Banking in India
Banking System in India
Reserve bank of India (Controlling Authority)
Development Financial institutions Banks
IFCI IDBI ICICI NABARD NHB IRBI EXIM Bank ISIDBI
Commercial Regional Rural Land Development Co-operative
Banks Banks Banks Banks
Public Sector Banks Private Sector Banks
SBI Groups Nationalized Banks Indian Banks Foreign Banks
History
The commercial banking industry in India started in 1786 with the establishment of the
Bank of Bengal in Calcutta. The Indian Government at the time established three Presidency
banks, viz., the Bank of Bengal (established in 1809), the Bank of Bombay (established in 1840)
and the Bank of Madras (established in 1843). In 1921, the three Presidency banks were
amalgamated to form the Imperial Bank of India, which took up the role of a commercial bank, a
bankers' bank and a banker to the Government. The Imperial Bank of India was established with
mainly European shareholders. It was only with the establishment of Reserve Bank of India
(RBI) as the central bank of the country in 1935, that the quasi-central banking role of the
Imperial Bank of India came to an end.
In 1860, the concept of limited liability was introduced in Indian banking, resulting in the
establishment of joint-stock banks. In 1865, the Allahabad Bank was established with purely
Indian shareholders. Punjab National Bank came into being in 1895. Between 1906 and 1913,
other banks like Bank of India, Central Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, Indian
Bank, and Bank of Mysore were set up.
All India Rural Credit Survey Committee recommended the creation of a state-partnered
and state-sponsored bank taking over the Imperial Bank of India and integrating with it, the
former state-owned and state-associate banks. Accordingly, State Bank of India (SBI) was
constituted in 1955. Subsequently in 1959, the State Bank of India (subsidiary bank) Act was
passed, enabling the SBI to take over eight former state-associate banks as its subsidiaries.
In the period between 1906 and 1911, a number of banks established then have survived
to the present such as Bank of India, Corporation Bank, Indian Bank, Bank of Baroda, Canara
Bank and Central Bank of India, South Canara ( South Kanara ).
In 1969, 14 of the major private sector banks were nationalized. This was an important
milestone in the history of Indian banking. This was followed by the nationalization of another
six private banks in 1980.
To create a strong and competitive banking system, a number of reform measures were
initiated in early 1990s. The thrust of the reforms was on increasing operational efficiency,
strengthening supervision over banks, creating competitive conditions and developing
technological and institutional infrastructure. One important feature of the reforms of the 1990s
was that the entry of new private sector banks was permitted. Following this decision, new banks
such as ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, IDBI Bank and UTI Bank were set up.
At present, the banking system can be classified into the following categories:
1. Public Sector Banks
Reserve Bank of India
State Bank of India & its associates
Nationalized Bank
Regional Rural Banks sponsored by Public Sector Banks.
2. Private Sector Banks
Old Generation Private Banks
New Generation Private Banks
Foreign Banks in India
Scheduled Co-operative Banks
Non-Scheduled Banks.
3. Co-operative Sector Banks
State Co-operative Banks
Central Co-operative Banks
Primary Agriculture Credit Societies
Land Development Banks
Urban Co-operative Banks
State Land Development Banks.
4. Development Banks
Industrial Finance Corporation of India (IFCI)
Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI)
Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation in India (ICICI)
Industrial Investment Bank of India (IIBI)
Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)
National Bank for Agriculture for Bank and Rural Development (NABARD)
Shipping Credit and Investment Company of India Ltd (SCICI)
Export-Import Bank of India (Exim).
The RBI has a central control over all these banks.
