In terms of Reserve Bank of India's Extant Guidelines on Priority Sector Lending, a target of 10 percent of Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANBC) or Credit Equivalent of Off-Balance Sheet Exposure (CEOBE), whichever is higher, has been prescribed for lending to Weaker Sections. Reserve Bank monitors the performance of banks against the stipulated priority sector targets/ sub-targets on a quarterly as well as annual basis. As reported by RBI, Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) have achieved the prescribed target and the advances under Priority Sector to weaker sections stood at 10.33% for Financial Year 2016-17 And 10.74%  for the Financial Year 2017-18.

To strengthen banks and foster a culture of clean and responsible banking, the Government has followed a comprehensive 4 R’s approach of recognition, resolution, recapitalization and reforms.

A number of steps have been taken to promote the functioning of PSBs, including, inter alia, the following:

1. Reforms, as per the PSB Reforms Agenda adopted by PSBs-

1. increasing access to banking services from home and mobile through digital banking and enhanced customer ease,
2. enabling easy accessibility to senior citizens and the differently-abled, through online update of pension life certificates, etc.
3. instituting efficient practices for effective coordination in large consortium loans by restricting number of lenders in consortium and by adoption of standard operating procedures,
4. strict segregation of pre- and post-sanction roles and responsibilities for enhanced accountability,
5. ring-fencing of cash flows and use of technology and analytics for comprehensive diligence across data sources for prudent lending,
6. institution of transparent and robust one-time settlement mechanism with automated escalation and monitoring,
7. monitoring of loans above ₹250 crore through specialised agencies for effective vigil,
8. establishment of stressed asset management verticals in banks for focused recovery and timely and effective management of stressed accounts,
9. institution and implementation of a risk appetite framework for a structured approach to manage, measure and control risk and check aggressive and imprudent lending,
10. monetisation of non-core assets for strengthening capital base,
11. enabling faster bill realisation for MSMEs through discounting by banks on the Trade Receivables electronic Discounting System (TReDS),
12. enabling proactive reach-out to borrowers and stepping-up cluster-based financing to MSMEs,and
13. developing human resources by rewarding top performers and enabling specialisation through job-families, and role based learning for executives.

Comprehensive checking of all accounts above ₹ 50 crore that turn NPA being checked for wilful default and fraud.

In-principle approval for MSME loans up to ₹ 1 crore within 59 minutes by PSBs through the 59 minutes portal (www.psbloansin59minutes.com).

 Strengthening governance through professional and arms-length top-level appointments of Whole Time Directors (WTDs) and Non-executive Chairmen of PSBs through the Banks Board Bureau, institution of performance-based extension in WTD appointments and bifurcation of the position of Chairman and Managing Director (MD) into those of non-executive Chairman and an MD & CEO.

In addition to 4R’s approach mentioned in (b) above, Government has taken a number of steps to expedite and enable resolution of NPAs of PSBs over the four and a half financial year period ending September 2018, including, inter alia, the following:

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC) has been enacted, which has provided for the taking over management of the affairs of the corporate debtor at the outset of the corporate insolvency resolution process. Coupled with debarment of wilful defaulters and persons associated with NPA accounts from the resolution process, this has effected a fundamental change in the creditor-debtor relationship. Further, the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 has been amended to provide for authorisation to RBI to issue directions to banks to initiate the insolvency resolution process under IBC. As per RBI’s directions under the aforesaid amended provision in the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, cases have been filed under IBC before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) in respect of 41 borrowers, 12 of which had cumulative outstanding amount of ₹ 1,97,769 crore as on 31.3.2017 and the remaining 29 had outstanding amount of ₹ 1,35,846 crore as on 30.6.2017.

Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act has been amended to make it more effective, with provision for three months’ imprisonment in case the borrower does not provide asset details and for the lender to get possession of mortgaged property within 30 days. Also, six new Debts Recovery Tribunals have been established to expedite recovery.

Under the PSB Reforms Agenda, PSBs have created Stressed Asset Management Verticals for stringent recovery, segregated pre- and post-sanction follow-up roles for clean and effective monitoring, initiated creation of online one-time settlement platforms, and committed to monitoring large-value accounts through specialized monitoring agencies.

 This was stated by Shri Shiv Pratap Shukla, Minister of State for Finance in a Written Reply to a Question in Lok Sabha today.

Priority Sector Lending targets reinforce weaker sections credit allocation alongside insolvency and governance reforms to strengthen bank recovery mechanisms. A regulatory target requires banks to allocate a specified proportion of Adjusted Net Bank Credit to lending for weaker sections, subject to quarterly and annual monitoring. A fourfold framework of recognition, resolution, recapitalisation and reforms directs operational measures in public sector banks-digital access, segregation of sanction roles, ring-fencing of cash flows, risk appetite frameworks, stressed asset management verticals, one-time settlement platforms and faster MSME receivables realisation. Statutory changes enable an insolvency resolution framework with creditor-driven management takeover at the outset, bar wilful defaulters from resolution, allow supervisory directions to initiate insolvency proceedings, and strengthen securitisation and recovery procedures.