Update :In terms of Reserve Bank’s extant guidelines on lending to priority sector, a target of 40 percent of Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANBC) or Credit Equivalent amount of Off-Balance Sheet Exposures (OBE), whichever is higher, as on March 31 of the previous year, has been mandated for lending to the priority sector by domestic scheduled commercial banks and foreign banks with 20 and above branches, for Small Finance Banks it is 75% of their Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANBC). Within this, a sub-target of 10 per cent of ANBC or Credit Equivalent amount of OBE, whichever is higher, as on March 31 of the previous year, has been mandated for lending to weaker sections which includes, among others, persons from minority communities.
RBI on Wednesday (06.06.2018) revised the housing loan limits for priority sector lending from existing limit of Rs.28 lakhs to Rs.35 lakhs in Metropolitan Centres provided the overall cost of dwelling unit does not Rs.45 lakhs. The limit for other centres for classification of priority sector lending is increased from existing limit of Rs.20 lakhs to Rs.25 lakhs provided the overall cost of dwelling unit does not Rs.30 lakhs.
Earlier, RBI vide its circular RBI/2017-18/135/FIDD.CO.Plan.BC.18/04.09.01/2017-18 dated March 1, 2018 announced the following
1. The sub-target of 8 percent of Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANBC) or Credit Equivalent Amount of Off-Balance Sheet Exposure (CEOBE), whichever is higher, shall become applicable for the foreign banks with 20 branches and above, for lending to the small and marginal farmers from FY 2018-19.
2. The sub-target of 7.50 percent of ANBC or CEOBE, whichever is higher, shall become applicable for the foreign banks with 20 branches and above, for lending to the Micro Enterprises.
3. The currently applicable loan limits of ₹ 5 crores and ₹ 10 crores per borrower to Micro/ Small and Medium Enterprises (Services) respectively, for classification under priority sector, is now removed. Consequently, all bank loans to MSMEs, engaged in providing or rendering of services as defined in terms of investment in equipment under MSMED Act, 2006, shall qualify under priority sector without any credit cap.