A Study on Management of Non Performing Assets in Priority Sector Reference to Indian Bank and Public Sector Banks (PSBs)

Abstract

In India the magnitude of the problem of bad debts was not taken seriously. Subsequently, following the recommendations of Narasimham committee and Verma committee, some steps have been taken to solve the problem of old NPAs in the balance sheets of the banks. It continues to be expressed from every corner that there has rarely been any systematic evaluation of the best way of tackling the problem. There seems to be no unanimity in the proper policies to be followed in resolving this problem. There is also no consistency in the application of NPA norms, ever since these have been recognized. Non Performing Assets are also called as Non Performing Loans. It is made by a bank or finance company on which repayments or interest payments are not being made on time. A loan is an asset for a bank as the interest payments and the repayment of the principal create a stream of cash flows. It is from the interest payments that a bank makes its profits. The problem of NPA is not limited to only Indian public sector banks, but it prevails in the entire banking industry. Major portion of bad debts in Indian Banks arose out of lending to the priority sector at the dictates of politicians and bureaucrats. If only banks had monitored their loans effectively, the bad debt problem could have been contained if not eliminated. The top management of the banks was forced by politicians and bureaucrats to throw good money after bad in the case of unscrupulous borrowers. Agriculture advances have registered a 7 fold net increase, SSI advances have set a record net increase of 8.5 times and the advances to other priority sector have made a net increase of 4.5 times, that of their respective figures in 2001-02.