Govt paves way for foreign investment in banks; Banking bill passed in LS

19 Dec 2012 Evaluate

Clearing the floor for the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to start the process to issue new banking licences and widened the window for foreign investments into the banking sector, the Lower House of Parliament cleared the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2011, after Finance Minister P Chidambaram agreed to drop the controversial clause allowing banks to trade in futures and keeping the sector outside the purview of Competition Commission.

The banking Bill, 2011 was passed by the Lower House after two short adjournments, by the voice vote after amendments proposed by the Left Parties were rejected by the House. Further, the Bill would now be taken up in the Rajya Sabha.

The banking bill will raise the voting rights of investors in private sector banks to 26 percent, from 10 percent, encourage foreign investment and will increase the financial inclusion by opening new banks. The Bill will allow the RBI to replace the boards of private sector banks and increase the cap on voting rights of private investors in public sector banks to 10 percent, from 1 percent.

Moreover, changes to the Bill would pave the way for RBI to issue new bank licences. The central bank had been insisting the enabling legislation be put in place before applications were invited for new bank licences.

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