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The meeting is expected to take stock of the banking sector and progress on the restructuring 2.0 scheme announced by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), reportedly Banks may be nudged to push loan growth in productive sectors.
New Delhi: According to sources, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to meet Public Sector Banks (PSBs) on Wednesday to review the financial performance of the lenders and progress made by them in supporting the pandemic hit economy.
Recently, the Finance Minister had said the government is ready to do everything required to revive and support economic growth hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. And the meeting with MD and CEOs of PSBs comes into the spotlight owing to the importance of the banking sector in generating demand and boosting consumption.
The meeting is expected to take stock of the banking sector and progress on the restructuring 2.0 scheme announced by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), adding that banks may be nudged to push loan growth in productive sectors.
Reportedly, the revamped Rs 4.5 lakh crore Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) would also be reviewed during the meeting likely to be held in Mumbai. Stocktaking of bad loans or non-performing assets (NPAs) situation, and discussions surrounding the various recovery measures will also be on the agenda.
As per provisional data, the government’s strategy of recognition, resolution, recapitalisation and reforms, NPAs have shown a declining trend, from Rs 7,39,541 crore on March 31, 2019, to Rs 6,78,317 crore on March 31, 2020, and further to Rs 6,16,616 crore as on March 31, 2021
At the same time, comprehensive steps were taken to control and to effect recovery in NPAs, which enabled PSBs to recover Rs 5,01,479 crore over the last six financial years, the government informed Parliament recently.
The Finance Minister is also expected to declare the results of Ease 3.0 Index for 2020-21, adding that PSBs would be rated on various indexes for the year.
Launched in January 2018, Enhanced Access and Service Excellence (Ease) is the common reform agenda for all public sector banks aimed at institutionalising clean and smart banking.
(PTI)