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Understanding Financial Entity Types in the Indian Financial Ecosystem

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Pmblog Indian Financial Ecosystem Financial Institutions Regulatory Authorities SEBI RBI IRDAI Banks vs NBFCs Market Infrastructure Knowledge Graph Financial Entity Classification Compliance FinTech Asset Management Insurance Companies

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Understanding Financial Entity Types

Understanding Financial Entity Types in the Indian Financial Ecosystem (With Global Parallels)
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1. Introduction: Why Understanding Entity Types Matters
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In the financial world, every transaction, investment, audit, or policy decision involves a variety of institutions, each playing a distinct role. For newcomers or even a person with 3–5 years of experience, it’s often overwhelming to navigate this landscape. Even for seasoned professionals, having a structured knowledge graph of the ecosystem helps in making better decisions, building financial products, or analyzing systemic risks.

This article lays out a comprehensive but approachable framework to understand financial entity types in India, aligned with global counterparts. Whether you’re in compliance, investment, AI modeling, or policy, this guide aims to be your go-to reference.


2. High-Level Categories of Financial Entities
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Here are the core categories of financial entities that make up the Indian financial ecosystem. These are organized by their roles, not by legal form.

  1. Regulatory Authorities
  2. Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs)
  3. Depositories
  4. Credit Rating Agencies
  5. Credit Information Companies
  6. Self-Regulatory Organizations (SROs)
  7. Registrar and Transfer Agents (RTAs)
  8. Educational & Professional Institutions
  9. Auditing & Accounting Authorities
  10. Investment Intermediaries
  11. Asset Management Companies (AMCs)
  12. Custodians
  13. Banks and Financial Institutions
  14. Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs)
  15. Microfinance Institutions (MFIs)
  16. Insurance Companies
  17. Pension Funds and Retirement Entities
  18. Tax and Fiscal Authorities
  19. Enforcement and Fraud Investigation Agencies
  20. Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs)
  21. FinTech Platforms
  22. Financial Data & Analytics Providers
  23. Securities Issuers
  24. Digital Payment Infrastructure Provider

3. Detailed Table of Financial Entity Types
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Entity TypePurposeSubtypes / RolesIndian ExamplesGlobal Examples
Regulatory AuthorityRegulate and oversee sectorsCapital, Banking, Insurance, PensionsSEBI, RBI, IRDAI, PFRDASEC (US), FCA (UK), BaFin (Germany)
Market Infrastructure InstitutionEnable trade execution and clearingStock Exchanges, Clearing CorpsNSE, BSE, MSEI, NSCCL, ICCLNYSE, NASDAQ, Euroclear
DepositoryMaintain demat accounts-NSDL, CDSLDTCC (US), Euroclear
Credit Rating AgencyEvaluate credit risk-CRISIL, ICRA, CAREMoody’s, S&P, Fitch
Credit Information CompanyTrack credit history-CIBIL, Equifax, Experian IndiaEquifax (US), Experian (Global)
Self-Regulatory OrganizationIndustry-level compliance & code of conduct-AMFI, ANMIFINRA (US), SIFMA
Registrar & Transfer AgentInvestor record keeping-CAMS, KFinTechComputershare (Global)
Educational / Professional BodyCertify finance/accounting professionals-ICAI, ICMAI, NISMCFA Institute, ACCA
Auditing / Accounting AuthoritySet and enforce financial reporting norms-NFRA, ICAIPCAOB (US), FRC (UK)
Investment IntermediaryFacilitate investment decisionsBrokers, Advisors, PMSZerodha, ICICI DirectCharles Schwab, E*TRADE
Asset Management CompanyManage pooled investment fundsMutual Funds, ETFsHDFC AMC, SBI MFBlackRock, Vanguard
CustodianSafeguard assets-SHCIL, HDFC BankState Street, BNY Mellon
Bank / Financial InstitutionProvide loans, deposits, paymentsPublic, Private, CooperativeSBI, HDFC Bank, ICICIJPMorgan Chase, HSBC
Non-Banking Financial CompanyProvide financial services without banking licenseLeasing, Loans, Infra FinanceBajaj Finance, MuthootGE Capital, Capital One
Microfinance InstitutionOffer small loans to low-income groups-Ujjivan, SKSBRAC (Bangladesh)
Insurance CompanyProvide risk coverageLife, Health, GeneralLIC, ICICI LombardAllianz, AIA, Prudential
Pension Fund / Retirement BodyManage retirement corpusEPF, NPSEPFO, NPS TrustSocial Security Admin (US), NEST (UK)
Tax & Fiscal AuthorityImpose and manage taxationDirect & IndirectCBDT, CBICIRS (US), HMRC (UK)
Enforcement AgencyInvestigate frauds and financial crimes-ED, SFIO, CBISEC Enforcement, FBI (US)
Alternative Investment FundRaise & deploy capital into private investmentsVenture, PE, HedgeSequoia India, IIFL AIFSequoia US, Blackstone
FinTech PlatformTech-enabled financial servicesRobo-Advisors, Trading AppsGroww, Paytm MoneyRobinhood, Stripe
Financial Data ProviderOffer analytics, news, financial data APIs-Moneycontrol, Zerodha APIBloomberg, Refinitiv
Securities IssuerIssue securities to raise capitalCorporates, Govt, PSUsONGC, REC, NHPCApple, Microsoft, US Treasury
Digital Payment Infrastructure ProviderManage UPI and related digital payment systemsUPI Platform, PSP, TPAP, Switch OperatorNPCI, PhonePe, Google Pay, PaytmVisa, Mastercard, Zelle, Plaid

