Opens the print dialog — choose “Save as PDF” to keep the colourful layout.

Banking System in India — Architecture, Reform & Stress

From the Bank of Hindustan (1770) to the Unified Lending Interface (2024) — Topic 6 walks through how India intermediates savings into investment: the RBI at the apex, the Scheduled vs Non-Scheduled hierarchy, two waves of nationalisation, the mega-merger of 2020, NBFCs and differentiated banks, Basel III prudential norms, NPAs, the IBC, and the financial-inclusion agenda from PMJDY to ULI.

UPSC Prelims · Mains GS-III Ramesh Singh Ch. 9 ~28 min read RBI · PSB · NBFC IBC 2016 · Basel III

Conceptual Clarity — Three Lenses

  1. Architecture — the hierarchy: RBI → Scheduled (SCBs, RRBs, Cooperatives) and Non-scheduled banks → NBFCs and differentiated banks at the periphery.
  2. Reform cycles — Nationalisation (1969, 1980) → Narasimham I (1991) and II (1998) → Basel III adoption → IBC 2016 → PSB mergers (2017–2020).
  3. Stress & resolution — the twin balance-sheet problem, AQR 2015, PCA, IBC, and the move from account-wise restructuring to entity-wise insolvency.
CRAR = (Tier 1 + Tier 2 capital) / Risk-Weighted Assets  ≥  9% (RBI) / 8% (Basel III)  +  2.5% CCB  +  1–2.5% D-SIB surcharge

1. Evolution of Indian Banking — A Timeline

Modern Indian banking begins in the late 18th century with Agency Houses of the East India Company and graduates, in stages, into a fully State-supervised, Basel-compliant system.

1.1 The Pre-Independence Phase

  • 1770: Bank of Hindustan — first modern bank in India (Alexander & Co., Calcutta). Failed 1832.
  • 1786: General Bank of India.
  • 1806, 1840, 1843: Three Presidency Banks — Bank of Bengal, Bank of Bombay, Bank of Madras — chartered by the East India Company. Issued currency until the Paper Currency Act, 1861 ended their note-issuing power.
  • 1865: Allahabad Bank — oldest joint-stock bank that survived until its 2020 merger with Indian Bank.
  • 1881: Oudh Commercial Bank — first limited liability bank managed by Indians.
  • 1894: Punjab National Bank (PNB) — first wholly Indian-managed and Indian-capital bank (Lahore). Lala Lajpat Rai a founder-shareholder.
  • 1921: Three Presidency Banks merged into the Imperial Bank of India (Hilton Young Commission later asked it to surrender central-banking functions).
  • 1 April 1935: Reserve Bank of India established under the RBI Act 1934 (Hilton Young Commission 1926).

1.2 The Post-Independence Phase — Six Reform Waves

WaveYear(s)Key EventSignificance
1. Nationalisation of RBI1 Jan 1949RBI fully State-ownedFoundation of public-sector central banking
2. SBI emerges1 Jul 1955Imperial Bank → State Bank of India (SBI Act 1955)First public-sector commercial bank; rural credit push
3. SBI subsidiaries1959Seven associate banks brought under SBISBI Group created (merged back into SBI 2017)
4. First nationalisation19 Jul 196914 banks > ₹50 cr deposits nationalised (Indira Gandhi)91% of bank deposits now in PSU control
5. Second nationalisation15 Apr 19806 more banks > ₹200 cr nationalisedPSU share rises to ~92%
6. LPG & Narasimham reforms1991, 1998Narasimham Committee I & II; new-generation private banks licensed; Basel normsCompetition, prudential supervision, capital adequacy
7. IBC + Mergers + Differentiated Banks2014–2024IBC 2016, Payments & Small Finance Banks, 10 PSB → 4 mega-mergers (Apr 2020)Resolution, inclusion, consolidation
Etymology corner: The word "bank" derives from the Italian banca (bench) — medieval Lombard money-changers in Florence transacted on wooden benches in the marketplace. A failed banker's bench was literally broken, giving us banca rotta → "bankrupt".

2. Structure of the Indian Banking System

Indian banking is a two-tier system — the Reserve Bank of India at the apex, and a layered set of scheduled and non-scheduled banks below. A parallel non-bank ecosystem (NBFCs, AIFIs) feeds into the same capital markets.

2.1 The Apex: RBI

RBI sits at the top under the RBI Act 1934 and the Banking Regulation Act 1949 (see Topic 05, Section 7 for its monetary-authority role). For banking-supervision purposes, the relevant powers come from BR Act 1949 — licensing, branch authorisation, capital, prudential norms, inspection, and (since 1994) the Board for Financial Supervision (BFS).

2.2 Scheduled vs Non-Scheduled Banks

  • Scheduled Banks: Banks listed in the Second Schedule of the RBI Act, 1934. To qualify, a bank must have paid-up capital + reserves of at least ₹ 5 lakh and satisfy RBI that its affairs are not conducted in a manner detrimental to depositors. Benefits: refinance from RBI, clearing-house membership, eligibility to be a primary dealer.
  • Non-Scheduled Banks: Not in the Second Schedule. Few in number; mostly small Local Area Banks.

2.3 The Full Architecture

TierCategorySub-categories (examples)
ApexCentral BankReserve Bank of India
Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs)Public Sector Banks (PSBs)SBI + 11 nationalised (post-2020 mergers)
Private Sector BanksOld (Federal, Karur Vysya, J&K Bank, etc.) + New (HDFC, ICICI, Axis, Kotak, IndusInd, Yes, IDFC First, Bandhan, etc.)
Foreign Banks~45 foreign banks operating in India (Citi exited retail 2023, sold to Axis)
Regional Rural Banks (RRBs)43 RRBs after consolidation; sponsored by PSBs
Small Finance Banks & Payments Banks11 SFBs + 6 PBs (operationally licensed)
Scheduled Cooperative BanksUrban Cooperative Banks (UCBs)Scheduled UCBs (~50)
Scheduled Cooperative BanksState Cooperative BanksStCBs (top tier of rural cooperative pyramid)
Non-Scheduled BanksLocal Area Banks (LABs)Capital Local Area Bank (the survivor; converted to SFB)
All-India Financial Institutions (AIFIs)Specialised lendersNABARD, SIDBI, EXIM Bank, NHB, NaBFID (2021)
Non-Bank LayerNBFCsInvestment & Credit Cos, Infra Finance, Micro Finance, HFCs, AIFC, Core Investment Cos (CICs)
Two anchors to memorise: (i) Second Schedule of RBI Act 1934 — defines a Scheduled Bank. (ii) BR Act 1949 — substantive law for banking regulation. Cooperative banks were brought under full RBI banking supervision only by the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Act, 2020.

