Assam: Ensure 100% digitization of all accounts by Sept 2025, Dispur to banks

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: The Assam government has called for a time-bound roadmap to achieve 100 percent digitization of all eligible savings and current accounts in all banks operating in the state by September this year.

The State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC), Assam, convened its quarterly review meeting for the March 2025 quarter under the joint chairmanship of Assam Chief Secretary Dr. Ravi Kota and Prabhas Bose, Chief General Manager, State Bank of India, Guwahati Circle, here today.

In his keynote address, Dr. Ravi Kota called for a time-bound roadmap to achieve 100 percent digitization of all eligible savings and current accounts in Assam by September 2025. Dr. Kota instructed the banks to fast-track coverage of uncovered areas, ensure KYC updation, and encourage enrolment under flagship schemes such as PMJJBY, PMSBY, and APY.

The review focused on evaluating the performance of the banking sector across key parameters, assessing the implementation of government-sponsored schemes, and devising strategies to accelerate financial inclusion and digital banking penetration. The meeting emphasized the Financial Inclusion Saturation Campaign scheduled for July–September 2025.

The state’s Credit-Deposit (CD) ratio stood at 71.31 percent as of March 2025. The CD ratio of scheduled commercial banks in Assam is on a rising trend. It was 53.88 percent as of March 2023, and it rose to 61 percent as of March 2024. However, underperformance in districts like Cachar, Hailakandi, and Sribhumi remains a matter of concern. To address these disparities, a special committee has been constituted under the Barak Valley Development Department. Dr. Kota directed all banks to focus not only on deposit mobilisation but also on driving growth in credit disbursement, particularly in the MSME sector, in order to improve the CD ratio and promote balanced regional development.

Banks presented their performance under schemes including NRLM, NULM, PMEGP, Stand-Up India, MUDRA, and PM Vishwakarma. While top-performing institutions were appreciated, banks with nil or low disbursement were asked to submit specific action plans. Further, banks were advised to organize targeted outreach camps and strengthen Self Help Group (SHG) linkages, especially for women-led enterprises.

The meeting concluded with a joint commitment to the goals of inclusive financial growth, responsible credit delivery, and strengthening of rural banking infrastructure. Safal Tripathi, General Manager, SBI Assam, and SLBC Convener, assured full and timely implementation of all action points and urged member banks to maintain data accuracy, timely reporting, and strict adherence to timelines.

The meeting saw participation from senior officials of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), NABARD, state government departments, and top executives of public and private sector banks operating in Assam.

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