Govt urges banks to focus more on marginalised sections of society
This story was originally published at 22:53 IST on 29 April 2026
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NEW DELHI – The government has urged banks, particularly those in the private sector, to focus more on serving the marginalised sections of society and fulfilling their banking needs. In a meeting with banks Wednesday to review financial inclusion schemes, Department of Financial Services Secretary M. Nagaraju asked them to work with state governments and the respective state-level bankers' committees to resolve issues relating to infrastructure and to network connectivity.
The meeting was attended by heads of public-sector banks and senior officers of private-sector banks. The progress of opening brick-and-mortar branches of banks in unbanked villages was also discussed and "banks were asked to expand their network in those villages identified for branch expansion, especially in North Eastern states", according to a release from the finance ministry.
The importance of deployment of banking correspondents in unbanked villages was also taken up with the banks, as per the release. Nagaraju emphasised that physical branches should be complemented by digital banking infrastructure with assisted modes and local language availability for last-mile reach.
He reviewed bank-wise progress under various financial inclusion schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, Atal Pension Yojana, and Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana. End
Reported by Sagar Sen
Edited by Rajeev Pai
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