3. Commercial Banks — SCBs, PSBs, Private & Foreign

Commercial banks account for ~95% of total banking-system assets. They mobilise deposits from the public and lend for working capital, retail and infrastructure. They are profit-oriented and joint-stock in form, but regulated under the BR Act, 1949.

3.1 Public Sector Banks (PSBs)

  • Definition: Banks where the Government of India (alone or with RBI) holds > 50% of paid-up capital.
  • Constituents: State Bank of India + 11 nationalised banks (post-2020 mergers). Pre-2017, there were 27 PSBs.
  • Mega-merger (1 April 2020): 10 PSBs → 4 anchor banks.
Anchor BankMerged with (effective 1 Apr 2020)
Punjab National Bank (PNB)Oriental Bank of Commerce + United Bank of India
Canara BankSyndicate Bank
Union Bank of IndiaAndhra Bank + Corporation Bank
Indian BankAllahabad Bank

Earlier consolidations: SBI absorbed 5 associate banks + Bharatiya Mahila Bank (Apr 2017); Bank of Baroda + Vijaya Bank + Dena Bank (Apr 2019); IDBI Bank reclassified as a private bank in Jan 2019 after LIC took 51%.

3.2 The 12 PSBs Today

SBI · PNB · Bank of Baroda · Canara Bank · Union Bank of India · Indian Bank · Bank of India · Central Bank of India · Indian Overseas Bank · UCO Bank · Bank of Maharashtra · Punjab & Sind Bank.

3.3 Private Sector Banks

  • Old Private Banks (pre-1991): Federal Bank, Karur Vysya, J&K Bank, South Indian Bank, Karnataka Bank, City Union Bank, etc. — regionally concentrated, typically Southern.
  • New Private Banks (post-Narasimham I): HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank (UTI Bank), IndusInd, Kotak Mahindra, Yes Bank, IDFC First, Bandhan, DCB.
  • On-tap licensing (Aug 2016): RBI shifted from periodic licence windows to a continuous "on-tap" application route for universal banks.

3.4 Foreign Banks

~45 foreign banks operate in India through the branch mode or the wholly-owned subsidiary (WOS) route introduced by RBI in November 2013. SBM Bank (India), DBS Bank India and Standard Chartered are major operators. Citi exited its India consumer business in 2023, selling it to Axis Bank.

Prelims trap: IDBI Bank is now classified as a Private Sector Bank (since Jan 2019, after LIC took 51%). It is no longer a PSB. The government has approved further strategic disinvestment.

4. Cooperative Banks & Regional Rural Banks (RRBs)

The cooperative-credit movement in India predates modern commercial banking and is rooted in the Cooperative Credit Societies Act, 1904 and the Cooperative Societies Act, 1912. It is the institutional response to rural moneylender exploitation.

4.1 The Cooperative Credit Pyramid

Two parallel structures — rural (three-tier) and urban (single-tier).

Rural Cooperative CreditTierFunction
State Cooperative Bank (StCB)Apex (State level)Refinance to DCCBs; member of the cooperative settlement system
District Central Cooperative Bank (DCCB)District levelRefinance to PACS; banking services to district members
Primary Agricultural Credit Society (PACS)Village levelDirect short-term crop loan to farmers
Parallel long-term wing: State Cooperative Agriculture & Rural Development Bank (SCARDB) at State level → Primary CARDBs at district/taluka.
  • Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs): Single-tier; serve middle/lower-income urban customers. ~1,500 UCBs (scheduled + non-scheduled).
  • Apex for long-term credit: NABARD (estd. 12 July 1982, Sivaraman Committee 1979).

4.2 The Dual Control Problem & the 2020 Fix

Until 2020, cooperative banks were under dual control: the Registrar of Cooperative Societies (State Government) for incorporation/management/audit, and RBI only for "banking" functions. This created supervisory gaps — visible in the PMC Bank crisis (Sept 2019).

The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Act, 2020 brought all UCBs and multi-state cooperative banks under full RBI supervisory powers: capital, voluntary amalgamation, supersession of boards, audit. State cooperative law continues to govern non-banking aspects.

4.3 Regional Rural Banks (RRBs)

  • Estd: 2 October 1975 on the recommendation of the M. Narasimham Working Group (1975); statutory basis — RRB Act, 1976.
  • Sponsorship model: Capital — 50% Centre + 35% Sponsor Bank + 15% State Government.
  • Mandate: Credit to small/marginal farmers, agricultural labourers, artisans and small entrepreneurs in their notified area of operation.
  • Consolidation: From 196 RRBs in 1990 down to 43 RRBs as of 2024 (Phase IV of amalgamation), targeted to fall to ~28 under "One State One RRB" (Nov 2020 roadmap).
  • Regulator/Supervisor: RBI; refinance & inspection assistance — NABARD.
Prelims hook: RRBs were created on the recommendation of Narasimham Working Group 1975, not the Narasimham Committee on Banking Sector Reforms (1991/1998) — same chairman, different report.

5. Differentiated Banks — Payments, Small Finance, Local Area

The traditional "universal banking" model was complemented in 2014–2015 by RBI's introduction of differentiated banking licences, following the recommendations of the Nachiket Mor Committee on Comprehensive Financial Services for Small Businesses and Low Income Households (2014). The aim: target financial inclusion through specialised, smaller institutions.

