Banking history and knowledge

The largest bank -Imperial Bank of India - was nationalised in 1955 and renamed as State Bank of India, followed by formation of its 7 Associate Banks in 1959. With a view to bringing commercial banks into the mainstream of economic development with definite social obligations and objectives, the Government of India issued an ordinance on 19 July 1969 acquiring ownership and control of major banks in the country. Six more commercial banks were nationalised from April 1980.
Reserve Bank of India issued guidelines on May 11, 2005 for merger/amalgamation of private sector banks for consolidation in the banking sector.The guidelines are applicable where the merger takes place between two banking companies or between a banking company and a non-banking financial company
As certain rigidities and weaknesses were found to have developed in the banking system during the late eighties, the Government of India felt that these had to be addressed to enable the financial system to play its role in ushering in a more efficient and competitive economy Accordingly, a high-level Committee on the Financial System (CFS) was set up on 14 August1991 to examine all aspects relating to the structure, organization, functions and procedures of the financial systems. Based on the recommendations of the Committee (Chairman: Shri M.Narasimham), a comprehensive reform of the banking system was introduced in 1992-93.