ROLE OF BANKS IN INDIAN ECONOMY

Role Of Banks in Indian Economy

Role of banks in Indian Economy

Acknowledgement Page | 1


We would like to extend my gratitude to IMCOST for giving me a wonderful learning experience. We are thankful to Prof. Tushar Padwal for giving us the opportunity to explore topic Role of Banks in Indian Economy . While preparing this report we got an opportunity to study the intricacies of the same, we are thankful to Prof. Tushar Padwal for the same.

INTRODUCTION TO INDIAN BANKING INDUSTRY Page | 2


Banking in India originated in the first decade of 18th century with The General Bank of India coming into existence in 1786. This was followed by Bank of Hindustan. Both these banks are now defunct. The oldest bank in existence in India is the State Bank of India being established as "The Bank of Bengal" in Calcutta in June 1806. A couple of decades later, foreign banks like Credit Lyonnais started their Calcutta operations in the 1850s. At that point of time, Calcutta was the most active trading port, mainly due to the trade of the British Empire, and due to which banking activity took roots there and prospered. The first fully Indian owned bank was the Allahabad Bank, which was established in 1865. By the 1900s, the market expanded with the establishment of banks such as Punjab National Bank, in 1895 in Lahore and Bank of India, in 1906, in Mumbai - both of which were founded under private ownership. The Reserve Bank of India formally took on the responsibility of regulating the Indian banking sector from 1935. After India's independence in 1947, the Reserve Bank was nationalized and given broader powers. The Public Sector emerged as the driver of economic growth consequent to the industrial revolution in Europe. With the advent of globalization, the public sector faced new challenges in the developed economies. No longer the public sector had the privilege of operating in a sellers market and had to face competition both from domestic and international competitors. Further, in the second half of the 20th century in the developed economies, the political opinion started swinging towards the views that the intervention as well as investment by Government in commercial activities should be reduced to the extent possible. Why banking: Without a sound and effective banking system in India it cannot have a healthy economy. The banking system of India should not only be hassle free but it should be able to meet new challenges posed by the technology and any other external and internal factors. For the past three decades India's banking system has several outstanding achievements to its credit. The most striking is its extensive reach. It is no longer confined to only metropolitans or cosmopolitans in India. In fact, Indian banking system has reached even to the remote corners of the country. This is one of the main reason of India's growth process. The government's regular policy for Indian bank since 1969 has paid rich dividends with the nationalisation of 14 major private banks of India.

GROWTH OF BANKING:

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Journey of Indian Banking System can be segregated into three distinct phases. They are as mentioned below: Phase I: Early phase from 1786 to 1969 of Indian Banks Phase II: Nationalisation of Indian Banks and up to 1991 prior to Indian banking sector Reforms. Phase III: New phase of Indian Banking System with the advent of Indian Financial & Banking Sector Reforms after 1991. Phase I The General Bank of India was set up in the year 1786. Next came Bank of Hindustan and Bengal Bank. The East India Company established Bank of Bengal (1809), Bank of Bombay (1840) and Bank of Madras (1843) as independent units and called it Presidency Banks. These three banks were amalgamated in 1920 and Imperial Bank of India was established which started as private shareholders banks, and mostly the European, Europeans-shareholders. In 1865 Allahabad Bank was established and first time exclusively by Indians, Punjab National Bank Ltd. was set up in 1894 with headquarters at Lahore. Between 1906 and 1913, Bank of India, Central Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, Indian Bank, and Bank of Mysore were set up. Reserve Bank of India came in1935. During the first phase the growth was very slow and banks also experienced periodic failures between 1913 and 1948. There were approximately 1100 banks, mostly small. To streamline the functioning and activities of commercial banks, the Government of India came up with The Banking Companies Act, 1949 which was later changed to Banking Regulation Act 1949 as per amending Act of 1965 (Act No. 23 of 1965). Reserve Bank of India was vested with extensive powers for the supervision of banking in India as the Central Banking Authority. During those days public has lesser confidence in the banks. As an aftermath deposit mobilization was slow. Abreast of it the savings bank facility provided by the Postal department was comparatively safer. PhaseII Government took major steps in this Indian Banking Sector Reform after independence. In 1955, it nationalized Imperial Bank of India with extensive banking facilities on a large scale especially in rural and semi-urban areas. It formed State Bank of India to act as the principal agent of RBI and to handle banking transactions of the Union and State Governments all over the country. Seven banks 1969, major Minister of nationalised.

forming subsidiary of State Bank of India was nationalized in 1960 on 19th July, process of nationalization was carried out. It was the effort of the then Prime India, Mrs. Indira Gandhi. 14 major commercial banks in the country was Second phase of nationalisation Indian Banking Sector Reform was carried out in Page | 4


1980 with seven more banks. This step brought 80% of the banking segment in India under Government ownership. The following are the steps taken by the Government of India to Regulate Banking Institutions in the Country: 1949 : Enactment of Banking Regulation Act. 1955 : Nationalisation of State Bank of India. 1959 : Nationalisation of SBI subsidiaries. 1961 : Insurance cover extended to deposits. 1969 : Nationalisation of 14 major banks. 1971 : Creation of credit guarantee corporation. 1975 : Creation of regional rural banks. 1980 : Nationalisation of seven banks with deposits over 200 crore. After the nationalisation of banks, the branches of the public sector bank India rose to approximately 800% in deposits and advances took a huge jump by 11,000%. Banking in the sunshine of Government ownership gave the public implicit faith and immense confidence. Phase-III This phase has introduced many more products and facilities in the banking sector in its reforms measure. In 1991, under the chairmanship of M Narasimham, a committee was set up by his name which worked for the liberalisation of banking practices. The country is flooded with foreign banks and their ATM stations. Efforts are being put to give a satisfactory service to customers. Phone banking and net banking is introduced. The entire system became more convenient and swift. Time is given more importance than money. The financial system of India has shown a great deal of resilience. It is sheltered from any crisis triggered by any external macroeconomics shock as other East Asian Countries suffered. This is all due to a flexible exchange rate regime, the foreign reserves are high, the capital account is not yet fully convertible, and banks and their customers have limited foreign exchange exposure.