5.1 Payments Banks (PBs)

  • Guidelines: 27 November 2014; first licences granted in 2015.
  • Min. paid-up capital: ₹ 100 crore.
  • Can do: Accept demand deposits up to ₹ 2 lakh per customer (raised from ₹ 1 lakh in April 2021); issue debit/ATM cards; remittances; payments; distribution of mutual funds, insurance, pension; act as BCs for other banks.
  • Cannot do: Issue credit cards; lend; accept NRI deposits.
  • Operational PBs: Airtel Payments Bank, India Post Payments Bank, Fino Payments Bank, Jio Payments Bank, Paytm Payments Bank (under restrictions since Mar 2024), NSDL Payments Bank.

5.2 Small Finance Banks (SFBs)

  • Guidelines: 27 November 2014; first licences 2015; on-tap licensing since 5 December 2019.
  • Min. paid-up capital: ₹ 200 crore (on-tap).
  • Can do: Full banking — deposits and lending. 75% of ANBC must go to priority sector (vs 40% for SCBs); 50% of loan portfolio must be loans up to ₹ 25 lakh.
  • Listed SFBs: AU SFB, Equitas, Ujjivan, Suryoday, Jana, ESAF, Capital, Fincare (merged with AU 2024), Utkarsh, Unity, Shivalik.
  • Transition pathway: SFBs can apply to convert to universal banks after 5 years of operation if they meet eligibility criteria (RBI framework, April 2024). AU Small Finance Bank applied in September 2024.

5.3 Local Area Banks (LABs)

Introduced in 1996 with a narrow geographic focus (max 3 contiguous districts). Of six original LABs, only Capital Local Area Bank survived — and it converted into an SFB in April 2016. The model has effectively been superseded by SFBs.

5.4 New Specialised Institutions

  • National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID): Established under the NaBFID Act, 2021; classified as an AIFI. Mandate: long-tenor infrastructure financing — the post-IDFC institutional gap-filler.
  • Account Aggregators (AA): A new class of NBFCs (Sept 2021 go-live) that act as consent managers for data sharing across financial institutions. Not banks, but core to the lending stack.
Prelims trap: Payments Banks cannot lend or issue credit cards. They can issue debit cards and distribute insurance/MF/pension as third-party agents. The deposit cap was raised to ₹ 2 lakh in April 2021 (often tested).

6. NBFCs & the Shadow Banking Layer

A Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) is a company registered under the Companies Act engaged in the business of loans, investments, leasing, hire-purchase, insurance, chit business or similar — but it does not accept demand deposits and cannot issue cheques drawn on itself. NBFCs supplement banks; they are not banks.

6.1 Legal Definition & Registration

Section 45-I(c) of the RBI Act, 1934 defines an NBFC. To be classified as an NBFC, a company must satisfy the 50-50 test: financial assets > 50% of total assets and income from financial assets > 50% of gross income. Registration with RBI is mandatory under Section 45-IA (since 1997 amendment).

6.2 Scale-Based Regulation (SBR) Framework — October 2021

RBI's new four-layered prudential framework (effective 1 October 2022) replaces the older "deposit-taking / non-deposit-taking systemically important" classification:

LayerThresholdExamplesRegulation Intensity
Base Layer (NBFC-BL)Non-deposit-taking, asset size < ₹ 1,000 crSmaller ICCs, NBFC-P2P, NBFC-AA, NOFHCsLightest touch
Middle Layer (NBFC-ML)All deposit-taking + non-deposit-taking with assets ≥ ₹ 1,000 crHFCs, IFCs, IDFs, CICs, SPDsBanks-lite norms
Upper Layer (NBFC-UL)Top 10–25 NBFCs by scoring methodologyBajaj Finance, Shriram Finance, L&T Finance, Cholamandalam, M&M Financial, Tata Capital, etc.Near-bank prudential rigour (CET-1, LCR, large-exposure)
Top Layer (NBFC-TL)Currently empty; populated only if RBI deems supervisory concern from ULMost intensive

6.3 Major NBFC Categories

  • Investment & Credit Company (ICC) — the residual workhorse category (merger of erstwhile AFC, LC, IC in Feb 2019).
  • Infrastructure Finance Company (IFC) — 75% of assets in infra loans (e.g., Power Finance Corp, REC).
  • Infrastructure Debt Fund (IDF-NBFC) — long-tenor infrastructure refinance.
  • Core Investment Company (CIC) — holding company structure (Tata Sons, Bajaj Holdings).
  • Microfinance Institution (NBFC-MFI) — small-ticket unsecured loans to low-income borrowers.
  • NBFC-Factor — receivables financing (Factoring Regulation Act 2011, amended 2021 to widen eligibility).
  • NBFC-P2P — peer-to-peer lending platforms (RBI directions, October 2017).
  • NBFC-AA (Account Aggregator) — consent manager (Sept 2021).
  • Housing Finance Company (HFC) — brought under RBI supervision in August 2019, transferred from National Housing Bank.
  • Mortgage Guarantee Company (MGC).
  • NBFC-AFC (Asset Finance Company), LC, IC — merged into ICC in Feb 2019.

6.4 Why the "Shadow Banking" Worry?

NBFCs perform credit intermediation outside the prudential perimeter of full bank supervision. The IL&FS collapse (September 2018) — followed by stress at DHFL, Reliance Capital and Srei — revealed system-wide ALM mismatches and triggered the Scale-Based Regulation overhaul. NBFCs do not have CRR/SLR obligations but face capital adequacy (CRAR ≥ 15% for NBFC-D and ICC; 10% Tier-I), large exposure limits and (for UL) LCR.

Bank vs NBFC — one-line distinctions: NBFCs cannot accept demand deposits, cannot issue cheques drawn on themselves, are not part of the payment-and-settlement system, and depositors are not covered by DICGC insurance.

7. Bank Nationalisation & Mergers — The Full Story

Two waves of nationalisation transferred Indian commercial banking decisively into State hands; three decades later, two waves of mergers consolidated that base into a smaller set of stronger anchors.

