry of Home Affairs has cancelled the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) licence of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF) and Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust (RGCT) for alleged violations of the provisions of the Act. The NGOs came under the scanner in July 2020 …

Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010:

GS Paper 2: Topics Covered: Role of NGOs.   Context: Representatives of NGOs, middlemen and public servants of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) division of MHA were recently arrested by the CBI for committing violations of FCRA provisions and facilitating illegal clearances in lieu of bribes”.   What’s the issue? FCRA clearances have been a …

Amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act:

GS Paper 2: Topics Covered: Role of NGOs.   Context: The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the 2020 amendments made to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act 2010, which introduced restrictions in the handling of foreign contributions by organizations in India. The judgment came in response to PILs challenging the Foreign Contriubtion(Regulation) Amendment Act 2020(Noel Harper …

What influence does money laundering have on economic development? Examine the recent steps taken by India to counter money laundering.

Topic: money laundering and its prevention. 5. What influence does money laundering have on economic development? Examine the recent steps taken by India to counter money laundering. (250 words) Difficulty level: Moderate Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India Why the question: The government on Wednesday informed the Supreme Court that ₹18,000 crore was confiscated under …

Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 Registation for NGOs:

GS Paper 2: Topics Covered: Role of NGOs.     Context: The Supreme Court has asked 6,000-odd NGOs to go back to the government for redressal of their grievances on non-renewal of their Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registration. A petition was filed in the court asking the NGOs to be allowed to continue receiving …

Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 Registation for NGOs:

GS Paper 2: Topics Covered: Role of NGOs.   Context: Among the 6,000 NGOs that did not have their FCRA registration renewed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recently are also included the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the Ramakrishna Mission, and Shirdi’s Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust (SSST).   Please note: The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) …

Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010:

GS Paper 2: Topics Covered: Government Policies and issues arising out of their implementation.   Context: The Union Home Ministry has refused to renew the FCRA registration of Missionaries of Charity (MoC), a Catholic religious congregation set up by Nobel laureate Mother Teresa, as “some adverse inputs were noticed”. The Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) …

RBI governor Shaktikanta Das sounds alarm on cryptocurrencies:

GS Paper 3 Topics Covered: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.   Context: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Shaktikanta Das has sounded alarm on cryptocurrencies, cautioning investors on the potential pitfalls of the digital currency. Concerns raised: Cryptocurrencies are a very serious concern from …

Who is a fugitive economic offender?

GS Paper 3 Topics Covered: Money laundering related issues.   fugitive economic offender Context: Fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi’s attempts to get the fraud allegations against him dismissed suffered a major setback after the bankruptcy court in New York dismissed his petition.   Background: UK High Court had granted fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi permission …

Understanding Issues Related to Black Money

Table of Contents Introduction     Tax Heavens     Offshore Financial Centers     Money Laundering     Hawala System     Round Tripping     1.    Participatory Notes     2.    Raising Capital by Global Depository Receipts     3.    Money coming in NGOs and Charitable Institutions     4.    Transfer Pricing     Effects of Black …