
The Banks Board Bureau plays a crucial role in the management of state-owned entities in the banking sector. Its primary function is to oversee the appointment of directors and non-executive directors to the boards of these entities.
The Bureau ensures that the appointments are made based on merit and expertise, rather than personal connections or political influence. This helps to promote good governance and accountability in the banking sector.
The Bureau's role in state-owned entity management is to provide strategic guidance and oversight to ensure that these entities operate efficiently and effectively. It does this by setting clear goals and objectives, and monitoring progress towards achieving them.
The Bureau's approach to state-owned entity management is designed to promote transparency and accountability, and to ensure that these entities are managed in the best interests of the public.
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Structure and Function
The Bank Board Bureau (BBB) is a crucial body that plays a significant role in the functioning of Public Sector Banks (PSBs) and State-Owned Banks.

The primary function of the BBB is to give recommendations for the appointment of full-time directors and non-executive chairpersons of PSBs and state-owned financial institutions.
The BBB also provides recommendations for the appointment of directors in government-owned insurance companies, which is a significant step towards improving the governance of these institutions.
The final decision on appointments is taken by the Ministry of Finance in consultation with the Prime Minister’s Office, ensuring a thorough and transparent process.
The BBB holds interactions with the board of directors and other signatories of public sector banks to devise suitable plans for their growth and development.
The BBB's role in enhancing corporate governance and capacity building of public sector banks is critical in dealing with stressed assets and improving their overall performance.
Here are the key functions of the BBB:
- Recommendations for appointment of full-time directors and non-executive chairpersons
- Recommendations for appointment of directors in government-owned insurance companies
- Improving functioning of Public Sector Banks and State-Owned Banks
- Interactions with board of directors and other signatories for growth and development
- Enhancing corporate governance and capacity building
- Guidance on mergers and consolidations, including governance standards
History and Evolution
The Bank Board Bureau was first recommended in May 2014 by the 'Committee to Review Governance of Boards of Banks in India' chaired by P.J. Nayak.

The Central Government constituted the Bank Board Bureau in 2016 as part of the seven-point 'Indradhanush Mission' to overhaul the functioning of the PSBs.
The first chairperson of the BBB was the former Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Vinod Rai, who was appointed in February 2016.
The Bank Board Bureau functions as a replacement for the erstwhile Appointments Board of the Central Government.
It is an autonomous recommendatory body and its headquarters are located in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
The Bank Board Bureau is a 'public authority' under the Right to Information Act, 2005.
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Functions and Responsibilities
The Banks Board Bureau (BBB) plays a crucial role in the functioning of public sector banks and financial institutions. It has been assigned the role of recommending personalities for appointment as directors of government-owned insurance companies.
The BBB also recommends directors for public sector banks and state-owned financial institutions. These recommendations are made to improve the functioning of these institutions and make them comparable to their private counterparts.
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The final decision on appointments is taken by the Ministry of Finance in consultation with the Prime Minister’s Office. This process ensures that the right candidates are appointed to lead these institutions.
The BBB holds interactions with the board of directors and other stakeholders of various public sector banks to devise plans for their growth and development. This includes generating funds through various financial methods and coping with stressed assets.
The BBB is responsible for enhancing the corporate governance of public sector banks and ensuring their capacity building. It also provides guidance on mergers and consolidations, including improving governance standards to deal with bad loans and Non-Performing Assets.
Here are some key functions of the BBB:
- Recommendation of directors for government-owned insurance companies
- Recommendation of directors for public sector banks and state-owned financial institutions
- Improvement of corporate governance and capacity building of public sector banks
- Guidance on mergers and consolidations
Composition
The Banks Board Bureau is composed of a chairman and several members. Bhanu Pratap Sharma is the current chairman of the Banks Board Bureau.
The chairman is assisted by three ex-officio members. These members are the Secretary of the Department of Public Enterprises, the Secretary of the Department of Financial Services, and a Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India.
The Bureau also includes five expert members, two of whom come from the private sector.
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Functions
The Bank Board Bureau (BBB) has a crucial role in the functioning of Public Sector Banks (PSBs) and state-owned financial institutions. It provides recommendations for the appointment of full-time directors and non-executive chairpersons.
The BBB also gives recommendations for the appointment of directors in government-owned insurance companies. This is a key responsibility of the BBB, ensuring that the right people are in the right positions.
The final decision on appointments is taken by the Ministry of Finance in consultation with the Prime Minister's Office. This ensures that the appointments are made with careful consideration and the best interests of the banks in mind.
The BBB's goal is to improve the functioning of PSBs and state-owned banks, making them comparable to their private counterparts. This is a challenging task, but the BBB is well-equipped to handle it.
The BBB holds interactions with the board of directors and other signatories of various public sector banks to devise suitable plans for their growth and development. This involves generating funds through various financial methods and coping with stressed assets.
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The BBB has the responsibility to enhance the corporate governance of public sector banks and ensure their capacity building. This is essential for the long-term success of the banks.
The BBB also provides guidance to banks on their mergers and consolidations, including improving their governance standards to deal with the issue of 'bad loans' and 'Non-Performing Assets'. This is a critical area of focus for the BBB.
Here are some of the key functions of the BBB:
- Provides recommendations for the appointment of full-time directors and non-executive chairpersons.
- Gives recommendations for the appointment of directors in government-owned insurance companies.
- Improves the functioning of Public Sector Banks and State-Owned Banks.
- Enhances corporate governance of public sector banks.
- Provides guidance on mergers and consolidations.
PSB Head Search: Start Soon
The Bank Board Bureau will soon begin the process of selecting managing directors for public sector banks.
Chairman Vinod Rai has confirmed that the selection process will start soon, indicating that the search for new PSB heads is underway.
The government has a good track record of clearing all appointments suggested by the Bank Board Bureau, including non-executive chairpersons for several PSBs.
In the past year, the government has approved all recommendations made by the BBB, showing a commitment to transparency and efficiency in the selection process.
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Criticisms and Dissolution
The Banks Board Bureau has faced its fair share of criticisms, with some arguing that it has had limited success in improving governance and efficiency in public sector banks.
Critics point out that several governance issues persist in these banks, casting doubts on the effectiveness of the BBB's recommendations. The final decision-making power on appointments and reforms ultimately lies with the government, which has raised concerns about the influence of politics in the functioning of the BBB.
The Delhi High Court questioned the legality of the BBB's appointment of a director in a national insurance company, ruling that the BBB lacked the authority to appoint someone less experienced than existing contenders. This led to several directors appointed by the BBB resigning, creating uncertainty and instability in leadership positions.
Criticisms Faced
The Bank Board Bureau (BBB) has faced its fair share of criticisms. One of the main concerns is that the BBB has had limited success in achieving its objectives of improving governance and efficiency in Public Sector Banks (PSBs).