7.1 Pre-Nationalisation Stocktake (1947–1969)

  • 566 commercial banks at Independence; widespread failures and concentration of credit in industrial business houses.
  • Banking Companies Act 1949 (renamed Banking Regulation Act in 1966) gave RBI statutory powers.
  • SBI Act 1955 nationalised the Imperial Bank (effective 1 July 1955); SBI (Subsidiary Banks) Act 1959 brought the seven associate banks under SBI.
  • Social Control of Banks (Dec 1967): Morarji Desai's reformulation requiring credit to priority sectors — widely viewed as a precursor to nationalisation.

7.2 First Nationalisation — 19 July 1969

  • Government: Indira Gandhi.
  • Instrument: Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Ordinance, 1969 → Act, 1970 (after the SC struck down the Ordinance in R.C. Cooper v. Union of India, Feb 1970, on a compensation-and-fundamental-rights ground).
  • Coverage: 14 private banks with deposits > ₹ 50 crore as on the last Friday of June 1969.
  • The 14 banks: Allahabad Bank, Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, Canara Bank, Central Bank of India, Dena Bank, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Punjab National Bank, Syndicate Bank, UCO Bank, Union Bank of India, United Bank of India.
  • Effect: Public-sector share of total bank deposits jumped to ~85%.

7.3 Second Nationalisation — 15 April 1980

  • Coverage: 6 more banks with deposits > ₹ 200 crore.
  • The 6 banks: Andhra Bank, Corporation Bank, New Bank of India, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Punjab and Sind Bank, Vijaya Bank.
  • Subsequent merger: New Bank of India merged with PNB in September 1993 — the only PSB merger before the 2017 wave.
  • Outcome: 20 nationalised banks + SBI group; PSU share of deposits ~92%.

7.4 Rationale and Critique

Stated RationaleCounter / Critique
Mobilise rural savings & spread branchesAchieved — branch network rose from ~8,200 (1969) to over 60,000 (1991)
Direct credit to agriculture, SSI, exports (priority sectors)Achieved through PSL; but also created "directed lending" inefficiencies
End concentration of bank credit with industrial housesAchieved short-term; long-term created a different concentration in PSU lending to big corporates — root of the 2014 twin balance-sheet problem
Use bank credit as a developmental toolCame at cost of asset quality — pre-Narasimham NPAs were chronic

7.5 The Merger Wave (2017–2020)

  • April 2017: SBI absorbed 5 associate banks (State Bank of Hyderabad, Mysore, Travancore, Patiala, Bikaner & Jaipur) + Bharatiya Mahila Bank — SBI Group merged into SBI.
  • January 2019: IDBI Bank reclassified as a private bank after LIC acquired 51%.
  • April 2019: Bank of Baroda + Vijaya Bank + Dena Bank (BoB-anchored).
  • 1 April 2020: 10 PSBs → 4 anchors (PNB, Canara, Union, Indian) — the mega-merger.
  • Result: PSB count dropped from 27 (2017) to 12 today.
SC verdict to remember: R.C. Cooper v. Union of India (1970) struck down the 1969 nationalisation Ordinance on the grounds that the compensation provided was illusory and that fundamental rights overlapped — reversing the A.K. Gopalan "exclusive rights" doctrine. Parliament responded with a fresh Act that cured the defect.

8. Key Banking Legislations

Indian banking is regulated by a thicket of statutes. The big six to know — and a clutch of newer ones.

YearStatuteWhat it does
1934RBI ActConstitutes RBI; lists scheduled banks in Second Schedule; gives RBI monetary-policy powers; 2016 amendment created statutory MPC
1949Banking Regulation Act (renamed from Banking Companies Act 1949 in 1966)Substantive bank-regulation law — licensing, CRR/SLR, branch expansion, capital, audit, inspection
1955SBI ActCreated State Bank of India out of Imperial Bank
1959SBI (Subsidiary Banks) ActBrought 7 associate banks into SBI Group (since merged into SBI 2017)
1961Deposit Insurance ActCreated DICGC (1961 + 1971 amendment); insures bank deposits
1969 / 1980Banking Companies (Acquisition & Transfer of Undertakings) ActsNationalised 14 + 6 private banks
1976RRB ActCreated Regional Rural Banks
1981NABARD ActCreated NABARD (operational July 1982)
1993RDB Act (DRT Act)Created Debt Recovery Tribunals to expedite recovery
2002SARFAESI ActSecuritisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest — allows banks to attach and sell secured assets without court intervention; created Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARCs)
2007Payment & Settlement Systems (PSS) ActStatutory cover for RBI to authorise & regulate payment systems (UPI, NEFT, RTGS, CCIL)
2016Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC)Unified, time-bound resolution framework for stressed corporate, partnership and individual debt
2020BR (Amendment) ActBrought UCBs & multi-state cooperative banks under full RBI supervision
2021NaBFID ActCreated National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development
2021DICGC (Amendment) ActInsured depositors get up to ₹ 5 lakh within 90 days of a bank being put under moratorium — without waiting for liquidation

8.1 DICGC — Deposit Insurance Cover

  • Statute: DICGC Act, 1961.
  • Coverage limit: Raised to ₹ 5 lakh per depositor per bank (principal + interest) on 4 February 2020 (from ₹ 1 lakh earlier).
  • Speed of payout: Under the 2021 amendment, depositors of a stressed bank under RBI moratorium get up to ₹ 5 lakh within 90 days.
  • Premium: Paid by the bank, not the depositor (currently 12 paise per ₹ 100 of assessable deposits per year).
  • Covered: All scheduled commercial banks, RRBs, local area banks, payments banks, small finance banks, cooperative banks. Not covered: Primary cooperative societies, deposits of foreign governments, inter-bank deposits.

8.2 SARFAESI Act, 2002 — The Banks' Recovery Hammer

Empowers banks and FIs to enforce security interests without court intervention for NPAs > ₹ 1 lakh (or 20% of principal + interest). Three modes:

  1. Take possession of security;
  2. Sell or lease the security;
  3. Appoint a manager to run it.

The Act also created the Asset Reconstruction Company (ARC) framework. Eligible filers must give 60 days' notice to the borrower; appeals lie with DRT → DRAT.

