Characteristics of Bank Regulations Act 1949
Characteristics of Bank Regulations Act 1949
Characteristics of Bank Regulations Act 1949
SUBMITTED TO:
SUBMITTED BY:
Ankita Wilson
A3256113057
L.L.B 3 Year
Section A
ACKNOWLEGEMENT
I take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude and deep regards to my guide Mr. Vivek
Sharma for her exemplary guidance, monitoring and constant encouragement throughout the
course of this subject. The blessing, help and guidance given by his time to time shall carry me a
long way in the journey of life on which I am about to embark.
Lastly, I thank almighty, my family and friends for their constant encouragement without which
this assignment would not be possible.
Ankita Wilson
INTRODUCTION
The Banking Regulation Act, 1949 is a legislation in India that regulates all banking firms in
India. Initially, the law was applicable only to banking companies. But, 1965 it was amended to
make it applicable to cooperative banks and to introduce other changes.
OVERVIEW
The Act provides a framework using which commercial banking in India supervised and
regulated. The Act supplements the Companies Act, 1956. Primary Agricultural Credit Society
and cooperative land mortgage banks are excluded from the Act.
The Act gives the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to power to license banks, have regulation over
shareholding and voting rights of shareholders; supervise the appointment of the boards and
management; regulate the operations of banks; lay down instructions for audits; control
moratorium, mergers and liquidation; issue directives in the interests of public good and on
banking policy, and impose penalties.
In 1965, the Act was amended to include cooperative banks under its purview by adding the
Section 56. Cooperative banks, which operate only in one state, are formed and run by the state
government. But, RBI controls the licensing and regulates the business operations.[
Power to call for and publish the information. Preparation of Accounts and Balance
Sheets. Audit of the Balance sheet and Profit & Loss Account. Publication of Audited
Accounts and Balance Sheet. Inspection of books and accounts of banking companies by
RBI. Giving directions to banking companies.
Central Government for an order of mortal rim in respect of a banking company and for a
scheme of reconstruction or amalgamation.
Power of RBI to examine the record of proceedings and tender advice in winding up
proceedings.
Power of RBI to call for Returns and information from the Liquidator of a Banking
company.
To enable the nationalized banks to raise capital through bonus and rights issue and
also enable them to increase or decrease the authorized capital with approval from the
Government and RBI without being limited by the ceiling of a maximum of Rs. 3000
crore under the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act,
1970/1980.
Certain additional official amendments have been proposed on the basis of
recommendations of the Standing Committee of Finance which gave its report on
the Bill on the 13th December, 2011 and has recommended enactment of the Bill,
subject to the following modifications:
i) Voting rights in banks may be restricted up to 26%.
ii) The Depositors Education and Awareness Fund may be used for the purpose of
promoting depositors interests.
Further, pursuant to the discussion with Indian Banks Association (IBA), RBI and
Industry Associations, the following additional amendments are proposed:
a) to exempt guarantee agreements of banks from the purview of the section 28 of the
Indian Contract Act, 1872 to bring finality to redemption of such guarantees;
b) to allow select Directors on the Board of RBI a fixed maximum tenure of eight years
with terms of not more than two terms of four years each either continuously or
intermittently in consonance with the directions of the ACC;
c) to exempt conversion of branches of foreign banks to wholly owned subsidiary entities
of foreign banks and transfer of shareholding of banks to the Holding Company structure
pursuant to guidelines of RBI from payment of stamp duty; and
d) to ensure that unnecessary inspections are avoided and to encourage regulatory
coordination, a condition has been added such that the inspection of the associate
enterprise of a banking company would be conducted by RBI jointly with the sector
regulator.