REFORMS IN BANKING SECTOR

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After Independence in 1947, the government took the view that loans extended by colonial banks were biased toward working capital for trade and large firms. Moreover, it was perceived that banks should be utilized to assist India’s planned development strategy by mobilizing financial resources to strategically important sectors. Reflecting these views, all large private banks were nationalized in two stages: in 1969 and then in 1980. Subsequently, quantitative loan targets were imposed on these banks to expand their networks in rural areas and they were directed to extend credit to priority sectors. These nationalized banks were then increasingly used to finance fiscal deficits. Although nonnationalized private banks and foreign banks were allowed to coexist with public-sector banks at that time, their activities were highly restricted through entry regulations and strict branch licensing policies. Thus, their activities remained negligible. 1) Against this background, the first wave of financial liberalization took place in the second half of the 1980s, mainly taking the form of interest rate deregulation. Based on the 1985 report of the Chakravarty Committee, coupon rates on government bonds were gradually increased to reflect demand and supply conditions. 2) The new policy shook the Banking sector in India completely. Bankers, till this time, were used to the 4-6-4 method (Borrow at 4%; Lend at 6%; Go home at 4) of functioning. The new wave ushered in a modern outlook and tech-savvy methods of working for traditional banks. All this led to the retail boom in India. People not just demanded more from their banks but also received more. 3) Following the 1991 report of the Narasimham Committee I, more comprehensive reforms took place that same year. The reforms consisted of: • • • •

A shift of banking sector supervision from intrusive micro-level intervention over credit decisions toward prudential regulations and supervision; A reduction of the CRR and SLR; Interest rate and entry deregulation; Adoption of prudential norms (convergence of developing financing institutions to with commercial banks or non-bank financial institutions and an adoption of the integrated system of regulation and supervision.)

4) Further, in 1992, the Reserve Bank of India issued guidelines for income recognition, asset classification and provisioning, and also adopted the Basle Accord capital adequacy standards. The government also established the Board of Financial Supervision in the Reserve Bank of India and recapitalized public-sector banks in order to give banks sufficient financial strength and to enable them to gain access to capital markets. Page | 6


5) In 1993, the Reserve Bank of India permitted private entry into the banking sector, provided that new banks were well capitalized and technologically advanced, and at the same time prohibited cross-holding practices with industrial groups. The Reserve Bank of India also imposed some restrictions on new banks with respect to opening branches, with a view to maintaining the franchise value of existing banks. 6) Narasimham committee II (1998): a) To suggest necessary legislative changes for implementation of electronic funds transfer, with, inter alia, emphasis on: Encryption of Public Switching Telephone Network (PSTN) lines ; • Admission of electronic files as evidence • Treating Electronic Funds Transfers on par with crossed cheques / drafts for purposes of Income Tax etc. ; • Record keeping ; •

b) To recommend approaches for development of Intra-bank/Intra-city communication network to facilitate connectivity with VSATs c) To suggest ways to bring about computerization of Government accounts in an expeditious and efficient manner d) To work out modalities necessary for development and optimal utilisation of a secure, robust Wide Area Network (WAN) based on satellite with the necessary security systems, by banks and other financial institutions, to ultimately develop a sound and efficient payments system e) To examine methods by which technological upgradation in banks and financial institutions could be effected and in the context study the feasibility of establishment of standards, designing payments system backbone and standards relating to security levels, messages and smart cards by IDRBT. f) To make recommendations for development of data warehousing and data mining, with a view to creating opportunities for development of efficient Management Information System (MIS) in near future g) To recommend guidelines for outsourcing of programs development and implementation work, and h) To make recommendations on any other related issues like: Page | 7


o assigning of risk weight of 2.5 per cent to cover market risk in respect of investments in securities outside the SLR by March 31, 2001 in addition to a similar prescription for Government and other approved securities by March 31, 2000, and o Lowering of the exposure ceiling in respect of an individual borrower from 25 per cent of the bank's capital fund to 20 per cent, effective April 1, 2000. The aim of Narasimham committee I & II was to bring about “operational flexibility” and “functional autonomy” respectively so as to enhance “efficiency, productivity and profitability”.

STRUCTURE OF BANKS

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Indian Banking System Reserve Bank of India

Scheduled

State Co operative banks

Commercial Banks

Indian Banks

Central Co op banks and Primary Credit banks

Commercial Banks

Foreign Banks

Public Sector Banks

State Bank of India

Non- Scheduled Banks

Private Sector Banks

Other nationalized banks

Regional rural banks

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I.

RESERVE BANK OF INDIA

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is India's central bank - it formulates, implements and monitors India's monetary policy. Reserve bank of India was established in 1935 and nationalized in 1949. It is fully owned by the Government of India and its headquarters are located in Mumbai. RBI has 22 regional offices in the various state capitals of India. It has a majority stake in the State Bank of India. The main functions of the Reserve Bank of India are: 1. The Reserve Bank of India is the regulator and supervisor of the financial system 2. RBI defines the guidelines according to which the banking operations within which the country's banking and financial system functions. It tries to protect depositors' interests and provides cost-effective banking services to the public by monitoring the functioning of banks. If a bank does not solve a customer’s problem they can approach the Reserve bank of India through the Banking Ombudsman Scheme

3. Foreign exchange inflow and outflow is regulated by the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 of RBI. All money transfer out of India, for both personal and trade purposes is subject to limits defined by RBI 4. The Reserve Bank of India issues currency - notes and coins of various denominations. It also issues and exchanges or destroys damaged currency and coins not fit for circulation. The design of the currency is periodically modified to prevent circulation of fake currency. 5. The RBI is the banker to the Government of India. It performs merchant banking function for the central and the state governments. Government departments bank with the Reserve bank of India. For example, in Mumbai, the Income tax department issues tax refunds drawn on the Reserve bank of India. 6 RBI is the banker to all major banks. It maintains banking accounts of all scheduled banks in India. Deposits of up to Rs 1 lakh in scheduled banks are insured. Cash withdrawal tax is applicable only for withdrawals from scheduled banks. Smaller co-operative banks usually are not scheduled banks. Bank interest rates increase or decrease according to the RBI lending rates 7. The Reserve Bank of India also regulates the trade of gold. Currently 17 Indian banks are involved in the trade of gold in India. RBI has invited applications from more banks for direct import of gold to curb illegal trade in gold and increase competition in the market 8. In March 2006, RBI has issued know your customer guidelines for non banking finance companies (NBFC). Customer whose deposit balance with the NBFC is less than Rs 50,000 or outstanding credit more than Rs 1 lakh need not provide all the documents. The customers will Page | 10


be categorized as low risk, medium risk and high risk. Sahara India is one of the largest NBFC in India. 9. RBI buys and sells foreign currency to maintain the exchange rate of Indian Rupee vs. Foreign currencies like the US Dollar, Euro, Pound sterling and Japanese yen. Trends in exchange rate values for these currencies are available on their website. 10. Depending on the liquidity in the money markets, RBI sets the maximum interest rate, Indian banks can offer on NRI dollar deposits. From March 2006, banks can offer an interest rate equal to the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) - an international benchmark rate on dollar deposits. 11. The cash reserve ratio (CRR) is the percentage of deposits that banks in India should keep with RBI. This also depends on the liquidity in the money markets and is currently 5%. The reverse repo rate is the rate at which RBI absorbs funds from banks.

