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RBI Assigns Lead Banks for 19 New Rajasthan Districts

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2023-24/82 · issued 10 Nov 2023 · ~2 min read

Quick answerRBI has designated lead banks for 19 newly formed districts in Rajasthan, following a government notification effective from August 7, 2023. The RBI assignment was issued on November 10, 2023. Banks like PNB, SBI, BoB, UCO, and ICICI get new responsibilities. No changes for existing districts.

The rule, in the simplest words

Banks assigned as lead banks for new districts in Rajasthan must coordinate banking services, financial inclusion, and government scheme implementation.
Lead banks must set up new branches or expand operations in their assigned districts.
Other banks operating in these districts should align with the lead bank's plans and collaborate with district authorities.

How it plays out — a real example

A lead bank officer in Jodhpur, coordinating with the Rajasthan state government, ensures that a new branch is set up in the newly formed district to provide banking services to the local population. This includes implementing government schemes and promoting financial inclusion in the area.

What changed

The Government of Rajasthan created 19 new districts via a gazette notification on August 5, 2023. RBI has now assigned a lead bank to each new district, with specific banks like Punjab National Bank, State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, UCO Bank, and ICICI Bank taking charge. Lead banks for other districts in Rajasthan remain unchanged.

What it means for you

Banks assigned as lead banks for these new districts must now coordinate banking services, financial inclusion, and government scheme implementation in those areas. This may require setting up new branches or expanding operations. Other banks operating in these districts should align with the lead bank's plans.

What you must do

If your bank is assigned as lead bank for a new district, prepare to take on coordination and reporting responsibilities.
Review the list of new districts and ensure your bank's branch network aligns with the lead bank's role.
Collaborate with district authorities and other banks to ensure smooth financial inclusion and credit delivery.
Update internal records and regulatory filings to reflect the new district boundaries and lead bank assignments.

Who it affects

Lead banks assigned to new districts: PNB, SBI, BoB, UCO Bank, ICICI Bank, All banks operating in Rajasthan's new districts, Rajasthan state government and district administrations, Customers and businesses in the newly formed districts

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

Stated effective date effective from August 7, 2023
Decoded by BankPulse 2026-06-18 04:10 IST

Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).

Which banks have been assigned as lead banks for the new districts?

Punjab National Bank gets 6 districts, State Bank of India 4, Bank of Baroda 4, UCO Bank 3, and ICICI Bank 2. Specific districts are listed in the RBI circular.

Do existing lead bank assignments in Rajasthan change?

No. The circular explicitly states there is no change in lead banks for other districts in Rajasthan.

When did these new districts become effective?

The Rajasthan government's notification took effect from August 7, 2023. RBI's lead bank assignment was issued on November 10, 2023.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI

RBI/2023-24/82
 FIDD.CO.LBS.BC. No.11/02.08.001/2023-24
 November 10, 2023
 The Chairman / Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer
 Lead Banks Concerned 
 Madam/ Dear Sir,
 Formation of new districts in the State of Rajasthan –
 Assignment of Lead Bank Responsibility 
 The Government of Rajasthan has notified formation of 19 new districts in the state of Rajasthan vide Gazette Notifications No.9 (18) Raj-1/2022 (1-14) dated August 5, 2023 (effective from August 7, 2023). Accordingly, it has been decided to designate Lead Banks of the new districts as below:
 Sr. No.

Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2023-24/82 · issued 10 Nov 2023. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.

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Who does what — compliance checklist

🏦 Branch Manager

Review the list of new districts and ensure your bank's branch network aligns with the lead bank's role.

📜 Compliance

If your bank is assigned as lead bank for a new district, prepare to take on coordination and reporting responsibilities.
Collaborate with district authorities and other banks to ensure smooth financial inclusion and credit delivery.
Update internal records and regulatory filings to reflect the new district boundaries and lead bank assignments.

Grouped from the action items above — a single circular may involve more than one team.

Worked example & action-note template

Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (Lead banks assigned to new districts: PNB, SBI, BoB, UCO Bank, ICICI Bank, All banks operating in Rajasthan's new districts, Rajasthan state government and district administrations, Customers and businesses in the newly formed districts), your first concrete step on “RBI Assigns Lead Banks for 19 New Rajasthan Districts” is: “If your bank is assigned as lead bank for a new district, prepare to take on coordination and reporting responsibilities.” (RBI issued this 10 Nov 2023).

Circular: RBI/2023-24/82 -- RBI Assigns Lead Banks for 19 New Rajasthan Districts
Issued: 10 Nov 2023
Action required: If your bank is assigned as lead bank for a new district, prepare to take on coordination and reporting responsibilities.
Action required: Review the list of new districts and ensure your bank's branch network aligns with the lead bank's role.
Action required: Collaborate with district authorities and other banks to ensure smooth financial inclusion and credit delivery.
Action required: Update internal records and regulatory filings to reflect the new district boundaries and lead bank assignments.
Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
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 03 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=12564&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.