Abstract
Computer Aided Field Investigation (CAFI) is a provenance-first architecture for real-time MSME credit decisioning in India, replacing the photographs-and-narrative output of conventional field visits with a hash-chained, tablet-captured, audit-defensible evidence graph. The five-layer architecture combines geo-fenced tablet field capture, DPDP-compliant consent-bound media acquisition, an append-only provenance data model in which every credit-decision fact links to immutable source artifacts, a deterministic real-time triangulation engine cross-validating borrower declarations against Goods and Services Tax (GST) returns and Account Aggregator (AA) bank statement data, a quality-assurance anomaly layer detecting photo perceptual hash collisions, GPS clustering, visit duration outliers, and field-officer response patterns, and a SHA-256 snapshot hash mechanism enabling bit-identical reconstruction of any past sanction at audit time.
CAFI applies the Nayak Committee threshold operative under Reserve Bank of India guidance: for working capital limits up to ₹5 crore the Triangulation Engine routes to the Nayak Turnover Method (MPBF = 20% × projected annual turnover); for limits above ₹5 crore it applies the Tandon Method (MPBF based on current assets less current liabilities). The disclosure specifies the provenance schema, cross-validation rules and variance thresholds, anomaly detection logic, sector-specific protocols for cash credit, term loan, letter of credit, supply chain finance, and microfinance products, integration patterns with the Indian Digital Public Infrastructure stack (Account Aggregator, GST Network, OCEN, Aadhaar, MCA21, CERSAI), and a credit application risk tiering scoring model. Published defensively under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 to establish prior art and prevent restrictive patenting of the disclosed mechanisms.
Keywords: MSME credit, field investigation, provenance architecture, Drawing Power, Tandon Committee, Nayak Committee, Account Aggregator, GST triangulation, DPDP Act, working capital, Indian banking, CAPI methodology, snapshot reconstruction, audit-defensible decisioning, deterministic core, anomaly detection.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Krishnan, Murali, "Computer Aided Field Investigation (CAFI): A Provenance-First Architecture for Real-Time MSME Credit Decisioning in India", Technical Disclosure Commons, ()
https://www.tdcommons.org/dpubs_series/10242