This report covers the cooperative banking sector in India comprehensively, presenting a full view of the types of cooperative banks, their governing structures, the financial parameters, the technology adoption and the products and services offered. Additionally it also covers NABARD and its subsidiaries and defines the role it plays in the development of the cooperative banking sector as well as the Indian economy. Cooperative banks form the backbone of the rural economy. Especially in an agriculture dominated rural sector (Like the one we find in India), cooperative banks play a pivotal role in bolstering the common individual and financing his business and personal needs. The sector is strongly regulated in India by sub apex organizations like NABARD, closely monitored by RBI’s hawkish policies. Of late RBI has acknowledged the enormous role of cooperative banks in extending microfinance amongst the rural population. The regulations surrounding cooperative banks in India are likely to be relaxed in the next few years to enable the banks to come up with newer products and services for the upliftment of the rural sector. Currently, barring a few, majority of the banks are operating in the low-profit, low-diversity quadrant of banking business.
The very purpose of VITALINFO is to provide a platform for wider dissemination of updated information related to and happening of events in and around RBI.
