Banks Board Bureau (BBB): Composition, Functions & More| UPSC Notes

The Banks Board Bureau (BBB) was set up in 2016 as an autonomous body responsible for selecting and recommending appointments of whole-time Directors and Chairpersons of Public Sector Banks (PSBs), Public Sector Insurance Companies (PSICs), and Financial Institutions (FIs) in India. It aimed to bring about a more streamlined and professional approach to leadership selection in these institutions.

Banks Board Bureau UPSC is one of the most important topics for UPSC IAS Examination and it falls under the General Studies Paper 1 (preliminary) and General Studies Paper 3 (Mains) under the Indian Economy Section.

In this article on the Bank Board Bureau UPSC, we shall discuss its overview, composition and aims/functions in detail. This will be very useful for aspirants in UPSC Prelims Exam.

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What is Banks Board Bureau (BBB)?

The Banks Board Bureau (BBB) is an autonomous body in India. It was established in 2016 by the Government of India. BBB's primary purpose is to improve the governance of public sector banks. It plays a crucial role in recommending appointments to top leadership positions in these banks. BBB aims to enhance the efficiency and performance of public sector banks. It recommends candidates for the positions of CEOs, executive directors, and non-executive chairpersons. The bureau also assesses the performance of bank executives and formulates strategies for their development. Overall, the Banks Board Bureau focuses on transforming the banking sector to meet contemporary challenges and improve its competitiveness.

History of Bank Board Bureau in India

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. Based on the recommendations of the P.J. Nayak Committee, the Central Government in 2016, constituted the Bank Board Bureau as a part of the seven point ‘Indradhanush Mission’ to overhaul the functioning of the PSBs.

The first chairperson of the BBB which was constituted in February 2016 was the former Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Vinod Rai. It is an autonomous recommendatory body and its headquarters are in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

The Bank Board Bureau functions as a replacement for the erstwhile Appointments Board of the Central Government. It is a ‘public authority’ under the Right to Information Act, 2005.

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Composition of the Bank Board Bureau

It consists of a Chairman and three ex-officio members. These ex-officio members are the Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises, Secretary of the Department of Financial Services and Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India. It also includes five expert members out of which, two are selected from the private sector.

In August 2015, the Union Government introduced the Banks Board Bureau (BBB) based on recommendations from the Nayak committee, as part of the Indradhanush Mission to revamp Public Sector Banks (PSBs). Located in Mumbai, Maharashtra, the first Banks Board Bureau was established in February 2016, with former Comptroller & Auditor General Vinod Rai as its chairman.

BBB replaced the previous Government Appointments Board and was intended to usher in a new era of governance and business strategies for state-owned banks, making them competitive with their private sector counterparts.

The Banks Board Bureau is composed of a chairman, three ex-officio members (including 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), and five expert members, two of whom come from the private sector.

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Functions of the Bank Board Bureau

The primary function of the BBB is to give recommendations for appointment of full-time directors and also the non-executive chairpersons of both the Public Sector Banks (PSBs) as well as the state-owned financial institutions.

• It also gives recommendations for the appointment of directors in government-owned insurance companies.
• The final decision on the appointments is taken by the Ministry of Finance in consultation with the Prime Minister’s Office.
• With the help of BBB, it is envisioned to improve the functioning of Public Sector Banks and State-Owned Banks and make them comparable to their private counterparts.
• It also 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 is done to generate funds through various financial methods and also to cope up with stressed assets.
• It also has the responsibility to enhance the corporate governance of public sector banks and also ensure their capacity building.
• 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’.

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Criticisms Faced by the Banks Board Bureau

Critics argue that the BBB has had limited success in achieving its objectives of improving governance and efficiency in PSBs. They contend that several governance issues persist in these banks, casting doubts on the effectiveness of the BBB's recommendations.

Some critics raise concerns about the influence of the government in the functioning of the BBB. They argue that the final decision-making power on appointments and reforms ultimately lies with the government.

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Dissolution of the Banks Board Bureau (BBB)

In 2021, a Delhi High Court order 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. Following the court order, several directors appointed by the BBB resigned. This created uncertainty and instability in leadership positions.

The government felt a new approach was needed to address the concerns raised about the BBB's functioning and effectiveness. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) dissolved the BBB in 2021.

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Financial Services and Institutions Bureau (FSIB)

The Financial Services and Institutions Bureau (FSIB) was set up in 2021 to replace the dissolved BBB. It aims to build upon the BBB's objectives while addressing the concerns raised.

Key Functions of the FSIB

The FSIB inherits most of the functions of the BBB. This includes advising the government on appointments, developing a data bank, and promoting good governance practices. The FSIB emphasizes domain expertise in its composition, aiming to avoid the legal challenges faced by the BBB. The FSIB works in conjunction with a Search and Selection Committee (SSC) for shortlisting candidates for leadership positions.

Composition of FSIB

• Chairperson - Appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).
• Members - Domain experts from the financial services and insurance sectors.
• Ex-officio Members - Secretaries from the Department of Financial Services, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), and a representative from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Significance of FSIB

• Ensures a professional and transparent process for leadership selection in PSBs, PSICs, and FIs.
• Aims to attract and retain high-caliber leadership for these institutions, crucial for their growth and performance.
• Promotes good governance practices within the financial services and insurance sectors.

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