Rural Banking in India

Agriculture and rural sectors play an important role in India's overall development strategy in terms of income and employment generation and poverty alleviation. Great significance has, therefore, been accorded to developing appropriate institutions and mechanisms for catering to the credit requirements of these sectors. The government of India has promoted Regional Rural Banks (RRBs). These banks are state-sponsored, regionally-based, and rural-oriented. Besides the RRBs, commercial and co-operative banks have also been catering to the credit requirements of the rural sector. The renewed emphasis on agricultural and rural development by the government would lead to a growing demand for different types of financial services in the rural areas. RRBs would be called upon to play a greater role in providing such services, due to their rural character and feel. This book explores development of RRBs in India.