12. RBI also regulates the opening /installation of ATM (Automatic Teller Machines). It is trying to increase the density of the ATMs in rural areas. Fresh currency notes for ATMs are supplied by RBI

13. There are about 1050 clearing houses which settle transactions related to cheques, drafts and pay orders. The State Bank of India manages 567 clearing houses, mainly in the smaller cities and towns. 14. The annual monetary policy is announced in April every year. 15. An outstation cheque from metro cities (Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata) costs banks only 50 paisa for clearing through the RBI clearing system but banks like ICICI bank charge Rs 100 for clearing the cheque. RBI has asked banks to display the service charges on their website, but only 5 banks have complied so far. 16. RBI regulates the opening of branches by banks and ensures that they follow the Know Your Customer guidelines. 17. To maintain the monetary stability so that the business and economic life can deliver welfare gains of properly functioning mixed economy. 18. To maintain stable payments systems so that financial transactions can be safely and efficiently executed.

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19. To promote the development of financial infrastructure of markets and systems, and to enable it to operate efficiently i.e. to play a leading role in developing a sound financial system so that it can discharge its regulatory function efficiently. 20. T o ensure that credit allocation by the financial system broadly reflects the national economic priorities and societal concerns. 21. To regulate overall volume of money and credit in the economy with a viaew to ensure a reasonable degree of price stability.

II.

COMMERCIAL BANKS : Page | 12


For any financial system to mobilize and allocate savings of the country successfully and productively and to facilitate day-today transactions there must be a class of financial institutions that the public view as safe and convenient outlets for its savings. In virtually all countries, the single dominant class of institutions that emerged as both the respiratory of a dominant class of the society’s liquid savings and the entity through which payments are made is the Commercial Banks The commercial banks in India play a major role in the development of the country itself. These banks are primarily concerned with providing loans and accepting deposits. Several other facilities are also provided by the commercial banks in India. At the same time, the commercial banks in India have the opportunity to develop manifold in the future because the economy of India is developing at a good pace and thus the financial institutions of the country are bound to develop with this growth. The name commercial banking may suggest a number of things, but the term is used to differentiate the other forms of banking from this particular form. The commercial banks in India generate funds for the purpose of financing their various financial requirements through a definite process. The commercial banks in India accept deposits from different sources like businesses and individuals. A wide range of financial products have been developed by these banks to encourage the savings habit of the clients. There are savings deposits, term deposits and many more to attract the investors. These deposits are recycled in the economy through the loans and other credit products •

PSU banks

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Private banks

•

Foreign banks

a. PSU banks Nationalized banks dominate the banking system in India. The history of nationalised banks in India dates back to mid-20th century, when Imperial Bank of India was nationalised (under the SBI Act of 1955) and re-christened as State Bank of India (SBI) in July 1955. Then on 19th July 1960, its seven subsidiaries were also nationalised with deposits over 200 crores. These subsidiaries of SBI were State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur (SBBJ), State Bank of Hyderabad (SBH), State Bank of Indore (SBIR), State Bank of Mysore (SBM), State Bank of Patiala (SBP), State Bank of Saurashtra (SBS), and State Bank of Travancore (SBT). However, the major nationalisation of banks happened in 1969 by the then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The major objective behind nationalisation was to spread banking infrastructure in rural areas and make cheap finance available to Indian farmers. The nationalised 14 major commercial banks were Allahabad Bank, Andhra Bank, Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, Canara Bank, Central Bank of India, Corporation Bank, Dena Bank, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC), Punjab and Sind Bank, Punjab Page | 13


National Bank (PNB), Syndicate Bank, UCO Bank, Union Bank of India, United Bank of India VijayaBank. In the year 1980, the second phase of nationalisation of Indian banks took place, in which 7 more banks were nationalised with deposits over 200 crores. With this, the Government of India held a control over 91% of the banking industry in India. After the nationalisation of banks there was a huge jump in the deposits and advances with the banks. At present, the State Bank of India is the largest commercial bank of India and is ranked one of the top five banks worldwide. It serves 90 million customers through a network of 9,000 branches. Before the steps of nationalisation of Indian banks, only State Bank of India (SBI) was nationalised. It took place in July 1955 under the SBI Act of 1955. Nationalisation of Seven State Banks of India (formed subsidiary) took place on 19th July, 1960. The second phase of nationalisation of Indian banks took place in the year 1980. Seven more banks were nationalised with deposits over 200 crores. Till this year, approximately 80% of the banking segment in India were under Government ownership. After the nationalisation of banks in India, the branches of the public sector banks rose to approximately 800% in deposits and advances took a huge jump by 11,000%. 1955 : Nationalisation of State Bank of India. 1959 : Nationalisation of SBI subsidiaries. 1969 : Nationalisation of 14 major banks. 1980 : Nationalisation of seven banks with deposits over 200 crores. Why Bank Nationalization? The need for the nationalisation was felt mainly because private commercial banks were not fulfilling the social and developmental goals of banking which are so essential for any industrialising country. Despite the enactment of the Banking Regulation Act in 1949 and the nationalisation of the largest bank, the State Bank of India, in 1955, the expansion of commercial banking had largely excluded rural areas and small-scale borrowers. The developmental goals of financial intermediation were not being achieved other than for some favoured large industries and established business houses. Whereas industry’s share in credit disbursed by commercial banks almost doubled between 1951 and 1968, from 34 per cent to 68 per cent, agriculture received less than 2 per cent of total credit. Other key areas such credit to exports and small-scale industries were also neglected. The stated purpose of bank nationalisation was to ensure that credit allocation occur in accordance with plan priorities. Nationalisation took place in two phases, with a first round in Page | 14


