Internal Security·Prelims Strategy

Financial Intelligence Unit — Prelims Strategy

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Version 1Updated 7 Mar 2026

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Prelims Strategy

For Prelims, focus on factual accuracy regarding FIU-IND. Key areas include its establishment year (2004), its statutory basis (PMLA, 2002), its reporting ministry (Ministry of Finance, via EIC), and its core functions (receive, process, analyse, disseminate).

Memorize the types of reports it receives: Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs), Cash Transaction Reports (CTRs), Cross Border Wire Transfer Reports (CBWTRs), and Counterfeit Currency Reports (CCRs).

Understand the thresholds for CTRs (Rs. 10 lakh). Crucially, know that FIU-IND is an intelligence agency and does NOT have powers of investigation or arrest; these belong to agencies like ED and CBI. Identify its international affiliation, the Egmont Group.

Be aware of the significant PMLA amendments (2012 and 2019) and their impact, especially the formal establishment of FIU-IND in 2012. Questions often test these distinctions and the roles of various enforcement agencies.

Use mnemonics for report types and remember the 'no investigation, no arrest' rule for FIU-IND.