Banking Sector Reform Essay

From the 1991 India sparing crisis to its status of third grandst saving in the world by 2011, India has grown signifi toleratetly in scathe of sparing development. So has its intrusting companying orbit. During this period, recognizing the evolving needs of the heavens, the Finance Ministry of political sympathies of India (GOI) set up respective(a) deputations with the task of analyzing Indias banking field and advocateing legislation and regulations to make it more effective, combative and efficient.1 Two such expert committals were set up under the chairmanship of M. Narasimham. They submitted their recommendations in the nineties in constitutions widely known as the Narasimham citizens military commission-I (1991) report and the Narasimham direction-II (1998) Report.These recommendations non only helped unleash the potential of banking in India, they are as well as know as a factor towards minimizing the impact of worldwide financial crisis jump in 2007 . Unlike the socialist-democratic era of the 1960s to 1980s, India is no longer insu of lated from the global frugality and yet its banks survived the 2008 financial crisis relatively unscathed, a feat payable in part to theseNarasimham Committees.2 Contents hide * 1 Background * 2 Recommendations of the Committee * 2.1 Autonomy in entrusting * 2.2 Re descriptor in the role of run batted in * 2.3 Stronger banking administration * 2.4 Non-per underframeing assets * 2.5 Capital enough and tightening of provisioning norms * 2.6 admittance of Foreign Banks * 3 executing of recommendations * 4 CriticismBackgroundDuring the decades of the 60s and the 70s, India nationalised most of its banks. This culminated with the balance of payments crisis of the Indian economy where India had to airlift gold toInternational M sensationtary Fund (IMF) to loan n unitys to contact its financial obligations. This event c ein truthed into question the previous banking policies of India and trigg ered the era of sparing relaxation behavior in India in 1991. Given that rigidities and weaknesses had made serious inroads into the Indian banking trunk by the late 1980s, the G everywherenment of India (GOI), post-crisis, took several steps to remodel the earths financial governing body. (Some claim that these reforms were influenced by the IMF and the World Bank as part of their loan conditionality to India in 1991).3 The banking sector, handling 80% of the flow of specie in the economy, required serious reforms to make it internationally reputable, accelerate the stride of reforms and develop it into a constructive usher of an efficient, vibrant and competitive economy by adequately supporting the countrys financial needs.4In the light of these requirements, dickens expert Committees were set up in 1990s under the chairmanship of M. Narasimham (an ex-run batted in ( withstand Bank of India) governor) which are widely imputeed for spearheading the financial sector refor m in India.3 The first Narasimhan Committee (Committee on the fiscal agreement CFS) was appointed by Manmohan Singh as Indias Finance Minister on 14 August 1991,15 and the second one (Committee on Banking vault of heaven Reforms)6 was appointed by P.Chidambaram7 as Finance Minister in December 1997.8 Subsequently, the first one widely came to be known as the Narasimham Committee-I (1991)and the second one as Narasimham-II Committee(1998).910 This article is almost the recommendations of the Second Narasimham Committee, the Committee on Banking Sector Reforms.The purpose of the Narasimham-I Committee was to study all aspects relating to the structure, organization, pass aways and procedures of the financial systems and to recommend improvements in their efficiency and productivity. The Committee submitted its report to the Finance Minister in November 1991 which was tabled in Parliament on 17 December 1991.6 The Narasimham-II Committee was tasked with the progress limited re facet of the execution of the banking reforms since 1992 with the aim of further strengthening the financial origins of India.4It focussed on issues like size of banks and uppercase sufficiency ratio among early(a) things.9 M. Narasimham, Chairman, submitted the report of the Committee on Banking Sector Reforms (Committee-II) to the Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha in April 1998.49Recommendations of the CommitteeThe 1998 report of the Committee to the GOI made the following major(ip)(ip) recommendationsAutonomy in BankingGreater autonomy was proposed for the public sector banks in order for them to function with equivalent professionalism as their international counterparts.11 For this the panel recommended that recruitment procedures, training and recompense policies of public sector banks be brought in pedigree with the best-market-practices of professional bank management.46 Secondly, the direction recommended GOI integrity in nationalized banks be reduced to 33% for ch ange magnitude autonomy.41213 It similarly recommended the run batted in relinquish its seats on the board of directors of these banks. The committee further added that given that the brass nominees to the board of banks are oft members of parliament, politicians, bureaucrats, etc., they often interfere in the day-to-day operations of the bank in the form of the behest-lending.4As such the committee recommended a re persuasion of functions of banks boards with a view to make them responsible for enhancing shareholder value done formulation of bodily strategy and reduction of establishment equity.11 To implement this, criteria for autonomous status was determine by March 1999 (among new(prenominal) implementation measures) and 17 banks were considered eligible for autonomy.14 yet more or less recommendations like reduction in brasss equity to 33%,1315 the issue of greater professionalism and independence of the board of directors of public sector banks is still awaiting Go vernment follow-through and implementation.16Reform in the role of rbiFirst, the committee recommended that the RBI withdraw from the 91-day treasury bills market and that interbank call money and term money markets be restricted to banks and primary dealers.614 Second, the Committee proposed a segregation of the roles of RBI as a regulator of banks and owner of bank.17 It sight that The Reserve Bank as a regulator of the monetary system should not be the