BackGovt to provide adequate capital to PSBs: Pranab
Govt to provide adequate capital to PSBs: Pranab
PremiumFinance minister Pranab Mukherjee. Photo: Bloomberg
Mumbai: Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday said the government will provide adequate capital to the state-owned banks during the current fiscal year, a move that will help them to meet the international solvency norms.
“I would like to reassure, that I will provide adequate capital to the banks as and when necessary...there should be no apprehensions about bank recapitalization," he said while speaking at the Canara Bank function here.
“I have already earmarked Rs6,000 crore this fiscal, if need be more would be provided", he said.
Pranab’s assurance to recapitalize the PSBs comes within weeks of rating agency Moody’s downgrading the outlook of the Indian banking sector to ‘negative’ from ‘stable’.
However, another rating agency Standard & Poor’s had upgraded the ratings of the Indian banks saying that they are well regulated.
During the current fiscal several lenders, including SBI, Bank of Baroda, Syndicate Bank and Union Bank of India would be needing a fresh capital to meet the global solvency norms.
The government during 2010-11 had provided capital support to the tune of Rs20,157 crore to public sector banks. The lenders which got funds from the government last fiscal include Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, Union Bank of India, Oriental Bank of Commerce and UCO Bank.
Referring to the ongoing euro zone crisis, Pranab admitted that it would have an impact on growth prospects.
“The euro zone crisis will impact our high growth trajectory and may even impact out journey on the path of fiscal consolidation," he added.
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