SCBs report decline in GNPAs to 6.9% as on September end; down from 7.3% end of March, says RBI report - Key Highlights

Scheduled Commercial Banks’ (SCBs) gross non-performing assets (GNPA) ratio declined to 6.9 per cent at end of September 2021 according to a release by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The GNPA recorded at end of March 2021 was 7.3 per cent which was down from 8.2 per cent at March end 2020, the release further said.

The Return on assets (RoA) of SCBs improved from 0.2 per cent at end-March 2020 to 0.7 per cent at end-March 2021, aided by stable income and decline in expenditure.

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Today, the RBI released the report on Trend and Progress of Banking in India 2020-21, a statutory publication in compliance with Section 36 (2) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

This Report presents the performance of the banking sector, including co-operative banks, and non-banking financial institutions during 2020-21 and 2021-22 so far. Highlights of the Report are set out below:

Other Highlights of RBI Report:

1. During 2020-21, the consolidated balance sheet of SCBs expanded in size, notwithstanding the pandemic and the resultant contraction in economic activity. In 2021-22 so far, nascent signs of recovery are visible in credit growth. Deposits grew by 10.1 per cent at end[1]September 2021 as compared with 11.0 per cent a year ago.
2. Capital to risk weighted assets (CRAR) ratio of SCBs strengthened from 14.8 per cent at end-March 2020 to 16.3 per cent at end-March 2021 and further to 16.6 per cent at end-September 2021, partly aided by higher retained earnings, recapitalisation of public sector banks (PSBs) and capital raising from the market by both PSBs and private sector banks (PVBs).
3. Some of the policy measures taken by the RBI in response to the COVID-19 pandemic reached the pre-announced sunset dates in 2021-22. Certain liquidity measures have been wound down as a result.
4. Regulatory measures, including deferment of implementation of net stable funding ratio (NSFR), restrictions on dividend payouts by banks, deferment of implementation of the last tranche of capital conservation buffer, have been realigned to avoid extended forbearance and risks to financial stability while providing targeted support to needy sectors.
5. Even though initiation of fresh insolvency proceedings under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) was suspended for a year till March 2021, it constituted one of the major modes of recovery in terms of amount recovered.
6. The balance sheet growth of urban co-operatives banks (UCBs) in 2020-21 was driven by deposits, while subdued credit growth led to acceleration in investments. Their financial indicators, including capital position and profitability, improved.
7.  The profitability of state co-operative banks and district central co-operative banks improved in 2019-20, while their asset quality deteriorated.
8. The consolidated balance sheet of NBFCs expanded during 2020-21, driven by credit and investments of non-deposit taking systemically important NBFCs (NBFCs-ND-SI). Their asset quality and capital buffers also improved.

The Report also offers some perspectives on the evolving outlook for India’s financial sector.