Technology · India Bureau
SBI software glitch strips Scheduled Tribe status from Christian applicants
State Bank of India's account opening system is automatically reclassifying Scheduled Tribe applicants as 'General' category when they declare Christian faith, according to civil society groups in Arunachal Pradesh. The technical flaw potentially affects eligibility for SC/ST reserved benefits and government schemes.
LSN India ·
The Arunachal Christian Forum has flagged a significant software malfunction in SBI's customer onboarding system that appears to override Scheduled Tribe (ST) classification based on religious affiliation. The issue emerges during account opening procedures and Know Your Customer (KYC) updates when applicants select Christianity as their religion. According to the forum, the system automatically downgrades ST status to the 'General' category, bypassing the legitimate constitutional protections afforded to members of scheduled communities regardless of their faith. This technical anomaly has raised concerns about equal access to banking services and government benefits reserved for historically disadvantaged groups. Scheduled Tribe status in India is determined by constitutional notification and is independent of an individual's religious beliefs. The reclassification through the banking software could inadvertently exclude eligible ST Christians from reserved employment quotas, educational scholarships, and other affirmative action benefits at both institutional and state levels. SBI has not yet publicly addressed the reported glitch or outlined remedial measures. Arunachal Pradesh, with substantial Christian populations among several tribal communities, is likely disproportionately affected by the software error. Civil society organizations have called for immediate technical rectification and a review of affected customer records to restore proper ST designations.