PSP (Payment Service Provider) NPCI (creator of UPI, Bharat BillPay, RuPay),
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4. Knowledge Graph Style Hierarchy (Ontology)
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Financial Entity
├── Regulatory Authority
├── Market Infrastructure Institution
│   ├── Stock Exchange
│   ├── Clearing Corporation
│   └── Depository
├── Credit Agency
│   ├── Credit Rating Agency
│   └── Credit Information Company
├── Self Regulatory Organization
├── Registrar TransferAgent
├── Education ProfessionalBody
├── Auditing Accounting Authority
├── Investment Intermediary
│   ├── Stock Broker
│   ├── InvestmentAdvisor
│   └── Portfolio Manager
├── DigitalPaymentInfrastructure
│   ├── UPIPlatformProvider         # e.g. NPCI
│   ├── ThirdPartyAppProvider (TPAP) # e.g. PhonePe, Google Pay
│   ├── PaymentServiceProvider (PSP) # e.g. Paytm Payments Bank
│   ├── Settlement Switch Operator   # NPCI for UPI, BBPS, NACH
├── Asset Management Company
├── Custodian
├── Bank
├── NBFC
├── MFI
├── Insurance Company
├── Pension Fund
├── Tax Authority
├── Enforcement Agency
├── AlternativeInvestment Fund
├── FinTech Platform
├── Data Analytics Provider
├── Securities Issuer

5. Real-World Applications
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Use CaseWhy Understanding Entities Helps
Investment ResearchKnow who issues, rates, and clears securities
Compliance & AuditingMap obligations to correct regulators and SROs
FinTech Product DevelopmentBuild correct APIs and permissions model
Knowledge Graph / Ontology DevPower financial search, AI assistants, anomaly detection
Financial Journalism & EducationReport market activity accurately and in context

6. Summary & Takeaway
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This article maps out the Indian financial ecosystem in a structured way — ideal for professionals trying to get a complete picture. It will help in:

  • Learning entity roles
  • Building KGs or taxonomies
  • Designing compliance-aware systems
  • Cross-referencing Indian and global institutions

We recommend using this as a base for building financial knowledge graphs, conducting regulatory mapping, or powering generative AI in finance.

Dr. Hari Thapliyaal's avatar

Dr. Hari Thapliyaal

Dr. Hari Thapliyal is a seasoned professional and prolific blogger with a multifaceted background that spans the realms of Data Science, Project Management, and Advait-Vedanta Philosophy. Holding a Doctorate in AI/NLP from SSBM (Geneva, Switzerland), Hari has earned Master's degrees in Computers, Business Management, Data Science, and Economics, reflecting his dedication to continuous learning and a diverse skill set. With over three decades of experience in management and leadership, Hari has proven expertise in training, consulting, and coaching within the technology sector. His extensive 16+ years in all phases of software product development are complemented by a decade-long focus on course design, training, coaching, and consulting in Project Management. In the dynamic field of Data Science, Hari stands out with more than three years of hands-on experience in software development, training course development, training, and mentoring professionals. His areas of specialization include Data Science, AI, Computer Vision, NLP, complex machine learning algorithms, statistical modeling, pattern identification, and extraction of valuable insights. Hari's professional journey showcases his diverse experience in planning and executing multiple types of projects. He excels in driving stakeholders to identify and resolve business problems, consistently delivering excellent results. Beyond the professional sphere, Hari finds solace in long meditation, often seeking secluded places or immersing himself in the embrace of nature.

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