Quick fact: SARFAESI does not apply to agricultural land — an explicit statutory carve-out. This is a recurring Prelims question.

9. NPAs, Asset Quality & Basel III

A loan turns into a Non-Performing Asset (NPA) when the borrower stops paying interest or principal for a specified period. Asset quality is the single most-discussed health metric of Indian banking.

9.1 NPA Definition & Classification (RBI Master Circular)

  • NPA trigger: Interest and/or principal remains overdue for more than 90 days (for a term loan). For agricultural loans — two crop seasons (short-duration) or one crop season (long-duration).
CategoryDefinitionProvisioning (secured)
StandardNot an NPA; performing0.25%–1% (general)
Sub-StandardNPA for less than 12 months15% (secured) / 25% (unsecured)
DoubtfulNPA for > 12 months25–100% by sub-tranche (D1, D2, D3)
LossIdentified as loss but not yet written off100%

9.2 Key Ratios

Gross NPA Ratio = Gross NPAs / Gross Advances
Net NPA Ratio = (Gross NPAs − Provisions) / (Gross Advances − Provisions)
Provision Coverage Ratio (PCR) = Total Provisions / Gross NPAs
Slippage Ratio = Fresh NPAs in the period / Standard Assets at start

9.3 The Twin Balance-Sheet Problem (TBS)

Coined by then-CEA Arvind Subramanian (Economic Survey 2016-17): stressed corporate balance-sheets (over-levered infra and metals firms post-2008 stimulus) feeding into stressed bank balance-sheets (rising NPAs). The Asset Quality Review (AQR) ordered by Governor Raghuram Rajan in July 2015 forced banks to recognise hidden stress, exposing gross NPAs that peaked at 11.5% (March 2018) for the system, and ~14.6% for PSBs.

9.4 Recovery and Resolution Toolkit Pre-IBC

  • Lok Adalats — small-ticket settlements.
  • Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRT, 1993) — for claims ≥ ₹ 20 lakh.
  • SARFAESI 2002 — out-of-court secured-asset enforcement (see Section 8.2).
  • CDR → SDR → S4A → 5/25 Scheme — sequential RBI restructuring schemes, all withdrawn by the RBI 12 Feb 2018 circular in favour of IBC referral.
  • NCLT/IBC — current default route (Section 10).

9.5 Basel III — Capital, Liquidity, Leverage

Basel III (BCBS, December 2010, post-Lehman) brought three pillars together. India implemented it phased from 1 April 2013, fully effective 1 October 2021.

ComponentBasel IIIRBI (India)
Min. CET-1 (Common Equity Tier 1)4.5%5.5%
Min. Tier-1 capital6%7%
Min. Total Capital (CRAR)8%9%
Capital Conservation Buffer (CCB)2.5%2.5%
Counter-cyclical Capital Buffer (CCyB)0–2.5%Currently 0% (framework activated 2015)
D-SIB Surcharge1–2.5%0.20% (Bank of Baroda), 0.40% (ICICI), 0.60% (HDFC), 0.80% (SBI)
Leverage Ratio3% (4% for G-SIBs)3.5% (D-SIBs) / 4% (others)
Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR)100% (since 2019)100% — HQLA over 30-day stressed outflow
Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR)100%100% (from Oct 2021)

India's D-SIBs (2024 list): SBI, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Bank of Baroda. There are no G-SIBs from India.

Examiner's favourite numbers: Minimum CRAR for an Indian bank under Basel III = 9% (vs Basel global 8%); CCB = 2.5%; total effective floor = 11.5%. NPA trigger = 90 days overdue. SMA-0/1/2 stages = 1–30 / 31–60 / 61–90 days overdue (the early-warning ladder).

10. PCA, IBC & Resolution Mechanisms

10.1 Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) Framework

RBI's PCA framework imposes graduated restrictions on banks that breach prudential thresholds, preventing further deterioration. The latest revised framework (effective 1 January 2022 for SCBs; extended to NBFC-D/ML in October 2022; to Govt-owned NBFCs in October 2024) tracks three parameters:

  • Capital (CRAR / CET-1)
  • Asset Quality (Net NPA Ratio)
  • Leverage (Tier-1 Leverage Ratio)

(The earlier "profitability" trigger — negative RoA for two consecutive years — was dropped in the 2021 revision.)

Restrictions escalate by risk threshold (1, 2, 3): branch expansion freeze → dividend curbs → capital raising → promoter restructuring → eventual resolution/amalgamation. PCA can lead to a merger as the terminal action.

10.2 Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016

The IBC unified eleven previous laws (SICA 1985, RDDBFI 1993, SARFAESI 2002, parts of the Companies Act, the Provincial Insolvency Act 1920, etc.) into a single, time-bound, creditor-in-control regime. It is administered by the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI).

10.3 IBC Architecture

PillarBody / Mechanism
RegulatorInsolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI)
Adjudicating Authority — CorporatesNational Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) → NCLAT → SC
Adjudicating Authority — Individuals & PartnershipsDebt Recovery Tribunal (DRT) → DRAT → SC
Resolution Professional (RP)Licensed by IBBI; takes control during CIRP
Information Utility (IU)NeSL — single source of truth on debt and default
Committee of Creditors (CoC)Financial creditors; decisions by 66% (key) / 51% vote

10.4 The CIRP Timeline

  • Trigger: Minimum default threshold — ₹ 1 crore (raised from ₹ 1 lakh in March 2020 to shield MSMEs during COVID).
  • Statutory window: 180 days, extendable by 90 days — total outer limit 330 days (Section 12).
  • Moratorium: Section 14 — all suits/recovery actions stayed during CIRP.
  • Outcomes: Resolution plan approved by CoC (66%) → NCLT approval → binding on all stakeholders. If no plan, liquidation under Section 33.
  • Cross-Border Insolvency: Draft framework under consultation, based on UNCITRAL Model Law.

