RBI Report: Bad loans in 2006-2008

NEW DELHI, Sept 11: A larger number of bad loans or NPAs originated in 2006-2008 when Indian economic growth was strong as the banks made mistakes, former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan has said. He said that global slowdown, project cost overruns and government decision-making were among the factors that contributed to the process. “A larger number of bad loans originated in 2006-2008 when economic growth was strong, and previous infrastructure projects such as power plants had been completed on time and within budget. It is at such times that banks make mistakes. They extrapolate past growth and performance to the future. So, they are willing to accept higher leverage in projects, and less promoter equity,” he said. (IANS)