RECOMMEDNATION

PRESENT STATUS

Capital adequacy requirements should take into account market risks in addition to the credit risks

RBI has already implemented the same as market risks already taken into account for investment portfolio.

In the next three years the entire portfolio of government securities should be marked to market and the schedule for the same announced at the earliest (since announced in the monetary and credit policy for the first half of 1998-99); government and other approved securities which are now subject to a zero risk weight, should have a 5 per cent weight for market risk.

More stringent norms under Basel II already implemented.

Risk weight on a government guaranteed advance should be the same as for other advances. This should be made prospective from the time the new prescription is put in place.

This has already been implemented by RBI.

Foreign exchange open credit limit risks should be integrated into the calculation of risk weighted assets and should carry a 100 per cent risk weight

 More stringent norms under Basel II already implemented.

Minimum capital to risk assets ratio (CRAR) be increased from the existing 8 per cent to 10 per cent; an intermediate minimum target of 9 per cent be achieved by 2000 and the ratio of 10 per cent by 2002; RBI to be empowered to raise this further for individual banks if the risk profile warrants such an increase. Individual banks' shortfalls in the CRAR be treated on the same line as adopted for reserve requirements, viz. uniformity across weak and strong banks. There should be penal provisions for banks that do not maintain CRAR.

More stringent norms under Basel II already implemented.

Public Sector Banks in a position to access the capital market at home or abroad be encouraged, as subscription to bank capital funds cannot be regarded as a priority claim on budgetary resources.

Public sector banks are already accessing the capital market, e.g. PNB, Canara Bank, UCO Bank, Union Bank etc. have already successfully launched IPOs.

An asset be classified as doubtful if it is in the substandard category for 18 months in the first instance and eventually for 12 months and loss if it has been identified but not written off. These norms should be regarded as the minimum and brought into force in a phased manner

For evaluating the quality of assets portfolio, advances covered by Government guarantees, which have turned sticky, be treated as NPAs. Exclusion of such advances should be separately shown to facilitate fuller disclosure and greater transparency of operations

These are yet to be implemented.

For banks with a high NPA portfolio, two alternative approaches could be adopted. One approach can be that, all loan assets in the doubtful and loss categories, should be identified and their realisable value determined.  These assets could be transferred to an Assets Reconstruction Company (ARC) which would issue NPA Swap Bonds

First Asset Reconstruction Company was established during June, 2002.

An alternative approach could be to enable the banks in difficulty to issue bonds which could form part of Tier II capital, backed by government guarantee to make these instruments eligible for SLR investment by banks and approved instruments by LIC, GIC and Provident Funds

Tier II bonds are being issued by the Banks, but these are not eligible for SLR investments by banks.

The interest subsidy element in credit for the priority sector should be totally eliminated and interest rate on loans under Rs.2 lakhs should be deregulated for scheduled commercial banks as has been done in the case of Regional Rural Banks and cooperative credit institutions

In India, income stops accruing when interest or installment of principal is not paid within 180 days, which should be reduced to 90 days in a phased manner by 2002.

Implemented w.e.f. year ending 31/03/2004.

Introduction of a general provision of 1 per cent on standard assets in a phased manner be considered by RBI.

Already implemented

As an incentive to make specific provisions, they may be made tax deductible

There should be an independent loan review mechanism especially for large borrowal accounts and systems  to identify potential NPAs. Banks may evolve a filtering mechanism by stipulating in-house prudential limits beyond which exposures on single/group borrowers are taken keeping in view their risk profile as revealed through credit rating and other relevant factors

The major banks have already implemented these exposure limits.   Slowly other banks are also progressing in this field.

Banks and FIs should have a system of recruiting skilled manpower from the open market

Banks are already recruiting specialist officers from the open market.

Public sector banks should be given flexibility to determined managerial remuneration levels taking into account market trends.

This is partially being implented

There may be need to redefine the scope of external vigilance and investigation agencies with regard to banking business.

There is need to develop information and control system in several areas like better tracking of spreads, costs and NPSs for higher profitability, accurate and timely information for strategic decision to identify and promote profitable products and customers, risk and asset-liability management; and efficient treasury management.

Risk Management, Asset Liability Management and improvement in treasury have already been introduced in banks.

With the conversion of activities between banks and DFIs, the DFIs should, over a period of time convert themselves to bank. A DFI which converts to bank be given time to face in reserve equipment in respect of its liability to bring it on par with requirement relating to commercial bank.

The process has already started.  ICICI Ltd. Has converted itself into a bank by merger with ICICI Bank Ltd.   IDBI, SIDBI too have followed the same.

Mergers of Public Sector Banks should emanate from the management of the banks with the Government as the common shareholder playing a supportive role. Merger should not be seen as a means of bailing out weak banks. Mergers between strong banks/FIs would make for greater economic and commercial sense.

Indian Banks have yet to take cue from this recommendation and are apprehensive of the mergers.

‘Weak Banks' may be nurtured into healthy units by slowing down on expansion, eschewing high cost funds / borrowings etc.

 Government is already taking steps in this direction

 The minimum share of holding by Government/Reserve Bank in the equity of the nationalised banks and the State Bank should be brought down to 33%. The RBI regulator of the monetary system should not be also the owner of a bank in view of the potential for possible conflict of interest

These are yet to be implemented

There is a need for a reform of the deposit insurance scheme based on CAMELs ratings awarded by RBI to banks.

Inter-bank call and notice money market and inter-bank term money market should be strictly restricted to banks; only exception to be made is primary dealers.

RBI has already taken number of seps in this direction.

Non-bank parties be provided free access to bill rediscounts, CPs, CDs, Treasury Bills, MMMF.

RBI should totally withdraw from the primary market in 91 days Treasury Bills.