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Financial Action Task Force (FATF)

International Relations

  • PYQs7
  • Articles1
I

Background

FATF plays a crucial role in global financial governance, impacting international financial flows and national security. India's active participation and leadership roles (like the Vice-Presidency) highlight its commitment to combating financial crimes and its growing influence in multilateral forums.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an intergovernmental organization founded in 1989 on the initiative of the G7 to develop policies to combat money laundering. In 2001, its mandate was expanded to include combating terrorist financing.

II

Facts & tables

Purpose
Sets international standards to prevent illegal activities like money laundering and terrorist financing.
Origin
Established by the G7 summit in Paris in 1989.
Functions
Monitors countries' progress in implementing FATF Recommendations, identifies jurisdictions with strategic deficiencies (grey/black lists).
Membership
Over 200 countries and jurisdictions are committed to FATF standards.
Static syllabus anchors
Type Reference
Conceptual area International Relations
Institutions & roles
Body Role
Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Sets standards and monitors compliance
III

Prelims angle

Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis

Prelims angle: Factual recall

  • Intergovernmental body established by G7 in 1989.
  • Mandate: Combat money laundering (ML) and terrorist financing (TF).
  • Sets international standards (FATF Recommendations).
  • Monitors compliance and identifies high-risk jurisdictions (grey/black lists).
  • India is a member and plays an active role.
Body vs treaty — FATF is an intergovernmental body, not a treaty itself, though it issues recommendations.

Treaty = agreement between states; body = institution.

High-confidence PYQ links
Year Framing tags
2025 Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions
2024 Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
2023 Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
2022 Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions
2016 Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding
2016 Statement-based questions, Factual recall
2016 Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions

Timeline

  1. International Relations

    Conceptual area

  2. Prelims 2016

    Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

  3. Prelims 2016

    Statement-based questions, Factual recall

  4. Prelims 2016

    Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions

  5. Prelims 2022

    Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions

  6. Prelims 2023

    Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

  7. Prelims 2024

    Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

  8. Prelims 2025

    Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions

  9. Vivek Aggarwal appointed Financial Action Task Force vice-president

    The FATF is a global watchdog against money laundering and terrorist financing, setting international standards and evaluating countries' compliance, with India playing an increasingly significant role.

See also

Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002

Past papers

In the news

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