Archive · 28 Jul 2026
Ministry Urges RBI to Expand Urban Cooperative Bank Licenses
The Ministry of Cooperation in India wants the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to allow more urban cooperative banks (UCBs) to open across the country.
Currently, most UCBs are in just three states: Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Karnataka.
The ministry believes that every town should have a UCB to help people with their banking needs.
A top official from the RBI also agreed that many districts do not have UCBs.
This discussion happened during the release of a book about cooperative management.
The Ministry of Cooperation urged the RBI to open licenses for more urban cooperative banks.
Currently, 1,450 UCBs exist in India, with 1,100 located in Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Karnataka.
The ministry believes UCBs are essential for financial inclusion in every town.
Satish K Marathe, an RBI director, noted that many districts lack UCBs.
The discussion occurred during the release of the book 'Cooperative Management: The Indian Perspective'.
- Who
- Ministry of Cooperation, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Ashish Kumar Bhutani, Satish K Marathe
- What
- Urging RBI to open licenses for more urban cooperative banks
- When
- Monday
- Where
- India
- Why
- To promote financial inclusion and address the lack of UCBs in many districts
Pro-Expansion View
Cautious View
Need for More UCBs
Pro-Expansion View
The Ministry of Cooperation believes that urban cooperative banks are essential for financial inclusion in every town.
Cautious View
The RBI may have concerns about the regulatory and operational challenges of expanding UCBs rapidly.
- Total UCBs in India
- 1,450
- UCBs in Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Karnataka
- 1,100
- Book Released
- Cooperative Management: The Indian Perspective
- Authors of the Book
- KK Tripathy, Harekrishna Misra, SK Wadkar
- Event
- Book release function