In a bid to strengthen capital base of public sector banks (PSBs), the government has allowed 12 lenders to raise nearly Rs.3,000 crore via preferential shares over and above the Rs.22,915 crore capital support committed to them in July last year.

The Finance Ministry granted approval to 12 proposals of PSBs to raise a sum of Rs.2,914.038 crore through preferential allotment and permission given to raise Rs.200 crore by United Bank of India through QIP mode.

The government had already infused a sum of Rs.25,000 crore in 19 PSBs during FY 2015-16.

"A budgetary provision of Rs. 25,000 crore has been made for 2016-17 and the government has already allocated Rs 22,915 crore to 13 PSBs on July 19, 2016 of which 75 per cent has been allocated in first tranche while remaining amount will be released on assessment of performance of PSBs, the Department of Finance in its year-end review for 2016 said today.

As regards consolidation in the banking space, it said, the Union Cabinet in June 2016 had approved the proposal of acquisition of assets and liabilities of subsidiary banks i.e.

State Bank of Bikaner & Jaipur, State Bank of Hyderabad, State Bank of Mysore, State Bank of Patiala, State Bank of Travancore and Bhartiya Mahila Bank (BMB).

With regard to financial inclusion, as many as 26.03 crore accounts have been opened under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), out of which 15.86 crore accounts are in rural areas and 10.17 crore in urban areas.

Deposits of Rs.71,557.90 crore have been mobilised and 19.93 crore RuPay Debit cards have been issued under PMJDY.

Zero balance accounts has been reduced to 23.86 per cent.

Aadhaar seeding has been done in 14.43 crore account under PMJDY, while 99.9 per cent households out of the 21.22 crore households surveyed have been covered under PMJDY.

As on December 23, 2016, out of total requirement of 1,27,198 fixed location 'bank mitras' in sub service areas (SSAs), 1,26,985 'bank mitras' have been deployed by banks.

Out of 1,712 claims lodged, 1,626 claims have been disposed of under accidental insurance cover of Rs 1 lakh under RuPay debit card.

Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) cumulative Gross enrolment reported by banks, subject to verification of eligibility, etc. is over 3.08 crore, while Rs.9.88 crore under Pradhan Mantri Suraksha BimaYojana (PMSBY) as of December 28.

A total of 38.23 lakh subscribers have been enrolled under the Atal Pension Yojana (APY) with a total pension wealth of Rs.1,344.70 crore. Out of the total subscribers, 19.74 lakh subscribers have been enrolled during 2016 (up to December 15, 2016). .