Give the main achievement of State Bank of India.

1.	Give the main achievement of State Bank of India.
Answer» The major credit for the development of banking facilities in the country during the past few years belongs to the State Bank of India. The capital and other reserves of the State Bank of India was more than 1000 crores in the year 1990-91. The State Bank of India group has rendered a valuable service by opening most of its branches in rural areas of the country. More than 75% of branches are in rural areas and small towns. The number of villages adopted by the bank stood at 56,405 with a quantum of credit to the tune of Rs. 905 crores covering 23.6 lacs farmers in 1984. The State Bank of India opened agricultural development branches with adequate technical expertise to help the farmers for agricultural development. The number of such branches stood at 432 by the end of 1984 with outstanding advances amounting to Rs. 641 crores covering 16.8 lacs farmers. By the end of 1984, the bank’s advances to landless labourers, tenant farmers and sharecroppers accounted for 38% of the bank’s direct agricultural advance. The bank had advanced a sum of Rs. 1,737 crores to 4.7 lacs small scale industrial establishments up to Dec. 31, 1984.

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