Scindia Urges Banks to Expand Credit Access Across Northeast
Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya Scindia has called on banks to play a larger role in supporting the Northeast’s growing economy and creating opportunities at the local level.
Speaking at the North East Bankers’ Conclave 3.0 in Aizawl, Scindia highlighted progress in expanding banking infrastructure across the region. Between December 2024 and March 2026, 131 new bank branches and 126 ATMs were added across the Northeastern states. Of the 9,479 villages identified for connectivity through banking and postal services, 6,905 villages have already been covered, leaving 2,574 villages still to be connected.
The minister also highlighted the need to increase banks’ credit-deposit ratios in several Northeastern states. Targets have been set at 60% for Arunachal Pradesh, 60% for Tripura and 67% for Mizoram, with the objective of keeping more financial resources within the regional economy.
To improve physical access, the minimum population requirement for establishing a brick-and-mortar bank branch in the Northeast has been reduced from 3,000 to 2,000.
Digital banking is also gaining ground, with 90.2% of non-branch transactions in the Northeastern states reportedly conducted through UPI. Scindia urged banks and governments to work together on measurable targets, timelines and actionable recommendations to accelerate financial inclusion and economic development across the region.
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