RBI/2007-2008/129
RPCD.No.Plan.BC. 21 / 04.09.01/ 2007-08

September 3, 2007

The Chairman/ Managing Director/
Chief Executive Officer
[All scheduled commercial banks
(excluding Regional Rural Banks)]

Dear Sir,

Revised Guidelines on Lending to Priority Sector – Revised formats of half-yearly and yearly returns for reporting data on priority sector advances

Please refer to our circular RPCD. No. Plan. CO. 84/04.09.01/2006-07 dated April 30, 2007 advising the revised guidelines on lending to priority sector.

2. The scheduled commercial banks are required to furnish data on priority sector advances to Rural Planning and Credit Department, Central Office, on a half-yearly (adhoc) basis as on last reporting Fridays of March and September of a particular year (within fifteen days from the reference date), as also on a yearly basis (final data) as on the last reporting Friday of March of a particular year (within two months from the reference date). On the basis of the revised guidelines on lending to priority sector, the existing formats for the above returns stand revised. Accordingly, the revised formats of half-yearly and yearly returns for reporting data on priority sector advances are enclosed.

3. The banks are, therefore, requested to furnish data on priority sector advances, as mentioned above, in the revised formats with effect from the half-year ended September 2007 (last reporting Friday).

4. Please acknowledge receipt.

Yours faithfully,

(Surekha Marandi)
General Manager