sDQI Rises to 90.9 for Scheduled Commercial Banks
Why in the news
Data that Indian banks file with the regulator got better in the December 2025 round of the Supervisory Data Quality Index. Accuracy and consistency gained, while completeness and timeliness lost ground.
Key facts
- All scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) together: 90.9 in December 2025 versus 90.7 three months earlier.
- Small Finance Banks topped the chart at 91.9, with full marks on accuracy and consistency.
- Public sector banks were the lone decliner: 91, down from 91.1.
- The system-wide pattern: banks report correct figures, but the full set of data often reaches the RBI late.
| Bank group | Latest sDQI | Movement |
|---|---|---|
| Small Finance Banks | 91.9 | Best performer |
| Public sector banks | 91 | Fell from 91.1 |
| Foreign banks | 90.7 | Improved |
| Private sector banks | 90.6 | Unchanged |
| All SCBs | 90.9 | Up from 90.7 |
About sDQI
- A scoring framework set up by the RBI to judge how dependable the returns submitted by banks are.
- Reliable data lets the supervisor oversee banks effectively and spot system-wide risks early.
- Four pillars: accuracy (no errors), timeliness (meeting deadlines), completeness (no missing fields or reports) and consistency (uniform across reports and periods).
- SCBs are banks in the Second Schedule of the RBI Act, 1934: public, private, foreign and small finance banks.
Concerns
- The PSB dip was linked to weak completeness and timeliness, hinting at procedural delays in filing.
Exam angle
- Index owner: the RBI; it measures quality of supervisory returns from banks.
- Highest scorer: Small Finance Banks (91.9); only decliner: public sector banks.
- Know the four parameters and which two improved and which two worsened.