Prior to the initiation of reforms in 1991, the Indian banking industry suffered from lack of competition, low capital base, inefficiency, and high intermediation costs. Banking sector reforms of the last two decades have placed greater emphasis on structural measures and improvement in the standards of disclosure and levels of transparency in order to align the Indian standards with international practices. Reforms have brought about considerable improvements as reflected in various parameters relating to capital adequacy, asset quality, profitability, and operational efficiency. An outstanding feature of banking sector reforms in India has been the emergence of micro credit as the most suitable and practical alternative to conventional banking, in order to reach the poor. The Self-Help Group-Bank Linkage Program was formally launched in 1992 as a flagship program by India's National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development. This book contains research papers that focus on the varied aspects of Indian banking, micro finance, and Self-Help Groups. It is an in-depth analysis by academics and research scholars and will be of immense help to all those interested in the study of new innovations in Indian banking in the changing global business scenario.
Banking, Micro Finance and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in India