Lok Sabha Question No. 3291 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-09
Subject: Setting Up of Banks
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Rahul Kaswan, Kripanath Mallah, Chandeshwar Prasad

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SER VICES

## LOK SABHA

Answered on Monday, August 09, 2021/ Sravana 18, 1943 (Saka)

## Setting Up of Banks

## +3291. SHRI RAHUL KASWAN: SHRI KRIPANATH MALLAH: SHRI CHANDESHWAR PRASAD:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) the norms for opening branches of banks in villages of the country and whether according to Reserve Bank of India many villages of the country still do not have branches of banks ad if the details thereof; SO,
- the details and number of   branches of   nationalised banks in   Assam,  district-wise and whether   the Government is aware that there is an urgent public demand of opening new branch at Kazirbazar in Karimganj district of Assam and whether the Government is planning to open a new branch in this district and if SO, the details thereof with the time by when it is likely to be opened and if not; the reasons therefor; and along
- whether the Government has also a proposal to open a bank in Karpi of Arwal district in Bihar and if s0, the with the details of requests received  from  public representatives in this regard? along

## Answer

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (DR BHAGWAT KARAD)

to (c) As per extant guidelines dated 18.5.2017 on rationalisation of Branch Authorisation Policy, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted general permission to Domestic Scheduled Commercial banks (excluding Regional Rural Banks), to open banking outlets at any place in the country, without seeking approval of RBI in each case, subject to at least 25% of the total number of banking outlets [a fixed-point service delivery unit; manned either by bank'$ staff or its Business Correspondent (BC)] opened a financial year in unbanked rural centres centres having population less than 10,000 (Tier 5 and Tier 6 centres) (a) prior during ie\_

Further; to ensure availability of banking outlet (Bank branch/Business Correspondent), within 5 kilometers of all inhabited villages, the Government has launched a Geographic Information System (GIS) based app , namely, Jan Dhan Darshak App (JDD App) developed by National Informatics Centre (NIC) Banks upload the GIS location of their branches, Business Correspondents (BCs) and Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) on the app. As per data uploaded by the banks on JDD App as on 31.7.2021, out of the 5.538 lakh mapped on the app, 5.535 lakh (99.95%) villages are having a banking outlet (branch or BC) within 5 kilometers distance. villages

In addition to above, the requirement of new banking outlets, as received from time to time, is discussed in meetings of the concerned District Level Consultative Committee (DLCCY State Level Banker's Committee (SLBC) and based on the recommendations made, new outlets are opened by different banks:

District-wise  details of branches of Public Sector Banks in Assam  including Karimganj as on Annexed. As informed by SLBC Assam, presently, the location is well served by Punjab National Bank branch at Anipur which is within 3 KM from Kazirbazar: Further, the centre is also served by one Customer Service Point (CSP) of State Bank of India

As informed by SLBC Bihar; 13 Bank Branches (06 Branches of commercial Banks & 07 Branches of Regional Rural Bank) and 38 Customer Service Points (CSPs) are operational in Karpi Block of Arwal district in Bihar.

Representations   from public  representatives, as and when  received, are forwarded to concerned State  Level Banker' $ Committees (SLBCs): In prsuance of RBI guidelines, rolling out of banking outlets in uncovered areas is continuous process and looked after by State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC) in consultation  with the concerned State Government; member banks and other stakeholders: Banks consider proposals for opening banking outlets in the light of RBI'$ instructions, their business plans and their commercial viability. To further assess the viability for opening a banking outlet;, banks carry out survey as required.

| Annexure as referred to in (b) of reply to the Lok Sabha Un-Starred Question No. 3291 for 09.08.2021 on part   | Annexure as referred to in (b) of reply to the Lok Sabha Un-Starred Question No. 3291 for 09.08.2021 on part   | Annexure as referred to in (b) of reply to the Lok Sabha Un-Starred Question No. 3291 for 09.08.2021 on part   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Number of Functioning branches of Public Sector Banks in Assam State as on 31.3.2021                           | Number of Functioning branches of Public Sector Banks in Assam State as on 31.3.2021                           | Number of Functioning branches of Public Sector Banks in Assam State as on 31.3.2021                           |
| Sr. No:                                                                                                        | District                                                                                                       | Branches of Public Sector Banks                                                                                |
|                                                                                                                | Baksa                                                                                                          | 26                                                                                                             |
| 2                                                                                                              | Barpeta                                                                                                        | 57                                                                                                             |
| 3                                                                                                              | Biswanath                                                                                                      | 21                                                                                                             |
| 5                                                                                                              | Bongaigaon                                                                                                     | 28                                                                                                             |
|                                                                                                                | Cachar                                                                                                         | 83                                                                                                             |
|                                                                                                                | Charaideo                                                                                                      | 13                                                                                                             |
|                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                | 12                                                                                                             |
| 8                                                                                                              | Darrang_                                                                                                       | 29                                                                                                             |
| 9                                                                                                              | Dhemaji                                                                                                        | 18                                                                                                             |
| 10                                                                                                             | Dhubri                                                                                                         | 31                                                                                                             |
| 11                                                                                                             | Dibrugarh_                                                                                                     | 111                                                                                                            |
| 12                                                                                                             | Goalpara                                                                                                       | 32                                                                                                             |
| 13                                                                                                             | Golaghat                                                                                                       | 45                                                                                                             |
| 14                                                                                                             | Hailakandi                                                                                                     | 21                                                                                                             |
| 15                                                                                                             | Hojai                                                                                                          | 24                                                                                                             |
| 16                                                                                                             | Jorhat                                                                                                         | 71                                                                                                             |
| 17                                                                                                             | Kamrup                                                                                                         | 74                                                                                                             |
| 18                                                                                                             | Kamrup Metropolitan                                                                                            | 250                                                                                                            |
| 19                                                                                                             | Karbi Anglong_                                                                                                 | 16                                                                                                             |
| 20                                                                                                             | Karimganj                                                                                                      | 38                                                                                                             |
| 21                                                                                                             | Kokrajhar_                                                                                                     | 24                                                                                                             |
| 22                                                                                                             | Lakhimpur                                                                                                      | 41                                                                                                             |
| 23                                                                                                             | Majuli_                                                                                                        | 7                                                                                                              |
| 24                                                                                                             | Morigaon                                                                                                       | 30                                                                                                             |
| 25                                                                                                             | Nagaon                                                                                                         | 68                                                                                                             |
| 26                                                                                                             | Nalbari                                                                                                        | 38                                                                                                             |
| 27                                                                                                             | North Cachar Hills                                                                                             | 14                                                                                                             |
| 28                                                                                                             | Sibsagar_                                                                                                      | 47                                                                                                             |
| 29                                                                                                             | Sonitpur                                                                                                       | 62                                                                                                             |
| 30                                                                                                             | South Salmara-Mankachar                                                                                        | 11                                                                                                             |
| 31                                                                                                             | Tinsukia                                                                                                       | 92                                                                                                             |
| 32                                                                                                             | Udalguri                                                                                                       | 19                                                                                                             |
| 33                                                                                                             | West Karbi Anglong                                                                                             | 5                                                                                                              |
|                                                                                                                | Total                                                                                                          | 1458                                                                                                           |

Source: Reserve Bank of India