owner of a bank in view of a possible conflict of sideline. As such, it superiorlighted that RBIs role of effective supervision was not adequate and wanted it to dismantle its holdings in banks and financial institutions. Pursuant to the recommendations, the RBI introduced a fluidness enrolment Facility (LAF) operated through repo and reverse repos in order to set a corridor for money market interest rates.To begin with, in April 1999, an Interim Liquidity Ad exceptment Facility (ILAF) was introduced pending further upgradat ion in technology and effective/procedural changes to facilitate electronic expatriation.18As for the second recommendation, the RBI decided to transfer its respective shareholdings of public banks like State Bank of India (SBI), National accommodate Bank (NHB) and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) to GOI. Subsequently, in 2007-08, GOI decided to acquire entire stake of RBI in SBI, NHB and NABARD. Of these, the terms of sale for SBI were finalised in 2007-08 itself.19Stronger banking systemThe Committee recommended for merger of enlarged Indian banks to make them strong enough for supporting international trade.11 It recommended a one-third tier banking structure in India through establishment of three large banks with international presence, eight to ten national banks and a large issuing of regional and local banks.4911 This proposal had been severely criticized by the RBI employees union.20 The Committee recommended the use of mergers to pass on the size and strength of operations for each bank.12 However, it cautioned that large banks should merge only with banks of equivalent size and not with weaker banks, which should be unkindly down if unable to revitalize themselves.6 Given the large percentage of non-performing assets for weaker banks, near as high as 20% of their total assets, the concept of foreshorten banking was proposed to assist in their rehabilitation.11 There were a string of mergers in banks of India during the late 90s and early 2000s, encouraged strongly by the Government of IndiaGOI in line with the Committees recommendations.21However, the recommended degree of consolidation is still awaiting sufficient government impetus.16Non-performing assetsNon-performing assets had been the single largest cause of irritation of the banking sector of India.4 Earlier the Narasimham Committee-I had broadly conclude that the main reason for the reduced profitability of the commercial banks in India was the anteri ority sector lending. The committee had highlighted that priority sector lending was leading to the build up of non-performing assets of the banks and thus it recommended it to be phased out.10 Subsequently, the Narasimham Committee-II also highlighted the need for zero non-performing assets for all Indian banks with International presence.10 The 1998 report further blamed poor credit decisions, behest-lending and cyclical economic factors among other reasons for the build up of the non-performing assets of these banks to uncomfortably high levels.The Committee recommended creation of asset Reconstruction Funds or Asset Reconstruction Companies to take over the bad debts of banks, allowing them to start on a clean-slate.42223 The option of re with child(p)ization through budgetary provisions was ruled out. Overall the committee wanted a proper system to identify and classify NPAs,6 NPAs to be brought down to 3% by 20024 and for an independent loan review meachnism for better manage ment of loan portfolios.6 The committees recommendations let to introduction of a new legislation which was subsequently implemented as the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 and came into force with effect from 21 June 2002.242526Capital adequateness and tightening of provisioning normsIn order to improve the inherent strength of the Indian banking system the committee recommended that the Government should raise the prescribed capital adequacy norms.9 This would also improve their risk taking ability.11 The committee targeted raising the capital adequacy ratio to 9% by 2000 and 10% by 2002 and convey penal provisions for banks that fail to realise these requirements.46 For asset classification, the Committee recommended a mandatory 1% in case of standard assets and for the accrual of interest income to be done every 90 days instead of clxxx days.14To implement these recommendations, the RBI in Oct 1998, initiated the second phase of financial sector reforms by raising the banks capital adequacy ratio by 1% and tightening the prudential norms for provisioning and asset classification in a phased path on the lines of the Narasimham Committee-II report.27 The RBI targeted to bring the capital adequacy ratio to 9% by March 2001.28 The mid-term Review of the Monetary and Credit Policy of RBI announced another series of reforms, in line with the recommendations with the Committee, in October 1999.14Entry of Foreign BanksThe committee suggested that the foreign banks seeking to set up line of descent in India should absorb a minimum start-up capital of $25 gazillion as against the existing requirement of $10 million. It said that foreign banks can be allowed to set up subsidiaries and joint ventures that should be treated on a par with insular banks.4Implementation of recommendationsIn 1998, RBI governor Bimal Jalan informed the banks that the RBI had a three to four year billet on the impl ementation of the Committees recommendations.27 Based on the other recommendations of the committee, the concept of a universal bank was discussed by the RBI and last ICICI bank became the first universal bank of India.182930 The RBI published an Actions taken on the Recommendations report on 31 October 2001 on its own website. approximately of the recommendations of the Committee have been acted upon (as discussed above) although some major recommendations are still awaiting run from the Government of India.31CriticismThere were protests by employee unions of banks in India against the report. The Union of RBI employees made a strong protest against the Narasimham II Report.20 There were other platforms by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), representing about 1.3 million bank employees in India, to meet in Delhi and to work out a plan of action in the wake of the Narasimham Committee report on banking reforms. The committee was also criticized in some