Non-performing assets in Indian Banks: This time it is different

Sengupta, Rajeswari and Vardhan, Harsh (2017): Non-performing assets in Indian Banks: This time it is different. Published in: Economic and Political Weekly , Vol. 52, No. Issue No. 12 (25 March 2017): pp. 85-95.

Abstract

Growing non-performing assets is a recurrent problem in the Indian banking sector. Over the past two decades, there have been two such episodes when the banking sector was severely impaired by balance sheet problems. In this paper we do a comparative analysis of the two banking crisis episodes-the one in the late 1990s and one that started in the aftermath of the 2008 Global Financial Crisis and is yet to be resolved. We describe the macroeconomic and banking environment preceding the episodes, the degree and nature of the crises and also discuss the policy responses that have been undertaken. We conclude by drawing policy lessons from this discussion and suggest some measures that can be adopted to better deal with a future balance sheet related crisis in the banking sector such that the impact on the real economy is minimal.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Non-performing assets, Public-sector banks, Capital adequacy, Bank recapitalisation, Balance-sheet crisis.
• Subjects: E - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics > E4 - Money and Interest Rates > E44 - Financial Markets and the Macroeconomy; G - Financial Economics > G2 - Financial Institutions and Services > G21 - Banks ; Depository Institutions ; Micro Finance Institutions ; Mortgages; G - Financial Economics > G2 - Financial Institutions and Services > G28 - Government Policy and Regulation

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