Solution

The Narasimham-II Committee was tasked with the progress review of the implementation of the banking reforms since 1992 with the aim of further strengthening the financial institutions of India. It focussed on issues like size of banks and capital adequacy ratio among other things. First Narasimhan Committee (Committee on the Financial System – CFS) was appointed by Manmohan Singh as India's Finance Minister on 14 August 1991, and the second one (Committee on Banking Sector Reforms) was appointed by P.Chidambaram as Finance Minister in December 1997. With amalgamation announcement, the government is moving closer to implementing the Narasimham Committee (1998) recommendation on structural reforms. The committee recommended the merger of Indian banks as it will have a "multiplier effect" on the economy. The Government of India has majority stakes in 21 public sector banks and owns more than two-thirds of banking assets in India. Having several government-owned Banks, doing the same business, and competing for same customers is not sensible. It also meant a lower return on the capital employed by the government which has competing demands for funds, and growing competition.