Finance Minister asks PSBs to ensure fair recognition of bad loans, pursue robust risk management

07 Jul 2023 Evaluate

With an aim to maintain the momentum of growth and profitability, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has asked heads of public sector banks (PSBs) to ensure fair and transparent recognition of bad loans and pursue robust risk management practices. PSBs earned a record aggregate net profit of around Rs 1.05 lakh crore in FY2022-23, almost triple from net profits earned in 2013-14. Discussion regarding the positive macro trends, improved business sentiments, ‘Twin balance sheet advantage’ and performance of the state-run banks were held in the review meeting with the top management of PSBs.

All the major financial parameters viz., credit deployment, profitability, asset quality, capital adequacy etc. indicate that the performance of PSBs has significantly improved. They’re adequately capitalised, resilient, and have sound financial health. The finance ministry said it was noted that the asset quality of PSBs has improved significantly with gross NPAs at 4.97 per cent and net NPAs at 1.24 per cent in March 2023. Strengthened by high capital adequacy of 15.53 per cent CRAR (comparable to major economies of the world), clean balance sheets supported by a healthy provision coverage (90.68 per cent), and improved resilience, PSBs are well positioned to support the credit needs of the productive sectors of the growing economy.

Sitharaman emphasised banks’ adherence to the regulatory framework by focusing on risk management, and diversification of business base. She said the business outlook is progressively improving in spite of the headwinds from recent global banking sector developments. She urged the banks to ensure an increase in rural, agricultural and sectoral credit to meet the Priority Sector Lending (PSL) norms and further ensure that the PSL targets are achieved across all sub-categories. The finance minister directed bankers to meet the targets for the credit to street vendors under PM Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) and the momentum of disbursals gained under the scheme should be sustained.

She also asked banks to address associated business model risk with robust risk management practices and have efficient and optimum Asset Liability Management and take steps to improve the deposits and adopt a focussed approach on ease of services and customer protection. With regard to Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), she said the sponsor banks of these entities should ensure a time-bound technological upgradation and continuously monitor their functioning to make them more efficient and effective, which will immensely benefit the people living in rural areas.

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