The government and Reserve Bank seem to be veering around to reach an agreeable solution with respect of relaxation of the Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework and easing of lending norms for the MSME sector ahead of the RBI board meeting on November 19, according to sources.
If not in this board meeting, sources said, the issue of relaxation of PCA framework which the finance ministry has been pitching for would be reached in the next few weeks, media reports said.
As a result of relaxation, some banks may come out of the PCA framework by the end of the current fiscal., reported PTI.
Of the 21 state-owned banks, 11 are under the PCA framework. These are Allahabad Bank, United Bank of India, Corporation Bank, IDBI Bank, UCO Bank, Bank of India, Central Bank of India, Indian Overseas Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Dena Bank and Bank of Maharashtra, the report said.
The PCA framework kicks in when banks breach any of the three key regulatory trigger points namely capital to risk weighted assets ratio, Net non-performing assets (NPA) and return on assets (RoA), it added.
The RBI is also likely to agree to easing of lending norms for the MSME sector including strict rating criteria to improve credit flow to this sector, sources reportedly said.
Besides, the central bank is expected to consider special dispensation for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) which have been facing liquidity issues.
The government reportedly feels that the MSME sector which employs about 12 crore people plays a critical role in the economy, and the sector hit by demonetisation and implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) needs support.
However, the central bank has been averse to government demand for special dispensations for MSME and NBFC sectors as it consider them vulnerable, the PTIreport pointed out.
Last week, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley repotedly said there is a need to minimise NPAs in order to maintain the strength of the banking system and enable it to help the economy grow.
