QUESTION

Medium

Economy

Prelims 2016

What is/are the purpose/purposes of the ‘Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate (MCLR)’ announced by RBI?

  1. These guidelines help improve the transparency in the methodology followed by banks for determining the interest rates on advances
  2. These guidelines help ensure availability of bank credit & interest rates which are fair to the borrowers as well as the banks

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Select an option to attempt

Explanation

MCLR (Marginal Cost of Funds-based Lending Rate) This is a benchmark interest rate set by banks in India, below which they cannot lend. It represents the minimum cost of funds for the bank, considering factors like their own borrowing costs, operating expenses, and a profit margin. The purposes of MCLR as outlined by the RBI include

  • Improved Transparency (point 1) MCLR standardizes the method for calculating the minimum lending rate. This transparency allows borrowers to better understand how banks arrive at their interest rates and facilitates comparison between different banks.

  • Fairness for Borrowers and Banks (point 2) MCLR ensures a certain level of fairness. It prevents banks from setting arbitrarily high minimum lending rates, potentially benefiting borrowers. At the same time, it allows banks to cover their basic costs and earn a reasonable profit margin.

Therefore, both options 1 and 2 accurately reflect the purposes of the MCLR system.

Trusted by 2L aspirants

Practice UPSC Prelims PYQs Smarter

Practice Now
  • Track accuracy & weak areas
  • See past trends & repeated themes
Start Practicing Now

Crack UPSC with your
Personal AI Mentor

An AI-powered ecosystem to learn, practice, and evaluate with discipline

SuperKalam is your personal mentor for UPSC preparation, guiding you at every step of the exam journey.

Download the App

Follow us

ⓒ Snapstack Technologies Private Limited