Banks ordered to track SC beneficiaries in flagship government schemes

State-Level Banking Committees (SLBCs) and Union Territory-Level Banking Committees (UTLBCs) have been tasked with gathering detailed information on Scheduled Caste beneficiaries accessing major government schemes focused on job creation and business development. Banking regulators have mandated these data collection requirements as part of their broader financial inclusion framework.

The reporting requirement represents an expansion of the committees' traditional mandate, which has historically centered on policy matters and the flow of priority sector credit within states and union territories. According to Reserve Bank of India guidelines, SLBCs function primarily as forums for addressing strategic issues related to priority sector lending and overall financial inclusion.

The directive underscores government efforts to ensure equitable access to employment and entrepreneurship schemes among disadvantaged groups. By requiring banks to monitor and report SC beneficiary participation, regulators aim to identify implementation gaps and ensure these flagship programmes effectively reach intended populations.

The data collection initiative falls within the broader regulatory push to make credit and development schemes more inclusive. Banking committees across states will now bear responsibility for tracking beneficiary demographics alongside their existing oversight of lending practices and financial system health in their respective regions.