Lok Sabha Question No. 1657 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-13
Subject: Opening of Bank Branches
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Ramesh Chander Kaushik, Mahabali Singh, Locket Chatterjee, Rama Devi, Sunil Kumar Pintu, Ajay Kumar Mandal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1657

ANSWERED ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2023/MAGHA 24, 1944 (SAKA)

## Opening of Bank Branches

| 1657.   | SHRIRAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK:   | SHRIMATIRAMA DEVI:      |
|---------|-------------------------------|-------------------------|
|         | SHRI MAHABALI SINGH:          | SHRISUNILKUMAR PINTU:   |
|         | MS. LOCKET CHATTERJEE:        | SHRI AJAY KUMAR MANDAL: |

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Governments  of  Bihar,  West  Bengal,  Haryana  and  Maharashtra  have  sent  a proposal to open at least one branch of any nationalized bank in every Panchayat of these States;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the present status of the proposal;
- (c) whether the said State Governments have taken up this matter with the NITI Aayog in the last meeting; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## Answer

The Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance (DR. BHAGWAT KARAD)

- (a)  to  (d) In terms of the revised guidelines issued by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) vide circular No  DBR.BAPD.BC.69/22.01.001/2016-17  dated  May  18,  2017  on  'Rationalization  of  Branch Authorization Policy' the term 'Branch' has been substituted by 'Banking Outlet (BO)' which includes  both  physical  brick  and  mortar  branches  and  Business  Correspondent  (BC)  outlets,  to enable banks in expanding their network even in remote rural areas in a cost-effective manner for hassle free services to customers.

Based on the data uploaded by Banks on Jan Dhan Darshak (JDD) App, the details of banking infrastructure in the State of Bihar, West Bengal, Haryana and Maharashtra, as on 31.01.2023, is as under: -

| Banking Infrastructure from JDD App as on 31.01.2023   | Banking Infrastructure from JDD App as on 31.01.2023   | Banking Infrastructure from JDD App as on 31.01.2023   | Banking Infrastructure from JDD App as on 31.01.2023   | Banking Infrastructure from JDD App as on 31.01.2023   | Banking Infrastructure from JDD App as on 31.01.2023   | Banking Infrastructure from JDD App as on 31.01.2023   | Banking Infrastructure from JDD App as on 31.01.2023   | Banking Infrastructure from JDD App as on 31.01.2023   |
|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|
| State                                                  | Branches                                               | ATMs                                                   | BCs                                                    | IPPBs                                                  | Mapped Inhabited Villages                              | Unbanked Villages                                      | Villages Covered                                       | Percentage Coverage                                    |
| Bihar                                                  | 7,844                                                  | 7,064                                                  | 81,844                                                 | 8,431                                                  | 39,223                                                 | 0                                                      | 39,223                                                 | 100.00%                                                |
| Haryana                                                | 5,781                                                  | 6,298                                                  | 11,560                                                 | 2,628                                                  | 6,650                                                  | 0                                                      | 6,650                                                  | 100.00%                                                |
| Maharashtra                                            | 17,284                                                 | 25,527                                                 | 51,276                                                 | 11,771                                                 | 37,842                                                 | 5                                                      | 37,837                                                 | 99.99%                                                 |
| West Bengal                                            | 9,697                                                  | 11,906                                                 | 27,819                                                 | 6,956                                                  | 37,321                                                 | 0                                                      | 37,321                                                 | 100.00%                                                |