HomeCirculars › RBI/2004-05/298

Monthly Agricultural Lending Data Reporting for Private Banks

Current & verified — this is the latest version
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2004-05/298 · issued 13 Dec 2004 · ~1 min read
Quick answerPrivate sector banks must now submit agricultural lending data monthly to RBI, starting November 2004, to help the government track progress toward the 18% of net bank credit target for agriculture.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

Every month, Mr. Kumar will collect data on the bank's agricultural lending as on the last reporting Friday and submit it to RBI by the 7th of the following month. He will also review the bank's current agricultural lending portfolio to identify areas where credit flow can be increased to meet the 18% target. An agri & priority-sector lending officer in Indore, Mr. Kumar, must ensure that the bank's agricultural lending data is collected and submitted to RBI on time.

What changed

Private sector banks must now report agricultural lending data monthly, as on the last reporting Friday, within seven days of the following month, using a specified format.

What it means for you

This increases reporting frequency for banks, requiring tighter internal data tracking and submission processes. It also signals heightened government focus on meeting the 18% agricultural lending target.

What you must do

Who it affects

Private sector banks

❓ Common questions

What is the deadline for submitting the monthly agricultural lending data?

The data must be submitted on or before the seventh day of the month following the reporting month.

What is the target for agricultural lending as a percentage of net bank credit?

Scheduled commercial banks are required to achieve a target of 18% of net bank credit towards lending to agriculture.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2004-05/298 RPCD. Plan. BC. 63 /04.09.01/2004-05 December 13, 2004 The Chairman / Managing Director (Private Sector Banks) Dear Sir/ Madam, Data on Priority Sector Advances – Agricultural Lending As you are aware, the scheduled commercial banks are required to achieve a target of 18 per cent of net bank credit (NBC) towards lending to agriculture. The Government of India has decided to monitor/review the progress made in this regard on a monthly basis. 2. Accordingly, in order to enable us to provide the progress reports to Government of India, you are advised to furnish data on lending to agriculture on a monthly basis (as on the last reporting Friday of each month) to us, commencing from November 2004 , in the enclosed format on or before the seventh day of the following month to which the data pertains. 3. You are also advised to take appropriate steps to increase the flow of credit to agriculture sector so that the stipulated target is achieved by the end of the year 2004-05. 4. Please acknowledge receipt. Yours faithfully, (N. K. Bhatia) Deputy General Manager STATEMENT ON ADVANCES TO AGRICULTURE BY PRIVATE SECTOR BANKS AS ON LAST REPORTING FRIDAY OF THE MONTH STATEMENT FOR THE MONTH OF ---------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME OF THE BANK: (AMOUNT IN RS. CRORE)                                                                                                                                                            Amount Outstanding                                                                                                                                                                                  ------------------------------------------------- Net Bank Credit: Total Agricultural Credit: Direct agricultural credit: Indirect agricultural credit:
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2004-05/298 · issued 13 Dec 2004. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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Worked example & action-note template

Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (Private sector banks), your first concrete step on “Monthly Agricultural Lending Data Reporting for Private Banks” is: “Set up monthly data collection for agricultural advances as on the last reporting Friday.” (RBI issued this 13 Dec 2004).

  1. Circular: RBI/2004-05/298 -- Monthly Agricultural Lending Data Reporting for Private Banks
  2. Issued: 13 Dec 2004
  3. Action required: Set up monthly data collection for agricultural advances as on the last reporting Friday.
  4. Action required: Submit the data in the prescribed format to RBI by the 7th of the following month.
  5. Action required: Review current agricultural lending portfolio and take steps to increase credit flow to meet the 18% target by end of 2004-05.
  6. Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
  7. Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
  8. Evidence filed in compliance register on: ____________
Built only from this circular’s own published fields — not legal advice; always confirm against the official RBI source.

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BankPulse Compliance Evidence Pack — generated 05 Aug 2026 · status cross-checked against RBI’s official withdrawal register (refreshed weekly).
Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=2052&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by our expert reviewer, CA Amit Jain. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; is our own plain-English paraphrase, not RBI’s original wording.
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