10.5 Key IBC Amendments

  • 2018: Sec 29A — barred wilful defaulters and connected persons from bidding.
  • 2019: 330-day hard limit; voting threshold harmonised at 66%.
  • 2020: Pre-Packaged Insolvency Resolution Process (PIRP) for MSMEs (April 2021); default threshold raised to ₹ 1 crore.
  • 2021: PPIRP enacted formally.
  • 2023–24: Group-insolvency and real-estate project-wise resolution under consultation.

10.6 IBC Performance (latest IBBI data)

  • Of cases admitted to CIRP, ~16% have ended in resolution; ~46% in liquidation; rest pending or withdrawn.
  • Average haircut for financial creditors: ~68% (varies wildly by sector).
  • Behavioural impact: the credible threat of IBC has driven pre-admission settlements (~26,000+ cases withdrawn under Sec 12A before admission).
  • check for latest update or data for the latest IBBI Quarterly Newsletter for current case status, realisation, and average resolution time.

10.7 National Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd. (NARCL — the "Bad Bank")

  • Announced: Union Budget 2021-22; incorporated July 2021.
  • Structure: NARCL (acquires NPAs from banks under the 15:85 model — 15% cash + 85% Security Receipts) + India Debt Resolution Company Ltd. (IDRCL) (manages and resolves them).
  • Government guarantee: Up to ₹ 30,600 crore on Security Receipts — valid for 5 years.
  • Target: Acquire ~₹ 2 lakh crore of legacy stressed assets, in two phases.
One line on IBC's intent: The IBC shifted Indian insolvency law from debtor-in-possession to creditor-in-control. The CoC drives the resolution plan; the promoter is sidelined.

11. Priority Sector Lending & Financial Inclusion

11.1 Priority Sector Lending (PSL) — The Allocation

The PSL framework, traceable to the Krishnaswamy Committee (1972), mandates that a fixed share of bank credit go to identified sectors.

CategoryTarget (as % of ANBC or CEOBE, whichever higher)
Total Priority Sector40% — SCBs (incl. foreign banks with ≥ 20 branches)
Agriculture18% (within which 10% to small & marginal farmers)
Micro Enterprises7.5%
Weaker Sections12%
SFBs — Total PSL75%
RRBs — Total PSL75%
Foreign banks (< 20 branches)40% (with sub-targets phased in)

Eligible categories (revised 2020 Master Directions): Agriculture, MSME, Export Credit, Education, Housing (up to ₹ 35 lakh in metro / ₹ 25 lakh elsewhere), Social Infrastructure, Renewable Energy, "Others" (incl. SHGs, JLGs, weaker sections).

PSLC (Priority Sector Lending Certificates): Tradeable certificates introduced in April 2016 — banks with surplus PSL achievement can sell PSLCs to banks running a shortfall, deepening the PSL market without physical loan transfer.

11.2 Financial Inclusion — The Architecture

Definition (Rangarajan Committee 2008): "The process of ensuring access to financial services and timely and adequate credit where needed by vulnerable groups such as weaker sections and low-income groups at an affordable cost."

  • PMJDY (Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana): Launched 28 August 2014; 53+ crore accounts opened, deposit base over ₹ 2.3 lakh crore. Includes free RuPay debit card, accident insurance, overdraft.
  • JAM Trinity: Jan Dhan + Aadhaar + Mobile — the plumbing for India's DBT system (over ₹ 36 lakh crore transferred to date).
  • BC (Business Correspondent) Model: Banking outlets through agents in unbanked areas (RBI 2006 guidelines).
  • RBI's Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index): Published annually since Aug 2021 (base FY 2017 = 43.4); composite of Access, Usage and Quality. Latest reading ~ 64.2 (March 2024). check for latest update or data
  • Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY): Life cover ₹ 2 lakh.
  • Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY): Accident cover ₹ 2 lakh.
  • Atal Pension Yojana (APY): Guaranteed pension ₹ 1,000–₹ 5,000 from age 60.
  • Stand-Up India (Apr 2016): ₹ 10 lakh–₹ 1 cr loans to SC/ST and women entrepreneurs.
  • MUDRA — Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (Apr 2015): Loans up to ₹ 20 lakh (Shishu/Kishor/Tarun/Tarun Plus); MUDRA Ltd. operates as a refinance arm under SIDBI.

11.3 Doorstep Banking & Digital Inclusion

  • India Post Payments Bank (IPPB): Launched 1 September 2018; leverages 1.55+ lakh post offices and 3+ lakh postmen as banking touchpoints.
  • Account Aggregator (AA) framework: Operational September 2021 — consent-based, encrypted data flows that enable cash-flow-based lending to thin-file borrowers.
  • Unified Lending Interface (ULI): Announced by Governor Das in August 2024 — the "UPI moment for credit". Plug-and-play digital credit underwriting using consented data flows.
  • e-RUPI (Aug 2021): Purpose-bound, prepaid digital voucher — precursor to programmable CBDC.
Recurring exam theme: The progression has been physical access (branches, BCs) → account ownership (PMJDY) → identity-linked transfers (JAM, DBT) → credit access (AA + ULI). India is now considered a textbook case of state-led Digital Public Infrastructure driving inclusion.

