The Financial Market Centre (FMC) was established in 1998 at XLRI, Xavier School of Management as a centre for advanced learning and research serving the Indian financial sector. The FMC serves as the focal point of interest at XLRI in research, training and consultancy in financial markets.

The broad objectives of FMC can be highlighted as follows:

• Undertake research in the domain of asset prices (equity, foreign exchange, bonds and commodities) and risk management in financial institutions
• Publications in the form of working papers, policy memos and articles in global academic journals of repute, and disseminate their findings among business and policy
• Conduct training programmes for financial sector professionals, specifically in asset management industry, management of risk treasury, interest rate markets and their derivatives
• Disseminate research at XLRI and globally in the domain of finance to academics, policy-making bodies and business communities though conferences and workshops
• To further the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) objectives in financial and investment decisions of the industry through research and policy advocacy

Some of the important activities of FMC included the National Derivatives Conference (1998), International Workshops on Value at Risk in collaboration with the Risk Metrics New York (2003 & 2004), Workshops on Bond Markets and Interest Rate Derivatives (2009-12), International Conference on Inclusive Finance (2012, 2013 & 2014), and pan-India Workshops on Wealth Management & Investment Advisory in collaboration with SBI Mutual Funds (2014 & 2105). Dr HK Pradhan, Chair of the centre, has undertaken consultancy assignments for the Government of Nigeria and Kenya on debt management, and an e-learning course on Domestic Debt Management for the Commonwealth Secretariat London.

SANCHETANA, a nation-wide financial literacy initiative started in 2012, was founded and mentored by Dr Pradhan with support from State Bank of India. The initiative works on promoting financial literacy among underserved sections of the country - focusing on their financial wellbeing through collaborative events, innovative projects as well as targeted literacy interventions. XLRI has been registered by RBI as an institution for promoting Depositor Education and Awareness activities. The centre has received support from several premier financial organisations of India such as State Bank of India, National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development (NABARD), the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) in furthering the activities in the domain of inclusive finance.

The FMC is steered by faculty of finance and economics at XLRI, doctoral fellows of the institute, and alumni. Dr Pradhan, Professor of Finance and Economics, the founder of the centre currently serves as the Chair.

Co-ordinator: Dr HK Pradhan