Financial Services Department directs bankers' committees to report Scheduled Caste beneficiaries scheme-wise
7 October 2026
The Department of Financial Services in the Ministry of Finance issued directions dated October 5, 2026 to the convenors of State Level Bankers' Committees and Union Territory Level Bankers' Committees across all States and Union Territories.
The directions require scheme-wise and bank-wise reporting of the number and percentage of Scheduled Caste beneficiaries at periodic review meetings, and regular sharing of that information with the National Commission for Scheduled Castes.
The step follows a letter of September 24, 2026 from NCSC Secretary Shri Vivek Kumar Dewangan to the Secretary, Department of Financial Services.
The Commission had said that bankers' committee reports did not show the share of Scheduled Caste families, which hindered its duty under Article 338(5)(c) to evaluate the socio-economic development of Scheduled Castes.
The schemes named are Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, Stand-Up India, the Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme, PM SVANidhi, CGTMSE and MSME business loans.
An action taken report was sought by October 9, 2026, with a further update within 30 days, using data the banks and implementing agencies already hold.
In plain words
NCSC National Commission for Scheduled Castes — The constitutional commission under Article 338 that safeguards the interests of Scheduled Castes.
SLBC State Level Bankers' Committee — The forum in each State where banks, the Reserve Bank and the State government coordinate credit planning.
CGTMSE Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises — The trust that guarantees collateral-free credit to micro and small enterprises.