12. Current Affairs Anchor

  • Unified Lending Interface (ULI): Governor Das announced (Aug 2024) ULI as the "UPI moment for credit" — plug-and-play digital credit underwriting using consented data flows.
  • SFB → Universal Bank pathway (April 2024): RBI framework allowing SFBs with 5+ years' track record, listed status, minimum ₹ 1,000 cr net worth and Gross NPA ≤ 3% to apply. AU SFB filed first in Sept 2024.
  • NaBFID operations: Sanctioned over ₹ 1 lakh crore of infrastructure credit cumulatively by FY 2024-25. check for latest update or data
  • Paytm Payments Bank restrictions (Mar 2024): RBI barred fresh deposits/credit transactions over KYC violations — the highest-profile PB enforcement so far.
  • Citi exit: Sold its Indian consumer business to Axis Bank in 2023 — signalling structural shift in foreign-bank retail strategy in India.
  • DICGC payout speed: Under the 2021 amendment, depositors of stressed UCBs (PMC, Punjab & Maharashtra, Sangli Sahakari etc.) have received ₹ 5 lakh payouts within 90-day windows.
  • NPA recovery: Gross NPA ratio of SCBs has fallen sharply from the FY18 peak of 11.5% to under 3% by FY 2024-25 — the lowest in over a decade (RBI FSR Dec 2024). check for latest update or data
  • One State One RRB (Phase IV): Roadmap announced Nov 2020 progressing — target ~28 RRBs from 43.
  • HDFC Ltd. — HDFC Bank merger (1 July 2023): India's largest-ever corporate merger; HDFC (NBFC-HFC) absorbed into HDFC Bank — reshaping the housing-finance market.
  • RBI Scale-Based Regulation (SBR): The Upper Layer of NBFCs (15–16 firms) now under near-bank prudential rigour.
  • FI-Index FY24: ~64.2 — consistent improvement across access, usage and quality.

13. Previous Year Questions — Prelims (2014–2026)

Prelims 2014

The terms 'Basel II' and 'Basel III' are associated with:
(a) Functioning of the IMF (b) Reform of the WTO (c) Reform of the international banking system (d) Reform of the international monetary system
Answer: (c). Basel Accords reform banking-system capital, liquidity, leverage norms.

Prelims 2015

In the context of Indian economy, 'Open Market Operations' refer to:
(a) borrowing by SCBs from the RBI (b) lending by SCBs to industry & trade (c) purchase and sale of government securities by the RBI (d) None
Answer: (c). OMO is the buy/sell of G-Secs by RBI.

Prelims 2016

What is/are the purpose/purposes of Government's 'Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme' and 'Gold Monetisation Scheme'?
1. To bring the idle gold lying with households into the economy
2. To reduce India's dependence on import of gold
3. To curtail the current account deficit
(a) 1 only (b) 2,3 (c) 1,3 (d) 1,2,3
Answer: (d). All three apply.

Prelims 2017

What is/are the most likely advantages of implementing the 'Goods and Services Tax (GST)'? — not banking-specific.

Prelims 2018

Consider the following statements about Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR):
1. CAR is the amount that banks have to maintain in the form of their own funds to offset any loss that banks incur if the account-holders fail to repay dues.
2. CAR is decided by each individual bank.
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both (d) Neither
Answer: (a). CAR is mandated by RBI per Basel III, not by individual banks.

Prelims 2019

In India, which of the following review the independent regulators in sectors like telecommunications, insurance, electricity, etc.?
1. Ad Hoc Committees set up by Parliament
2. Parliamentary Department Related Standing Committees
3. Finance Commission
4. Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission
5. NITI Aayog
(a) 1,2 (b) 1,3,4 (c) 3,4,5 (d) 2,4,5
Answer: (a). Only Parliamentary committees actively review regulators.

Prelims 2020

With reference to the Indian banking system, consider the following statements regarding Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs):
1. They cannot engage in the acquisition of securities issued by the government.
2. They cannot accept demand deposits like Savings Account.
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both (d) Neither
Answer: (b). NBFCs can hold G-Secs (in fact, statutory liquid investments); they cannot accept demand deposits.

Prelims 2021

With reference to 'Urban Cooperative Banks' in India, consider the following statements:
1. They are supervised and regulated by local boards set up by the State Governments.
2. They can issue equity shares and preference shares.
3. They were brought under the purview of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 through an Amendment in 1966.
(a) 1 only (b) 2,3 (c) 1,3 (d) 1,2,3
Answer: (b). Post BR (Amendment) Act 2020, UCBs are fully under RBI; Statement 1 is wrong. UCBs were brought under BR Act in 1966.

Prelims 2022

With reference to Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), consider the following statements: — not banking-specific.

Prelims 2023

With reference to Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), consider the following statements:
1. It is possible to make payments in a digital currency without using US dollar or SWIFT system.
2. A digital currency can be distributed with a condition programmed into it such as a time-frame for spending it.
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both (d) Neither
Answer: (c). Both are correct — key CBDC properties.

Prelims 2023

In India, which one of the following compiles information on industrial disputes, closures, retrenchments and lay-offs in factories employing workers? — not banking.

Prelims 2024

With reference to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), consider the following:
1. The Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process must be completed within 330 days from the insolvency commencement date including any extension.
2. The Committee of Creditors approves a resolution plan with at least 66% voting share.
3. The default threshold for initiating CIRP against a corporate debtor was raised from ₹ 1 lakh to ₹ 1 crore in 2020.
(a) 1,2 (b) 2,3 (c) 1,3 (d) 1,2,3
Answer: (d). All three are correct.

Prelims 2025

Which of the following is/are correct regarding Payments Banks in India?
1. They can accept demand deposits up to ₹ 2 lakh per individual customer.
2. They can issue credit cards.
3. They can distribute mutual funds, insurance and pension products as a third party.
(a) 1,2 (b) 1,3 (c) 2,3 (d) 1,2,3
Answer: (b). Payments Banks cannot issue credit cards; the deposit cap was raised to ₹ 2 lakh in April 2021.

Prelims 2026

With reference to Indian banking, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. Under DICGC cover, bank deposits are insured up to ₹ 5 lakh per depositor per bank.
2. The minimum CRAR (including Capital Conservation Buffer) for an Indian commercial bank is 11.5%.
3. Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs) in India currently include SBI, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Bank of Baroda.
(a) 1,2 (b) 2,3 (c) 1,3 (d) 1,2,3
Answer: (d). All three are correct as of FY 2024-25.

14. Previous Year Questions — Mains (2014–2025)

Mains 2014, GS-III

Discuss the rationale and impact of the policy of disinvestment in the public-sector banks of India.

Mains 2015, GS-III

"In the villages itself no form of credit organisation will be suitable except the cooperative society." — All India Rural Credit Survey. Discuss this statement in the background of rural finance in India.

Mains 2016, GS-III

"The Reserve Bank of India's recent directives relating to 'Pre-payment Penalty' have implications for the dynamics of the banking sector." Comment.