1969 covering 14 banks followed by another in 1980 covering 7 banks. Currently there are 27 nationalised commercial banks. Initially, the focus was on the physical extension of banking services. There is no doubt that the achievement has been impressive by any standards. From only 8261 in June 1969, the number of branches of commercial banks increased to 65,521 in 2000. (Indeed, they had increased to even more, but, as we shall see, the “reforms” of the nineties caused a decline in the number of rural branches.) The expansion of rural branches was especially noteworthy. The population covered by a branch decreased from 65,000 in 1969 to 15,000 in 2001. There were associated increases in both deposits and credit flow

b. Private sector banks Currently, India has 88 scheduled commercial banks (SCBs), 31 private banks and 38 foreign banks. They have a combined network of over 53,000 branches and 17,000 ATMs. According to a report by ICRA Limited, a rating agency, private and foreign banks holding 18.2% and 6.5% respectively, 0.3% non-scheduled commercial banks. Old generation private banks Old generation private banks are the banks which prevailed mainly before independence. The only purpose of those banks was to serve specific religion, caste, race, or region. So, old generation private banks served the purpose and function of development of very small section of society. New generation private banks New generation private banks like HDFC, ICICI, IDBI, and AXIS have grown with a rapid branch expansion. The network of private sector bank grew at almost three times of all scheduled commercial banks and more than four times that of public sector banks The star performers among these banks were the Centurion Bank of Punjab (CBoP), HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and the Axis Bank (formerly UTI Bank). These big four expanded their branch network at a rapid rate of 14-16 percent per annum in terms of compound growth rates. All these new private commercial banks adopted the functioning strategies and policies like that of foreign banks. The work culture and service tendering is kept just in the proficient manner as foreign banks keep. •

E.g. reduction in unnecessary no. of employees; working in efficient and effective manner; proper classification of products and product-wise departments etc.

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Diverse product-line and large no. of branches. Page | 15


•

Performance of additional products in less cost: thus, cost cutting measures were taken by these banks.

•

Most important step taken by these banks was to serve small industries and small traders.

c. Foreign banks Foreign banks working in India like Abn-amro, HSBC, CITI, Standard Chartered Bank brought the drastic changes in whole banking industry. Foreign Banks in India always brought an explanation about the prompt services to customers. After the set up foreign banks in India, the banking sector in India also become competitive and accretive.

III.

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Computerized functioning, core banking, ATM centres are the ideas generated by foreign banks.

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More options for customers: cash management, channel financing, foreign currency loans.

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New innovative products being introduced and fee based income increased to meet the challenges ahead.

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Banc assurance and other products, outsourcing of some products, technology-based payment systems.

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Product innovations and process re-engineering to meet customer requirements reduce cost, improve efficiency.

CO - OPERATIVE BANKS

Co-operative banks in this country are a part of vast and powerful structure of co-operative institutions which are engaged in tasks of production, processing, marketing, distribution, servicing and banking in India. The beginning co-operative banking in this country dates back to about 1904, when official efforts were made to create a new type of institution based on principles of co-operative organization & management, which were considered to be suitable for solving the problems peculiar to Indian conditions. Page | 16


In rural areas, as far as the agricultural and related activities are concerned, the supply of credit was inadequate, and money lenders would exploit the poor people in rural areas providing them loans at higher rates. Co operative Banks in India are registered under the Co-operative Societies Act. The cooperative bank is also regulated by the RBI. They are governed by the Banking Regulations Act 1949 and Banking Laws (Co-operative Societies) Act, 1965. Definition: A co-operative bank is a financial entity which belongs to its members, who are at the same time the owners and the customers of their bank. Co-operative banks are often created by persons belonging to the same local or professional community or sharing a common interest. Cooperative banks generally provide their members with a wide range of banking and financial services. Type, structure:

RBI NABAR

CCB’

CLDB’

SCB’

SLDB’

UCB’s (PCB’s )

PACS PLDB’

Initiatives towards development of co-operative banks:

Branch es of

1. Reorganisation of PACS’s (a scheme by NABARD). 2. Licensing of new USB’s liberalised. 3. National Co-operative Bank of India (NCBI) was registered in 1993. (Multi-state co-operative society)-it has no regulatory functions. 4. Co-operative development bank (set up by NABARD). 5. Lending and borrowing rates of all co-operative have been more or less completely freed or deregulated. 6. Allowing all PCB’s to undertake equipment leasing and hire-purchase financing. Page | 17


Establishments: •

Co-operative bank performs all the main banking functions of deposit mobilisation, supply of credit and provision of remittance facilities.

•

Co-operative Banks belong to the money market as well as to the capital market.

•

Co-operative Banks provide limited banking products and are functionally specialists in agriculture related products. However, co-operative banks now provide housing loans also.

•

UCBs provide working capital loans and term loan as well.

Functions: • Co-operative Banks are organised and managed on the principal of co-operation, selfhelp, and mutual help. They work on the basis of “no profit no loss”. Profit maximization is not their goal. •

Co-operative banks do banking business mainly in the agriculture and rural sector. However, UCBs, SCBs, and CCBs operate in semi-urban, urban, and metropolitan areas also.

•

The State Co-operative Banks (SCBs), Central Cooperative Banks (CCBs) and Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs) can normally extend housing loans up to Rs 1 lakh to an individual. The scheduled UCBs, however, can lend up to Rs 3 lakh for housing purposes. The UCBs can provide advances against shares and debentures

A. Cooperative banks in India finance rural areas under: • Farming • Cattle • Milk • Hatchery • Personal finance B. Cooperative banks in India finance urban areas under: • Self-employment • Small scale units • Home finance • Consumer finance Page | 18

Role Of Banks in Indian Economy •

Personal finance

Some facts about Cooperative banks in India

IV.

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Some cooperative banks in India are more forward than many of the state and private sector banks.

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According to NAFCUB the total deposits & lending of Cooperative Banks in India is much more than Old Private Sector Banks & also the New Private Sector Banks.

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This exponential growth of Co operative Banks in India is attributed mainly to their much better local reach, personal interaction with customers, and their ability to catch the nerve of the local clientele.

