The Union Budget of India for the year 2008-2009 was announced by the Indian Finance Minister, Mr. P Chidambaram, on 29th February 2008. The policies and initiatives taken in the Union Budget of India 2008-2009 on the Indian Banking sector were in tandem with the requirements of the Indian economy.
Small and marginal farmers have been relieved of all farm loans, disbursed till March 2007 and also all loans, which are due till December 2007 and was unpaid till February 2008. These farm loan waivers would be facilitated by all the concerned Public Sector Banks and Regional Rural Banks of India. A total of Rs 60,000 crores would be waived-off under such scheme. The settlement of these loan-waivers will be offered through special type of scheme. Further, the Public Sector Banks and Regional Rural Banks of India were also suggested, to bring within their fold, a minimum of 250 rural household accounts at every branch every year.
The Indira Awas Yojana was brought under the ambit of Public Sector Banks. Loan limit up to Rs 20,000 per unit at 4% interest was fixed under differential rate of interest (DRI) scheme. The Finance Minister also advised the Indian PSU Banks to open 288 branches in minority districts of India. Further, he also asked the Indian banking industry to embrace total financial inclusion. In another landmark decision, the Finance Minister, Mr. P. Chidambaram said that the Ex-banking servicemen in India would be offered employment opportunities in the banking sector.
Another major announcement was that, the much talked-about 'Banking Cash Transaction Tax (BCTT)' would be withdrawn from the financial year 2009-2010.
Experts believe the impact of the decisions and policies taken during the Union Budget of India 2008-2009 on the Indian Banking sector would be mixed. It is expected that the Indian
PSU banks will face pressure on their net interest margins due to the waiving-off of agricultural loans. Further, the cumulative cost that will be incurred for opening up of new Regional Rural Banks in India may substantially increase the operating cost for the banks. The inclusion of the Indira Awas Yojana houses under the differential rate of interest scheme and at 4% interest will increase the proportion of sub-PLR lending for the concerned banks.
The major Public Sector Banks of India like the State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank may see their net interest margins shrinking till the subsidy for waiver of agricultural loans is being completely released. Moreover, experts are skeptical about the long term benefit of such agricultural loan waiver as offered through the Union Budget of India 2008-2009.
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