(a) whether there is any relaxation in norms to open branches of banks in hilly areas in
the country as compared to the plains;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the number of branches of each bank opened in hilly areas in various States across
the country including Himachal Pradesh during the last three years and the current year?
The Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance (Shri Namo Narain Meena)
(a) & (b):- As per the extant guidelines of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regarding opening
of banks branches, banks have been given the freedom to select the location for opening
of branches at their discretion and the bank do so, keeping in view the viability,
profitability and availability of infrastructure among other aspects. As per the extant
Branch Authorization Policy of RBI, general permission has been granted to domestic
Scheduled Commercial Banks (other than RRBs) to open branches / mobile branches /
Administrative Offices / CPCs (Service Branches),(i) in Tier 2 to Tier 6 centres
(with population up to 99,999) and (ii) in rural, semi-urban and urban centres of
the North-Eastern States and Sikkim subject to reporting. In order to further expand
the banking network, RBI has advised banks that while preparing their Annual Branch
Expansion Plan (ABEP), the Banks should allocate at least 25 percent of the total
number of branches proposed to be opened during a year in unbanked rural (Tier 5
and Tier 6) centres.
(c) As per the information given by Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the State-wise number
of bank branches opened in the last three years and current year is given in the annexure.