Critics argue that several governance issues persist in these banks, casting doubts on the effectiveness of the BBB's recommendations. The BBB's inability to address these issues effectively has led to skepticism about its ability to drive real change.
Some critics raise concerns about the influence of the government in the functioning of the BBB. The final decision-making power on appointments and reforms ultimately lies with the government, which can undermine the BBB's authority.
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Dissolution of the
The Dissolution of the BBB was a significant event in 2021. The Delhi High Court questioned the legality of the BBB's appointment of a director in a national insurance company.
The court ruled that the BBB lacked the authority to appoint someone less experienced than existing contenders. This led to several directors appointed by the BBB resigning, creating uncertainty and instability in leadership positions.
The government responded by dissolving the BBB in 2021. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) took this step due to concerns about the BBB's functioning and effectiveness.
Expert Involvement and Recommendations

The Banks Board Bureau plays a crucial role in recommending and selecting the heads of public sector banks in India.
The Bureau's recommendations are based on the qualifications, experience, and leadership skills of the candidates.
The Bureau assesses the candidates' ability to lead the banks towards financial stability and growth.
The selected candidates are appointed as chairmen and managing directors of the banks, bringing their expertise to the table.
Recommends Names for State-Owned Entities
The Banks Board Bureau (BBB) has been involved in recommending names for top positions in state-owned banks. They recommended Sanjiv Chadha, L V Prabhakar, and Atanu Kumar Das for the post of managing director and chief executive officer (MD & CEO) of three state-owned lenders.
These recommendations were made for Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, and Bank of India.
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Experts, FinMin Representative
The Bank Board Bureau would consist of experts, along with one representative from the Finance Ministry. This diverse composition is designed to bring a wide range of perspectives to the table.
Having experts on board would provide invaluable guidance on complex banking matters.
The proposed agency would also guide banks on mergers and consolidations, helping to streamline the industry.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the full form of BBB?
The full form of BBB is Banks Board Bureau, an autonomous body in India that oversees public sector banks.
What is the full form of PSBs?
What does PSBs stand for? PSBs stands for Public Sector Banks.
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