• Basel III or Basel 3 released in December, 2010 is the third in the series of Basel Accords.


• These accords deal with risk management aspects for the banking sector.

Basel Committee :
According to Basel Committee on Banking Supervision Basel III is a comprehensive set of reform measures, developed by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, to strengthen the regulation, supervision and risk management of the banking sector"
Objectives :
Basel 3 measures aim to:

• improve the banking sector's ability to absorb shocks arising from financial and economic stress, whatever the source


• improve risk management and governance


• strengthen banks transparency and disclosures

3 Pillaras - Basel III :
Pillar 1: Minimum Regulatory Capital Requirements based on Risk Weighted Assets (RWAs): Maintaining capital calculated through credit, market and operational risk areas.(MAINLY THAT CAPITAL WHICH CAN ABSORB RISK.)
Pillar 2: Supervisory Review Process: Regulating tools and frameworks for dealing with peripheral(OUTER) risks that banks face
Pillar 3: Market Discipline: Increasing the disclosures that banks must provide to increase the transparency of banks
Features - Basel III :
Better Capital Quality:
One of the key elements of Basel 3 is the introduction of much stricter definition of capital.
It means capital with the higher loss-absorbing capacity. This in turn will mean that banks will be stronger, allowing them to better withstand periods of stress.
Capital Conservation Buffer:
Another key feature of Basel iii is that now banks will be required to hold a capital conservation buffer of 2.5% of RWAs.
CCB-aims to conserve the capital of banks by making a buffer/reserve for CRISIS situation.
The aim of asking to build conservation buffer is to ensure that banks maintain a cushion of capital that can be used to absorb losses during periods of financial and economic stress.
Countercyclical Buffer:
The countercyclical buffer has been introduced with the objective to increase capital requirements in good times and decrease the same in bad times. The buffer
will slow banking activity when it overheats and will encourage lending when times are tough i.e. in bad times.
The buffer will range from 0% to 2.5% of RWAs, consisting of common equity/shares or other fully loss-absorbing capital.
Minimum Common Equity and Tier 1 Capital Requirements:
The minimum requirement for common equity, the highest form of loss-absorbing capital, has been Minimum Common Equity(the highest form of loss-absorbing capital) raised under Basel III from 2% to 4.5% of total risk-weighted assets.
The overall Tier 1 capital requirement, consisting of not only common equity but also other qualifying financial instruments, will also increase from the current minimum of 4% to 6%.
Although the minimum total capital requirement will remain at the current 8% level.
Leverage Ratio:
A leverage ratio is the relative amount of capital to total assets (not risk-weighted).
This aims to put a cap on swelling of leverage in the banking sector on a global basis.
3% leverage ratio of Tier 1 will be tested before a mandatory leverage ratio is introduced in January 2018.
Liquidity Ratios:
Under Basel III, a framework for liquidity risk management will be created. A new Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) and Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR) are to be introduced in 2015 and 2018, respectively.
Tier-I Capital :

• Paid up Capital


• Statutory Reserves


• Other disclosed free reserves


• Capital Reserves which represent surplus arising out of the sale proceeds of the assets.


• Investment Fluctuation Reserves Innovative Perpetual Debt Instruments (IPDIs) Perpetual Noncumulative Preference Shares.


• Equity Investment in subsidiaries.


• Intangible assets.


• Losses (Current period + past carried forward)

Tier-II Capital :

• Undisclosed reserves and cumulative perpetual preference shares.


• Revaluation Reserves


• General Provisions and loss reserves Hybrid debt capital instruments such as bonds.


• Long term unsecured loans Debt Capital Instruments.