The main focus of the book is to systematically assess the impact of banking sector reforms initiated since 1991as part of globalization and liberalization of Indian economy on the performance of scheduled commercial banks. The scheduled commercial banks are classified into SBI group (SBI), Nationalized Bank group (NB), domestic private sector banks or other scheduled commercial banks and foreign banks to assess the changing performance of banks between pre reform period (1969-1991) and post reform period (1992-2009).
As a prelude to the study an in-depth evaluation is made on the paradigm shift in banking policy in India form financial repression followed till 1991 and financial liberalization initiated since then. The various reform measures recommended by first and second Narasimham Committee on Financial System (1991) and committee on the banking sector reforms (1998) respectively are critically reviewed and evaluated. A disaggregated structural growth pattern analysis of banking sector in India is made between pre and post reform periods with respect to deposit, credit flows, branch expansion and priority sector lending etc. The growth performance of commercial banks is also assessed by ratio and trend analysis with respect to income pattern, expenditure incurred, spread, burden and profitability.
The trends in profitability of bank groups and its various determinants and changes in the determinants between pre and post reform periods are assessed in depth. Productivity performance of bank groups is assessed by estimating both partial and total productivity and also returns to scale. The dynamic Cobb-Douglas production function approach is used for deriving the total factor productivity and other components of banking output. With the help of principal components technique, the operational efficiency of bank groups is assessed between pre and post reform periods. The components included in operational efficiency are productivity indicators, sectoral and spatial efficiency indicators and profitability indicators.
The book thus provides a comprehensive review of banking sector reforms and shifts that have taken place in the perception, policies and practices of commercial banks. The study concludes with summary and major findings which highlights that the performance of scheduled commercial banks has significantly improved with respect to profitability, productivity and efficiency during the post reform period as compared to pre reform period. However, compared to public sector banks such as SBI groups and other nationalized commercial banks, the financial liberalization measures made greater beneficial impacts on private and foreign banks in India. The book will be highly useful not only to academicians and researchers but also to practical bankers. |
