This volume, 56th edition of "Statistical Tables Relating to Banks in India", presents comprehensive data of the Scheduled Commercial Banks (including the Regional Rural Banks) for the year 2000-01. A beginning has been made this year to bring out this publication in CD-ROM also.

2. The data presented in this volume are mainly based on the annual accounts of the Scheduled Commercial Banks. Besides, some important data based on BSR returns for the latest available period have also been included in this volume. This publication also presents distribution of commercial bank offices based on the Master Office File maintained by the Reserve Bank.

3. While bank-wise details of assets and liabilities and earnings and expenses are reported in Tables 52 to 55, the summary position in respect of various bank-groups is available in Tables 4 and 6. As part of the financial sector reforms, transparency and disclosure standards of banks in India have been progressively enhanced and the banks (other than the Regional Rural Banks) are now required to publish information on several items in the notes to their annual accounts. We have covered bank-wise details of most of these items through Tables 56 to 61. Another important feature of this publication is presentation of 35 important financial ratios of individual banks, based on their annual accounts, in Table 62. Summary position of these ratios for different bank-groups is also given in Table 7.

4. The Reserve Bank, as part of its social objective, monitors commercial banks' lending to some of the sectors of the economy A few tables included in this publication provide latest available information in this regard. They cover advances to priority sectors (Tables 19 to 24), advances to exporters (Table 25), advances under differential rates of interest (DRI) scheme (Table 26) and advances for public food procurement operations (Table 27).

5. Co-operative credit institutions form an important adjunct to the commercial banks in India. This publication provides a brief profile of this segment through data on State-wise distribution of number of offices and components of assets and liabilities of Urban Co-operative banks, State and District Central Co-operative banks.

6. In all, this volume contains 62 tables, some of which are highlighted above. Two appendices at the end give details of commercial banks' offices at all-India level as well as in various States and Union Territories. Besides the tables, the volume also contains 12 graphs and 2 maps where some important data on Indian banking sector have been depicted.

7. To facilitate better comprehension of data, a chapter 'Explanatory Notes to the Tables' has been included. It is hoped that the volume will be of immense use for the researchers and all concerned in the field of banking, management, economics and statistics.

RESERVE BANK OF INDIA
DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
AND COMPUTER SERVICES
MUMBAI

Date: December 12, 2001