quarters as anti-poo r. According to some, the committees failed to recommend measures for faster alleviation of poverty in India by generating new employment.3 This caused some suffering to small borrowers (both individuals and businesses in tiny, micro and small sectors).ReceptionInitially, the recommendations were intumesce received in all quarters, including the Planning Commission of India leading to boffo implementation of most of its recommendations.32 Then it turned out that during the 2008 economic crisis of major economies worldwide, performance of Indian banking sector was far better than their international counterparts. This was also credited to the successful implementation of the recommendations of the Narasimham Committee-II with particular reference to the capital adequacy norms and the recapitalization of the public sector banks.2 The impact of the two committees has been so significant that selected politicians and financial sectors professionals have been discussing these reports for more than a decade since their first abidance applauding their positive contribution Prime Ministers maneuver at RBI Platinum Jubilee Celebrations The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh addressed the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of the Reserve Bank of India in Mumbai today. Following is the text of the Prime Ministers address on the occasionIt is indeed a great pleasure to be here in Mumbai for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of the Reserve Bank of India. For me, this is also a very special moment of nostalgia. I spent some very memorable years in this institution as its regulator. My wife and I cherish the memories of many another(prenominal) new enduring friendships that we made during those memorable days. I also recall with deep appreciation the role played by the Reserve Bank in helping the Government of India in the implementation of the agenda for economic reforms when I was the Finance Minister of India at a very difficult time in our countrys economic history. To return as Prime Minister for the Platinum Jubilee of this great institution is indeed an emotionally moving experience for me.When I took over as Finance Minister in 1991, I was convinced that the economic rest and reforms could only succeed if complemented by broad based reform in the banking and financial sectors. I turned to my old friend and former RBI Governor Shri M Narasimham to Chair a Committee to make recommendations on this very important issue. The Report of the Narasimham Committee outlined a spatiotemporal agenda of reform which served as a blue print of what we needed to do in subsequent years.It would have been difficult to implement those reforms had they not received enthusiastic support, as they did, from the Governor of the day, Shri S. Venkitaramanan and Dr. Rangrajan. Subsequently as Venitramanans successor Dr C. Rangarajan took the financial reform agenda further forward in many critical areas, including especially the ending of automatic monetisation of the governments deficit.As with economic reforms in general, financial sector reforms in India were implemented at a gradual pace. We were often criticised for our incremental flak which critics often complained was far too slow. But few would deny that we have accomplished a great deal over the years and Reserve Bank has made important contribution towards this. We have successfully eliminated repress controls on industry and investment. We have opened the economy to foreign trade, move tariffs and switched over to a market determined exchange rate. We have liberalised capital controls enabling the economy to absorb substantial inflows of capital in the form of both FDI and FII flows into the stock market. In recent years, foreign investment has also become a two way flow as many Indian companies have established a presence abroad through investment or acquisition.All of this has been achieved without experiencing a serious macro economic crisis or severe inflation over an extended period. Most importantly, the veridicalistic economy has clearly prospered. The rate of growth of GDP has increased steadily over the past two decades, culminating in an unprecedented 9 percent growth per year in the four year period just before the global financial crisis. Poverty too, has declined steadily, though this is an area where very some(prenominal) more remains to be done.The Reserve Bank of India has played a major role in this transformation. It has been a lead player in banking and financial sector reforms and has acted as a confidential adviser to the Government on many other issues relevant to the complex task of macro economic management in an increasingly open and liberalised economic environment. Indeed, it is one of our great institutions of which we can all be truly proud.The past two years have been difficult years for governments and central banks all over the world. Excessive credit expansion and asset price inflation both fuelled by so-called financial innovations of dubious value, and a lax regulatory environment led to an accumulation of risk that was not adequately mute and ultimately produced a severe crisis.India was relatively insulated from these developments because our financial system was much less integrated with the global system. However, the RBI deserves credit for having been prescient about the dangers posed by property bubbles. The action taken by Governor Reddy, who is present here, well before the crisis to tighten bank credit against real estate, limited bank exposure on this account.When the crisis exploded in kinfolk 2008, the RBI rapidly reversed its earlier tightening of credit to meet the new and changed circumstances. The CRR and the repo and reverse repo rates were rapidly lowered in a series of quick steps. Some initiatives were also taken to enhance memory access to bank credit by Non Banking Finance Companies. Signs of panic withdrawals from some private sector banks in the initial weeks of the cr isis were met with strong reassurances by both the Government and the RBI that our banks were sound and would be fully supported.Ensuring that the Indian financial system remained stable in these very difficult times was a major achievement in financial and economic management. I would like to plaudit Governor Subbarao and his team at the RBI for the role they played in this period.