DEVELOPMENT BANKS

Development Banks should be understood as institutions whose primary interest lies in financing or they may (and they do mostly) undertake development utilities as well. In other words, institutions undertaking financial and developmental functions are considered as development banks. Structure of Development Banks/ Development Financial Institutions – During the post-independence period, India is well-served by a network of development banks, at the national as well as state levels. At present, there are seven all India industrial development banks, viz. (1) The Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI) (2) The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) Page | 19


(3) National Bank for Agriculture and Rural development of India (NABARD) (4) Export Import Bank of India (EXIM) (5) The Industrial Finance Corporation of India (IFCI) (6) The Industrial Reconstruction Bank of India (IRBI) (7) The National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) (8) The National Industrial Development Corporation (NIDC) (9) Shipping credit and Investment corporation of India (SCICI)

a. Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI): The IDBI was set up as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the RBI on July 1, 1964 under the Act of parliament, and by merging the Industrial Refinance Corporation (IRC) which, in turn, was set up by the government earlier in June 1958. In February 1976, the IDBI was delinked from the RBI and since then, it has become a separate and independent entity wholly owned by the government. It is now the central or apex institution in the field of industrial finance. Its main objective is to provide credit, term finance and financial services for the establishment of new projects as well as expansion, diversification, modernization and technology up gradation of the existing industrial enterprise in order to bring about industrial development in the country. It also provides several diversified financial products of non-project nature such as equipment finance, asset credit and equipment leasing, merchant banking, debenture trusteeship and Forex services to corporate. It functions as a development financing agency in its own right, in addition to its work of co-coordinating, supplementing, and monitoring the operations of other term-lending institutions in the country. It also provides indirect assistance in the form of discounting/rediscounting long term bills/promissory notes of term loans given by SFCs, banks and so on and subscribing to resources of notified financial institutions such as SFCs, ICICI, IRBI, and so on. There are more than 850 primary lending institutions which are eligible for refinancing facilities of the IDBI. It also takes up various promotional activities such as balance development of regions, entrepreneurship development, technology development, and so on. During the four decades of its existence, IDBI has been instrumental not only in establishing a well-developed, diversified and efficient industrial and institutional structure but also adding a qualitative dimension to the process of industrial development in the country. IDBI has played a pioneering role in fulfilling its mission of promoting industrial growth through financing of medium and long-term projects, in consonance with national plans and priorities. Over the years, IDBI has enlarged its basket of products and services, covering almost the entire spectrum of industrial activities, including manufacturing and services. IDBI provides financial assistance, Page | 20


both in rupee and foreign currencies, for green-field projects as also for expansion, modernization and diversification purposes. In the wake of financial sector reforms unveiled by the government since 1992, IDBI evolved an array of fund and fee-based services with a view to providing an integrated solution to meet the entire demand of financial and corporate advisory requirements of its clients. IDBI also provides indirect financial assistance by way of refinancing of loans extended by State-level financial institutions and banks and by way of rediscounting of bills of exchange arising out of sale of indigenous machinery on deferred payment terms. IDBI has played a pioneering role, particularly in the pre-reform era (1964-91),in catalyzing broad based industrial development in the country in keeping with its Government-ordained ‘development banking’ charter. In pursuance of this mandate, IDBI’s activities transcended the confines of pure long-term lending to industry and encompassed, among others, balanced industrial growth through development of backward areas, modernization of specific industries, employment generation, entrepreneurship development along with support services for creating a deep and vibrant domestic capital market, including development of apposite institutional framework. The migration to the new business model of commercial banking, with its gateway to low-cost current, savings bank deposits, would help overcome most of the limitations of the current business model of development finance while simultaneously enabling it to diversify its client/ asset base. IDBI Bank, with which the parent IDBI was merged, was a vibrant new generation Bank. The Private Bank was the fastest growing banking company in India. The bank was pioneer in adapting to policy of first mover in tier 2 cities. The Bank also had the least NPA and the highest productivity per employee in the banking industry. In particular, IDBI would leverage the strong corporate relationships built up over the years to offer customized and total financial solutions for all corporate business needs, single-window appraisal for term loans and working capital finance, strategic advisory and “hand-holding” support at the implementation phase of projects, among others. IDBI’s transformation into a commercial bank would provide a gateway to low-cost deposits like Current and Savings Bank Deposits. This would have a positive impact on the Bank’s overall cost of funds and facilitate lending at more competitive rates to its clients. The new entity would offer various retail products, leveraging upon its existing relationship with retail investors under its existing Suvidha Flexi-bond schemes. In the emerging scenario, the new IDBI hopes to realize its mission of positioning itself as a one stop super-shop and most preferred brand for providing total financial and banking solutions to corporate and individuals, capitalizing on its intimate knowledge of the Indian industry and client requirements and large retail base on the liability side. Main Functions of IDBI: Page | 21


IDBI coordinates between various financial institutions who are highly involved in providing financial assistance, promoting, and developing various industrial units

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IDBI is also engaged in a variety of promotional activities such as development programs for the fresh entrepreneurs, planning of consultancy services for both the small scale enterprises and the medium sized industrial units

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IDBI works for the advancement of technology and other welfare schemes to ensure economic development.

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Industrial Development Bank of India acts as a catalyst in various industrial development programs

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IDBI provides financial assistance to all kinds of industrial units which comes under the provisions of the IDBI Act

•

IDBI has served various industrial sectors in India for about three years and has grown leaps and bounds in its size and operating units

Other Important Functions: Promotional and Developmental Activities: In fulfillment of its developmental role the Bank continues to perform a wide range of promotional activities relating to developmental programmes for new entrepreneurs, consultancy services for small and medium enterprises and programmes designed for accredited voluntary agencies for economic upliftment of the underprivileged. These include entrepreneurship development, self-employment and wage employment in industrial sector for weaker sections of society through voluntary agencies, support to Science and Technology Entrepreneurs' Parks, Energy Conservation, Common Quality Testing Centre’s for small industries. With a view to making available at reasonable cost, consultancy and advisory services to entrepreneurs, particularly to new and small entrepreneurs, IDBI, in collaboration with other AllIndia Financial Institutions, has set up a network of Technical Consultancy Organizations (TCOs) covering the entire country. TCOs offer diversified services to small and medium enterprises in the selection, formulation and appraisal of projects, their implementation and review. Infrastructure financing: IDBI remains a prominent player in infrastructure financing. It has been forefront in structuring and financing of infrastructure projects in the areas of power, telecom, roads, airports, seaports, railways, and logistics as well as special economic zones (SEZs) ever since the infrastructure opened to private sector investment, and a significant share of its aggregate goes to infrastructure Page | 22


sector. IDBI continues to provide assistance to road projects considering the importance of road infrastructure development for achieving higher growth in the national economy. Recognizing the critical role of infrastructure development in the growth of national economy and huge investment in the sector, focused approach was followed to provide end-to-end solutions to the infrastructure companies’ viz. corporate advisory, syndication of debt/equity, financial structuring, term loans, working capital, securitization and other related services.

