Financial Intelligence Unit-India and Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority sign MoU to combat money laundering and financial crimes

**Executive Summary** The Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) and the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on April 16, 2026, to combat money laundering and financial crimes. The agreement establishes a framework for enhanced information sharing, regular coordination through quarterly meetings, and the designation of nodal officers. The primary focus is to strengthen Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) capabilities within the Indian pension sector. **Key Points / Main Content** **Core Objectives and Coordination** * **Enhanced Cooperation:** The MoU facilitates a comprehensive framework for information sharing and coordination between FIU-IND and PFRDA. * **Operational Oversight:** Both agencies will designate a nodal officer and an alternate nodal officer to manage regular interactions. * **Regular Consultations:** The parties are committed to holding quarterly meetings to exchange information and deliberate on issues of mutual interest. **Capacity Building and Standards** * **Outreach and Training:** Joint programmes will be conducted for regulated and reporting entities to upgrade their AML/CFT capabilities. * **International Alignment:** Both agencies will ensure their practices align with applicable international standards. * **Global Information Exchange:** The MoU assists in the exchange of information with foreign Financial Intelligence Units through the Egmont Principles of Information Exchange. **Risk Management and Compliance** * **Risk Assessment:** Cooperation includes assessing Money Laundering and Terror Financing (ML/TF) risks and vulnerabilities across financial sub-sectors. * **Monitoring and Supervision:** The agencies will monitor reporting entities' compliance with the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), PML Rules, and PFRDA guidelines. * **Indicator Dissemination:** The partnership focuses on the identification and dissemination of "red flag" indicators for suspicious transactions. **Impact Analysis** **FIU-IND and PFRDA** **Impact** The agencies will benefit from a formal mechanism for intelligence sharing and risk assessment, enhancing their ability to detect financial crimes within the pension ecosystem. **Action Required** Both agencies must appoint nodal and alternate nodal officers and establish a schedule for mandatory quarterly meetings. **Regulated and Reporting Entities (e.g., Pension Funds, Central Recordkeeping Agencies)** **Impact** These entities will be subject to stricter supervision, updated compliance monitoring, and the use of newly identified red flag indicators for suspicious transactions. **Action Required** Entities must participate in outreach and training programmes and ensure strict adherence to PMLA, PML Rules, and PFRDA’s updated AML/CFT guidelines. **International Financial Intelligence Units** **Impact** Global counterparts will have a more streamlined channel for information exchange regarding the Indian pension sector through the Egmont Principles. **Action Required** Engage with FIU-IND as the central national agency for cross-border suspect transaction analysis.

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