NCSC push: banks to report SC beneficiaries under Mudra, PMEGP
Why in the news
Following an intervention by the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), the Department of Financial Services (DFS) has made it compulsory for bankers’ committees to report how many Scheduled Caste (SC) people benefit from key credit schemes. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment shared the update on 7 October 2026.
Key facts
- NCSC letter: Secretary Vivek Kumar Dewangan wrote to the DFS Secretary on 24 September 2026, flagging that SC beneficiary data was missing from SLBC reports.
- DFS directions: issued on 5 October 2026 to all SLBC/UTLBC convenors in States and Union Territories.
- Reporting format: scheme-wise and bank-wise number and share of SC beneficiaries.
- Deadlines: action-taken reports by 9 October 2026; updates every 30 days.
- Constitutional basis: Article 338(5)(c), which lets NCSC evaluate the socio-economic progress of SCs.
Schemes covered
| Scheme | Short form |
|---|---|
| Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana | PMMY |
| Stand-Up India | – |
| Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme | PMEGP |
| PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi | PM SVANidhi |
| Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises | CGTMSE |
| MSME business loans | – |
About NCSC
NCSC is a constitutional body set up under Article 338. Clause 5(c) of that Article empowers it to take part in and advise on planning for SC development and to evaluate their progress. The new reporting aims to improve transparency in financial inclusion and let the Commission judge SC progress using existing banking data.
Exam angle
- NCSC is a constitutional body under Article 338.
- SLBC = State Level Bankers’ Committee; UTLBC = Union Territory-Level Bankers’ Committee.
- DFS functions under the Ministry of Finance.