Introduction
Public Sector Banks (PSBs) remain crucial to India’s financial architecture—supporting rural credit, government schemes, and MSME finance. After decades of fiscal stress and mounting NPAs, structural reforms initiated through Narasimham and PJ Nayak Committees, followed by mergers and EASE digital agendas, have strengthened governance. Presently, fresh reforms—including the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the transition from BBB to Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB), market‑linked executive compensation, and upcoming climate-risk disclosures—seek to further embed professionalism and oversight in PSBs.
Evolution of Governance Architecture
➤ From Narasimham to FSIB
The Narasimham Committee (1998) first recommended greater autonomy and professional governance in PSBs, initiating rationale for mergers and reducing government interference.([turn0search27])
In 2016, the Banks Board Bureau (BBB) was formed to recommend senior leadership appointments and improve board norms. It was replaced in 2022 by FSIB, with an expanded mandate covering PSBs, financial institutions, and insurance heads.([turn0search1]turn0search23])
➤ EASE Agenda & Structural Consolidation
Under the EASE (Enhanced Access & Service Excellence) reform framework, PSBs followed incremental reform steps across credit discipline, digitalization, and customer service, from EASE 1.0 to EASE 4.0/5.0. Between 2017–2020, bank consolidation reduced PSBs from 27 to 12—creating scale efficiencies and stronger management structures.([turn0search1]turn0search11])
Recent Legal & Board-Level Reforms
➤ Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024
This legislative package proposes key changes:
-
Improved governance and consistency in RBI reporting.
-
Enhanced depositor and investor protection.
-
Changes to unclaimed deposit rules: enabling transfer of bond redemptions and interest to the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF), aligning PSBs with private sector norms.([turn0search3]turn0search6])
-
Defined thresholds for "substantial interest" updated to ₹2 crore or 10% equity.
-
Reporting timelines standardized and tenure limits modified.
-
Auditors’ remuneration to be determined by banks for better accountability and audit quality.([turn0search3]turn0search6])
➤ Board & Executive Empowerment
Boards now have authority to:
-
Recruit Chief Risk Officers (CROs) from the market with market-linked pay.
-
Appoint up to four Executive Directors focused on technology and risk.
-
Initiate individual development plans, succession planning, and extend executive tenure to ensure leadership continuity. Boards can also decide sitting fees for independent directors and organize training programs.([turn0search0]turn0search8])
Focus on Risk Management & Audit Integrity
➤ RBI Oversight & Risk Frameworks
RBI Governor has urged PSB boards to enhance governance—especially in risk management, internal audit, compliance, and digital oversight—to build operational resilience.([turn0search5]turn0search9])
➤ Auditor Independence
The top-down setting of auditor fees by RBI or government is being phased out; banks will have autonomy to set competitive compensation—key to attracting quality external auditors and strengthening audit standards.([turn0search3]turn0search6])
Emerging Priorities: Climate & Digital Risk Disclosures
➤ Climate-Risk Disclosure Mandate
RBI is poised to roll out climate-risk disclosure norms for banks:
-
Voluntary adoption by FY2027, mandatory from FY2028.
-
Banks must disclose borrower-related climate exposure, perform stress-testing, and present mitigation strategies.
-
Initial compliance will focus on large banks and systemic exposure.([turn0news15])
➤ Cybersecurity Governance
Emphasizing systemic risk planning, RBI has directed banks to upgrade cybersecurity systems, extend internal audit scope to digital threats, and oversee third-party service providers—particularly in cooperative bank networks.([turn0news22]turn0news19])
Impact & Performance Indicators
➤ Financial Metrics Post-Reform
In H1 FY25, PSBs registered robust growth:
-
Business volume rose 11%
-
Net profits increased 25.6%
-
Gross NPAs declined to 3.12%, Net NPAs to 0.63%
-
Capital Adequacy Ratio stood at 15.43%—well above regulatory norms.([turn0search7])
➤ Performance Accountability Tools
Bihar’s state-level “bank ranking index” ties bank eligibility for government schemes and PSP contracts to performance metrics like credit-deposit ratio, lending to priority sectors, and support for SHGs. Banks scoring below 40 are excluded.([turn0news12])
Governance & Structural Gaps
-
Board Composition Weaknesses: A CAG audit flagged governance issues in CPSEs, including PSBs—55 of 71 did not have required independent directors, and many lacked women representation.([turn0news17])
-
Regulatory Overlap: Multiple bodies—RBI, DFS, FSIB, FSDC—lack streamlined coordination, risking fragmented governance.([turn0search24]turn0search6])
-
Risk of Political Interference: Despite reforms, government maintains strong control via nomination powers. Critics fear this could undermine board autonomy.([turn0search6]turn0search5])
-
Digital and Cyber Risk Exposure: Although directives exist, implementation in smaller banks and ecosystem cooperatives remains slow, exposing systemic vulnerabilities.([turn0news19]turn0news22])
-
Talent & Compensation Gaps: Beyond CRO roles, market-aligned compensation for other senior executives is limited—restricting ability to attract and retain talent.([turn0search0]turn0search5])
Recommendations for Strengthened Governance
-
Enhance FSIB Independence & Board Autonomy
Ensure FSIB appointments include independent external experts; limit political nominees and expand board decision-making authority. -
Ensure Board Diversity & Representation
Mandate minimum representation of independent directors and women across PoSI bank boards; enforce these through FSDC monitoring and CAG audits. -
Operationalize Risk Roles Across Senior Executives
Extend market-linked hiring beyond CROs to include heads of compliance, digital risk, and internal audit. -
Mandate Climate and Cyber Risk Reporting
Institutionalize climate disclosures and stress testing into annual financial statements; audit both IT systems and third-party risks annually. -
Coordinate Regulation via FSDC Framework
Institutionalize clearer boundaries between RBI, FSDC, FSIB, and Finance Ministry powers to avoid regulatory overlap and improve policy clarity. -
Strengthen Transparency, Reporting & Citizen Oversight
Publish public dashboards on board performance, risk governance, audit findings, and bank rankings, similar to dashboards used by states like Bihar. -
Empower Independent Statutory Audits
Allow PSBs autonomy in appointing statutory auditors with transparent recruitment frameworks; enforce strict audit quality norms aligned with international benchmarks.
Conclusion
India’s public sector banking governance has undergone significant evolution—from early Narasimham recommendations to mergers, EASE operational modernization, and leadership reforms via FSIB. The Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, upcoming climate and cyber directives, and new auditor compensation frameworks reflect a clear policy intent: professionalize PSBs, improve risk governance, and align them with global standards.
Yet structural gaps remain—especially in board independence, regulatory clarity, and implementation across digital and financial risk domains. Strengthening FSIB’s autonomy, ensuring compliance with board composition norms, expanding risk executive roles, and instituting transparent performance metrics will anchor these reforms in institutional resilience.
With focused policy clarity and consistent implementation, PSBs can fully realize their potential—balancing public welfare mandates with operational excellence and sustainable growth in India's evolving financial ecosystem.