Financial Inclusion: In addition to providing development finance, IDBI stands committed to financial inclusion and in this endeavor, designs products and services catering to wider sections of the society. As a first step bank had earlier launched the ‘sabka’ savings account with an intention to make basic banking services accessible to a vast majority of the unbanked and under banked population. The facility offers core-banking facilities and conveniences at a low average balance requirement. The scheme was subsequently further modified so as to cover a wider network of customers. IDBI bank initiated the mobile cash van satara to serve the surrounding areas

b. Small scale Industrial Development Bank of India (SIDBI)

The SIDBI was set up in October 1989 under the Act of parliament as a wholly owned subsidiary of the IDBI. It is the central or apex or principal institution which oversees, co-ordinates and further strengthens various arrangements for providing financial and non-financial assistance to small-scale, tiny, and cottage industries. Page | 23


SIDBI objectives are: •

To initiate steps for technological up gradation and modernization of existing units

•

To expand channels for marketing of SSI sector products in India and abroad

•

To promote employment-oriented industries in semi-urban areas and to check migration of population to big cities.

It operates two funds: Small Industries Development Fund and Small Industries Development Assistance Fund. The operation of the former and of National Equity Fund which were earlier looked by IDBI is now handled by the SIDBI. Its financial assistance is channeled through the existing credit delivery system comprising NSIC, SFCs, SIDCs, SSIDCs, commercial banks, cooperative banks and RRBs. The total number of institutions eligible for assistance from SIDBI is 900. It discounts and rediscounts bills arising from the sale of machinery to small units; extends seed capital/soft loan assistance through National Equity Fund and through seed capital schemes of specialized lending institutions; refinance loans; and provide services like factoring, Leasing and so on. The union budget 1996-97 envisaged a number of measures to develop small-scale sector with SIDBI as the focal point. They include: •

SIDBI will now refinance the SFCs and commercial banks for modernization projects up to Rs 50 lakhs from unutilized corpus of about Rs 75 crore;

•

SIDBI’s refinance ceiling of Rs 50 lakhs for single window scheme of SFCs etc. for composite loans will be doubled to Rs 100 lakhs

•

SIDBI will participate in venture capital funds set up by public sector institutions as well as private companies up to 50 percent of the total corpus of the fund, provided such fund is dedicated to the financing of small-scale industry;

•

SIDBI will provide refinance lending institutions which are now permitted to lend to SSI units seeking ISO certification of quality.

Since its inception SIDBI has provided assistance to the entire SSIs sector including tiny, village, and cottage industries through suitable schemes tailored to meet the requirement of setting up of new products, expansions, diversifications, modernization, and rehabilitation. It has provided equity capital, domestic and foreign currency term loans, working capital finance, etc. SIDBI has entered into MOU with many banks, governmental agencies, international agencies, R&D institutions, and industry associations for developing SSIs.

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c. Export-import bank of India (EXIM Bank)

The EXIM bank was set up in January 1982 as a statutory corporation wholly owned by central government. Its paid up capital in 1988-89 was Rs 220.50 crores.

Activities performed by EXIM Bank: •

It grants direct loans in India and outside for the purpose of imports and exports;

•

Refinances loans to banks and other notified financial institutions for the purpose of international trade ;

•

Rediscounts usance export bills for banks;

•

Provide overseas investment finance for Indian companies toward their equity participation in joint venture abroad and guarantees, along with banks, obligations on behalf of project exporters;

•

It is also a co-coordinating agency in the field of international finance and it undertakes development of merchant banking activities in relation to export oriented industries; Thus it provides fund based as well as non fund based assistance in the foreign trade sector.

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The main objective of Export-Import Bank (EXIM Bank) is to provide financial assistance to promote the export production in India. The financial assistance provided by the EXIM Bank widely includes the following: •

Direct financial assistance

•

Direct financial assistance

•

Foreign investment finance

•

Term loaning options for export production and export development

•

Pre-shipping credit

•

Buyer's credit

•

Lines of credit

•

Re-loaning facility

•

Export bills rediscounting

•

Refinance to commercial banks

The Export-Import Bank also provides non-funded facility in the form of guarantees to the Indian exporters. •

Various Stages of Exports Covered by EXIM Bank-

•

Development of export makers

•

Expansion of export production capacity

•

Production for exports

•

Financing post-shipment activities

•

Export of manufactured goods

•

Export of projects

•

Export of technology and software’s

The

Small

and

Medium

Enterprises

(SME)

Finance Page | 27


The importance of SME sector is well-recognized world over owing to its significant contribution in achieving various socio-economic objectives, such as employment generation, contribution to national output and exports, fostering new entrepreneurship and to provide depth to the industrial base of the economy. India has a vibrant SME sector that plays an important role in sustaining economic growth, increasing trade, generating employment and creating new entrepreneurship. Indian SMEs require business advisory services to enhance their international competitiveness in a highly competitive globalizing world. The SMEs find the services of reputed national and international consultants as not cost effective and often, not adequately focused. Recognizing this knowledge gap, EXIM Bank of India has been endeavoring to provide a suite of services to its SME clients. These include providing business leads, handholding during the process of winning an export contract and thus assisting the generation of export business on success fee basis, countries/ sector information dissemination, capacity building in niche areas such as quality, safety, export marketing, etc. and financial advisory services such as loan syndication, etc Agri Finance: The globalization and post-WTO scenario offers considerable scope for exports of Indian agricultural products. E Bank has a dedicated Agri Business Group to cater to the financing needs of export oriented companies dealing in agricultural products. Financial assistance is provided by way of term loans, pre-shipment/post-shipment credit, overseas buyers' credit, bulk import finance, guarantees etc. Term loans with varying maturities are provided for setting up processing facilities, expansion, modernization, purchase of equipment, import of equipment/technology, financing overseas joint ventures and acquisitions etc. The Bank has strong linkages with other stakeholders in agri sector such as Ministry of Food Processing Industries, GOI, NABARD, APEDA, Small Farmers' Agri-Business Consortium (SFAC), and National Horticultural Board etc. Apart from financing, the Bank also provides a range of advisory services to agri exporters. The Bank also publishes a number of Occasional Papers, Working Papers on export potential of various sub-sectors in agriculture and a bi-monthly publication in different languages on global scenario in agri-business and opportunities therein.

