Over 41,177 posts vacant at public sector banks: Nirmala Sitharaman

As many as 41,177 positions or 5 per cent of the total sanctioned posts at public sector banks were vacant as on December 1, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday.

There are more than 8,05,986 sanctioned positions at Public Sector Banks (PSBs). Among the banks, State Bank of India (SBI) had the maximum number of vacant posts at 8,544, according to official data.

To a query in the Lok Sabha on whether the government is aware of the fact that there is a huge shortage of staff in the PSBs due to which they are unable to perform their duties properly, the minister replied in the negative.

Citing inputs received from the PSBs, the minister said that as on December 1, this year, 95 per cent staff is in position against the sanctioned staff strength, adding that the small proportion of vacancies is substantially attributable to attrition on account of superannuation and other usual factors.

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"As on 1.12.2021, there are 8,05,986 sanctioned posts and 41,177 vacant posts in Public Sector Banks," Sitharaman said in a written reply.

The posts are spread across three categories -- officer, clerk and sub-staff. There are 12 PSBs.

While SBI had 8,544 vacant posts, the number for Punjab National Bank was at 6,743. The Central Bank of India had 6,295 vacant positions, followed by Indian Overseas Bank at 5,112 and Bank of India at 4,848.

At SBI, there were 3,423 vacant posts for officers and 5,121 vacancies at the clerk level.

Sitharaman also said that no post/vacancy has been abolished during the last six years in the PSBs, except one post in Punjab & Sind Bank in 2016.

Banks undertake staff recruitment to fill vacancies on an ongoing basis as per their requirement, she added.

Other PSBs are Bank of Baroda, Bank of Maharashtra, Canara Bank, Indian Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank, UCO Bank and Union Bank of India, as per the data.

Before the start of the Question Hour, the Lok Sabha paid tributes to nine people, including eight security personnel, who died when terrorists attacked Parliament in 2001.

The members stood in silence for a brief while as a mark of respect for the departed souls.

As soon as the House met for the day, Speaker Om Birla mentioned about the security personnel and a staff killed in the attack, and emphasised that the resolve to fight terrorism will be strengthened.

Eight security personnel and the staff died in the attack that happened on December 13, 2001. All the five terrorists involved in the attack also died.