Mains 2017, GS-III

Examine the role of supervisory bodies in correcting the malpractices of banks in India. Have the recent regulatory reforms been adequate in checking the rise in NPAs?

Mains 2018, GS-III

"What are the salient features of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016? How far will it be effective in tackling the menace of huge non-performing assets (NPAs) in India?"

Mains 2019, GS-III

"Public-sector bank mergers will result in stronger banks with greater capital absorption capacity." Critically examine the consolidation drive in Indian public-sector banking.

Mains 2020, GS-III

Define potential GDP and explain its determinants. What are the factors that have been inhibiting India from realising its potential GDP? — cross-link to banking constraints (credit growth).

Mains 2021, GS-III

Distinguish between Capital Budget and Revenue Budget. Explain the components of both. — peripheral.

Mains 2022, GS-III

Comment on the important changes introduced in respect of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 in the recent past. Discuss the rationale of bringing in a Pre-Packaged Insolvency Resolution Process (PIRP) for MSMEs.

Mains 2023, GS-III

"Bringing all Urban Cooperative Banks under the regulatory ambit of RBI has been a long-pending reform." Examine the rationale behind the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Act, 2020 and its likely impact on depositor protection.

Mains 2024, GS-III

"India's twin-balance-sheet problem has eased considerably." Discuss the contribution of the Asset Quality Review (AQR), Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) and Public Sector Bank mergers in restoring asset quality of Indian commercial banks.

Mains 2025, GS-III

"The Unified Lending Interface (ULI) has the potential to do for credit what UPI did for payments." Critically examine this claim with reference to the Account Aggregator framework, Scale-Based Regulation of NBFCs and the future of cash-flow-based lending in India.

15. Revision Box — 15-Minute Recap

15-Point Recap

  1. RBI: Estd 1 April 1935 (RBI Act 1934, Hilton Young Commission); nationalised 1 Jan 1949; banking regulator under BR Act 1949.
  2. Scheduled vs Non-Scheduled: Second Schedule of RBI Act 1934; paid-up & reserves ≥ ₹ 5 lakh; brings refinance and clearing-house access.
  3. Nationalisation: 1969 (14 banks > ₹ 50 cr) and 1980 (6 banks > ₹ 200 cr) under the Banking Companies Acquisition Acts. R.C. Cooper v. UoI (1970) struck the Ordinance; Act 1970 cured it.
  4. Mega-merger 1 Apr 2020: 10 PSBs → 4 anchors (PNB, Canara, Union, Indian). Today 12 PSBs.
  5. RRBs: 2 Oct 1975 (Narasimham WG 1975); 50:35:15 capital (Centre:Sponsor Bank:State). 196 (1990) → 43 (2024).
  6. Cooperatives: Three-tier rural (StCB → DCCB → PACS) + parallel SCARDB/PCARDB for long term. UCBs brought fully under RBI by BR (Amendment) Act 2020 after PMC Bank crisis.
  7. Differentiated Banks (Nachiket Mor 2014): Payments Banks (₹ 100 cr; ₹ 2 lakh deposit cap; no lending/credit cards); SFBs (₹ 200 cr; 75% PSL; on-tap since Dec 2019; universal-bank pathway Apr 2024).
  8. NBFCs: Sec 45-I(c) RBI Act; 50-50 test; Scale-Based Regulation (Oct 2021/2022) — Base/Middle/Upper/Top layers.
  9. Basel III in India: CRAR 9% + CCB 2.5% = effective floor 11.5%. D-SIBs: SBI, HDFC, ICICI, BoB. No G-SIB from India.
  10. NPA: 90 days overdue. Classes: Standard / Sub-Standard / Doubtful / Loss. Gross NPA peaked 11.5% (Mar 2018), now under 3% (FY24-25).
  11. Twin Balance Sheet: CEA Arvind Subramanian, Econ Survey 2016-17. Triggered AQR (Jul 2015) by Raghuram Rajan.
  12. IBC 2016: Default ≥ ₹ 1 crore; CIRP within 330 days; CoC 66%/51%; NCLT (corp) / DRT (individual). Bad bank = NARCL + IDRCL.
  13. DICGC: Insures up to ₹ 5 lakh per depositor per bank; 2021 Amendment → payout within 90 days during moratorium.
  14. SARFAESI 2002: Out-of-court recovery for NPAs > ₹ 1 lakh; does not apply to agricultural land.
  15. Financial Inclusion: PMJDY (28 Aug 2014); JAM Trinity → DBT (₹ 36 lakh cr+); FI-Index since Aug 2021 (~64 in FY24); ULI (Aug 2024) = next leap into credit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Banking System in India important for UPSC 2027?
Banking System in India is part of Indian Economy (GS Paper 3). It carries high weightage in Prelims (14/15 relevance) and Mains (12/10). Topic 06: RBI, PSB mergers, NBFCs, IBC, Basel III, PMJDY, UPI
How should I prepare Banking System in India for UPSC Prelims?
Focus on factual clarity, PYQs, and RBI, PSB Mergers, IBC 2016. Read this note once for structure, then revise with MCQ practice and current-affairs linkages for UPSC Prelims 2027.
How is Banking System in India asked in UPSC Mains?
Mains questions on Banking System in India often need analytical answers linking constitutional/statutory framework with examples. Use headings, diagrams, and recent developments while staying within GS Paper 3 syllabus scope.
What are the most important topics within Banking System in India?
Key areas include: Topic 06: RBI, PSB mergers, NBFCs, IBC, Basel III, PMJDY, UPI. Tags to prioritise: RBI, PSB Mergers, IBC 2016, Basel III, PMJDY.
How long does it take to complete Banking System in India notes?
Estimated reading time is 28 minutes. Allow 2–3 revision cycles and PYQ practice for exam-ready retention before UPSC 2027.
Which books should I refer along with these Banking System in India notes?
Pair these notes with standard references for Indian Economy (NCERT/Laxmikanth/RS Sharma as applicable), previous year papers, and Mentors Daily test series for integrated Prelims + Mains preparation.