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d. National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD): Page | 29


NABARD was set up on July 12, 1982 under Act of parliament as a central or apex institutions for financing agricultural and rural sectors. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is an apex development bank in India. It has been accredited with "matters concerning policy, planning and operations in the field of credit for agriculture and other economic activities in rural areas in India". NABARD was established by an act of Parliament on 12 July 1982 to implement the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Act 1981. It replaced the Agricultural Credit Department (ACD) and Rural Planning and Credit Cell (RPCC) of Reserve Bank of India and Agricultural Refinance and Development Corporation (ARDC). It is one of the premiere agencies to provide credit in rural areas. NABARD is set up as an apex Development Bank with a mandate for facilitating credit flow for promotion and development of agriculture, small-scale industries, cottage and village industries, handicrafts and other rural crafts. It also has the mandate to support all other allied economic activities in rural areas, promote integrated and sustainable rural development and secure prosperity of rural areas. It provides short term finance assistance for period of 18 months to state co-operative banks, commercial banks, RRBs, and so on for wide range of activities in the areas of production, trading, marketing and storage. It also gives loans up to 20 years of maturity to the state government to enable them to subscribe to the share capital of co-operative credit societies. Serves as an apex financing agency for the institutions providing investment and production credit for promoting the various developmental activities in rural areas Takes measures towards institution building for improving absorptive capacity of the credit delivery system, including monitoring, formulation of rehabilitation schemes, restructuring of credit institutions, training of personnel, etc. Co-ordinates the rural financing activities of all institutions engaged in developmental work at the field level and maintains liaison with Government of India, State Governments, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and other national level institutions concerned with policy formulation Undertakes monitoring and evaluation of projects refinanced by it. NABARD's refinance is available to State Co-operative Agriculture and Rural Development Banks (SCARDBs), State Co-operative Banks (SCBs), Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Commercial Banks (CBs) and other financial institutions approved by RBI. While the ultimate beneficiaries of investment credit can be individuals, partnership concerns, companies, Stateowned corporations or co-operative societies, production credit is generally given to individuals. NABARD provides: Page | 30


•

Long term finance for minor irrigation facilities, plantations, horticulture, land development, farm mechanizations, animal husbandry, fisheries etc.

•

Short term loan assistance fir financing of seasonal agricultural operations, marketing of crops, purchase/procurement/distribution of agricultural inputs etc.

•

Medium loan facilities for approved agricultural purposes;

•

Working capital refinance for handloom weavers

•

Refinance for financing government- sponsored programmes such as IRDP, Rozgar Yogna etc.

Besides this pivotal role, NABARD also: 

Acts as a coordinator in the operations of rural credit institutions



Extends assistance to the government, the Reserve Bank of India and other organizations in matters relating to rural development



Offers training and research facilities for banks, cooperatives and organizations working in the field of rural development



Helps the state governments in reaching their targets of providing assistance to eligible institutions in agriculture and rural development Acts as regulator for cooperative banks and RRBs

Role of NABARD: General aspects: •

NABARD should be a managing agency of Government of India for public investments in rural India.

•

It should be the chief overseer, grand planner for public investment and ensure that each rupee spent in rural India generates a net positive return for rural India.

•

NABARD should not resort to passive funding. NABARD has to make things happen by organizing people and providing knowledge.

•

The strength of NABARD is its good networking capabilities. It can act as a coordinating agency for all the developmental works taking place at the grass roots level.

•

The greatest comparative advantage of NABARD is its ability to decontaminate the effects of subsidy and making public spending more efficient. Page | 31


It is a folly for NABARD to become a Commercial Bank. It is the only institution which can handle public finance better than the government.

e. Industrial Finance Corporation of India (IFCI):

The IFCI was the first development bank to be established in the country immediately in 1948 with the principal objective to provide medium and long term finance to industrial concerns, especially in circumstances where normal banking accommodation is inappropriate or resource to capital issue methods is impracticable. The Corporation was empowered to assist industrial concerns organized as public limited companies or co-operative societies and engaged in the manufacture, preservation or processing of goods or in shipping, mining or hotel industry or in generation and distribution of electricity or any other form of power. The functions of the Corporation have been enlarged from time to time and include at present granting of loans and advances to industrial concerns, subscribing to, or underwriting of, their shares and debentures and guaranteeing loans, raised by them from the market or banks, deferred payments, foreign loans and credit arrangements.

f. Industrial Reconstruction Bank of India (IRBI):

Industrial Reconstruction Corporation of India Ltd. (IRCI) was set up in April 1971 with an objective to undertake re-construction and rehabilitation of sick and closed industrial units. This was later converted to Industrial Reconstruction Bank of India (IRBI) in 1984 by an Act of Parliament. IRBI is a specialized primary all-India financial institution with primary objective of functioning as principal credit and reconstruction agency for revival of sick and closed units. IRBI undertakes the projects of modernization, expansion, and diversification and rationalization of industrial units and extends financial assistance in the form of (i) granting loans and advances to third parties granting loan to the unit, and subscribing and underwriting of shares and debentures. IRBI comes into picture when specific cases of sick industries are referred to it by the banks and financial institutions that have already financed that project.IRBI may also participate in other projects involving modernization, diversification, and expansion of existing units but its share cannot exceed more than two 20 per cent of the project cost. Such financing assistance is disbursed in consortium with other all-India financing institutions. Page | 32


OVERVIEW OF ROLE OF BANKS IN THE ECONOMY 1. Capital Formation: The significance of DFIs lies in their making available the means to utilize savings generated in the economy, thus helping in capital formation. Capital formation implies the diversion of the productive capacity of the economy to the making of capital goods which increases future productive capacity. The process of Capital Formation involves three distinct but interdependent activities, viz., saving financial intermediation and investment. However, poor country/economy may be, there will be a need for institutions which allow such savings, as are currently forthcoming, to be invested conveniently and safely and which ensure that they are channeled into the most useful purposes. A well-developed financial structure will therefore aid in the collections and disbursements of investible funds and thereby contribute to the capital formation of the economy. Indian capital market although still considered to be underdeveloped has been recording impressive progress during the post-interdependence period. 2. Support to the Capital Market: The basic purpose of DFIs particularly in the context of a developing economy, is to accelerate the pace of economic development by increasing capital formation, inducing investors and entrepreneurs, sealing the leakages of material and human resources by careful allocation thereof, undertaking development activities, including promotion of industrial units to fill the gaps in the industrial structure and by ensuring that no healthy projects suffer for want of finance and/or technical services. Hence, the DFIs have to perform financial and development functions on finance functions, there is a provision of adequate term finance and in development functions there include providing of foreign currency loans, underwriting of shares and debentures of industrial concerns, direct subscription to equity and preference share capital, guaranteeing of deferred payments, conducting techno-economic surveys, market and investment research and rendering of technical and administrative guidance to the entrepreneurs.

