CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has signed a Currency Swap Agreement with the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) under the SAARC Currency Swap Framework. This is to provide swap support as a backstop line of funding for short term foreign exchange liquidity requirements.

Detailed explanation-2: -The SAARC currency swap facility came into operation on 15th November, 2012. The RBI can offer a swap arrangement within the overall corpus of USD 2 billion. The swap drawals can be made in US dollar, euro or Indian rupee. The framework provides certain concessions for swap drawals in Indian rupee.

Detailed explanation-3: -What is a Currency Swap Contract? A currency swap contract (also known as a cross-currency swap contract) is a derivative contract between two parties that involves the exchange of interest payments, as well as the exchange of principal amounts in certain cases, that are denominated in different currencies.

Detailed explanation-4: -What is SAARC Currency Swap Framework?: A Currency Swap Framework is an agreement in which two parties exchange the principal amount of a loan and the interest in one currency for the principal and interest in another currency for the US Dollar. SAARC Currency Swap Framework is relevant for both UPSC Prelims and Mains.