3. Rupee Loans: Rupee loans constitute more than 90 per cent of the total assistance sanctioned and disbursed. This speaks eloquently on DFI’s obsession with term loans to the neglect of other forms of assistance which are equally important. Term loans unsupplemented by other forms of assistance had naturally put the borrowers, most of whom are small entrepreneurs, on to a heavy burden of debt-servicing. Since term finance is just one of the inputs but not everything for the entrepreneurs, they had to search for other sources and their abortive efforts to secure other forms of assistance led to sickness in industrial units in many cases. Page | 33


4. Foreign Currency Loans: Foreign currency loans are meant for setting up of new industrial projects as also for expansion, diversification, modernization or renovation of existing units in cases where a portion of the loan was for financing import of equipment from abroad and/or technical know-how, in special cases. 5. Subscription to Debentures and Guarantees Regarding guarantees, it is well-known that when an entrepreneur purchases some machinery or fixed assets or capital goods on credit, the supplier usually asks him to furnish some guarantee to ensure payment of installments by the purchaser at regular intervals. In such a case, DFIs can act as guarantors for prompt of installments to the supplier of such machinery or capital under a scheme called ‘Deferred Payments Guarantee’. 6. Assistance to Backward Areas: Operations of DFI’s in India have been primarily guided by priorities as spelt out in the FiveYear Plans. This is reflected in the lending portfolio and pattern of financial assistance of development financial institutions under different schemes of financing. Institutional finance to projects in backward areas is extended on concessional terms such as lower interest rate, longer moratorium period, extended repayment schedule and relaxed norms in respect of promoters’ contribution and debt-equity ratio. Such concessions are extended on a graded scale to units in industrially backward districts, classified into the three categories of A, B and c depending upon the degree of their backwardness. Besides, institutions have introduced schemes for extending term loans for project/area-specific infrastructure development. Moreover, in recent years, development banks in India have launched special programmes for intensive development of industrially least developed areas, commonly referred to as the No-industry Districts (NID’s) which do not have any large-scale or medium-scale industrial project. Institutions have initiated industrial potential surveys in these areas. 7. Promotion of New Entrepreneurs: Development banks in India have also achieved a remarkable success in creating a new class of entrepreneurs and spreading the industrial culture to newer areas and weaker sections of the society. Special capital and seed Capital schemes have been introduced to provide equity type of assistance to new and technically skilled entrepreneurs who lack financial resources of their own even to provide promoter’s contribution in view of long-term benefits to the society from the emergence of a new class of entrepreneurs. Development banks have been actively involved in the entrepreneurship development programmes and in establishing a set of institutions which identify and train potential entrepreneurs. Again, to make available a package of services encompassing preparation of feasibility of reports, project reports, technical and management consultancy etc. at a reasonable cost, institutions have sponsored a chain of 16 Technical Consultancy organizations covering practically the entire country. Promotional and development Page | 34


functions are as important to institutions as the financing role. The promotional activities like carrying out industrial potential surveys, identification of potential entrepreneurs, conducting entrepreneurship development programmes and providing technical consultancy services have contributed in a significant manner to the process of industrialization and effective utilization of industrial finance by industry. IDBI has created a special technical assistance fund to support its various promotional activities. Over the years, the scope of promotional activities has expanded to include programmes for up gradation of skill of State level development banks and other industrial promotion agencies, conducting special studies on important issues concerning industrial development, encouraging voluntary agencies in implementing their programmes for the uplift of rural areas, village an cottage industries, artisans and other weaker sections of the society. 8. Impact on Corporate Culture: The project appraisal and follow-up of assisted projects by institutions through various instruments, such as project monitoring and report of nominee directors on the Boards of directors of assisted units, have been mutually rewarding. Through monitoring of assisted projects, the institutions have been able to better appreciate the problems faced by industrial units. It also has been possible for the corporate managements to recognize the fact that interests of the assisted units and those of institutions do not conflict but coincide. Over the years, institutions have succeeded in infusing a sense of constructive partnership with the corporate sector. Institutions have been going through a continuous process of learning by doing and are effecting improvements in their systems and procedures on the basis of their cumulative experience. The promoters of industrial projects now develop ideas into specific projects more carefully and prepare project reports more systematically. Institutions insist on more critical evaluation of technical feasibility demand factors, marketing strategies and project location and on application of modern techniques of discounted cash flow, internal rate of return, economic rate of return etc., in assessing the prospects of a project. This has produced a favorable impact on the process of decision-making in the corporate seeking financial assistance from institutions. In fact, such impact is not continued to projects assisted by them but also spreads over to projects financed by the corporate sector on its own. The association of institutions in the management of corporate bodies has considerably facilitated the process of progressive professionalism of the corporate management. Institutions have been able to convince the corporate managements to appropriately re-orient their organizational structure, personal policies and planning and control systems. In many cases, institutions have successfully inducted experts on the Boards of assisted companies. As part of their project follow-up work and through their nominee directors, institutions have also been able to bring about progressive adoption of modern management techniques, such as corporate planning and performance budgeting in the assisted units. The progressive professionalism of industrial Page | 35


management in India reflects one of the major qualitative changes brought about by the institutions. CONCLUSION: The banking system in India has undergone significant changes during last 16 years. There have been new banks, new instruments, new windows, new opportunities and, along with all this, new challenges. While deregulation has opened up new vistas for banks to augment incomes, it has also entailed greater competition and consequently greater risks. India adopted prudential measures aimed at imparting strength to the banking system and ensuring its safety and soundness, through greater transparency, accountability and public credibility. Banking sector reform has been unique in the world in that it combines a comprehensive reorientation of competition, regulation and ownership in a non-disruptive and cost-effective manner. Indeed banking reform is a good illustration of the dynamism of the public sector in managing the overhang problems and the pragmatism of public policy in enabling the domestic and foreign private sectors to compete and expand. There has been no banking crisis in India. The Government took steps to reduce its ownership in nationalised banks and inducted private ownership but without altering their public sector character. The underlying rationale of this approach is to assure that the salutary features of public sector banking were not lost in the transformation process. On account of healthy market value of the banks’ shares, the capital infusion into the banks by the Government has turned out to be profitable for the Government.

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ROLE OF BANKS IN INDIAN ECONOMY

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