National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development

Why in news?

• The National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development announced in the budget would be operational soon, said Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

About National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development:

• The National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development Bill, 2021 was introduced in Lok Sabha in 2021.
• The Bill seeks to establish the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NBFID) as the principal Development Financial Institution (DFIs) for infrastructure financing.
• NBFID will be set up as a corporate body with authorised share capital of one lakh crore rupees.
• Shares of NBFID may be held by:
  • (i) central government, (ii) multilateral institutions, (iii) sovereign wealth funds, (iv) pension funds, (v) insurers, (vi) financial institutions, (vii) banks, and (viii) any other institution prescribed by the central government.
• Initially, the central government will own 100% shares of the institution which may subsequently be reduced up to 26%.

What is a DFI?

• DFIs are set up for providing long-term finance for such segments of the economy where the risks involved are beyond the acceptable limits of commercial banks and other ordinary financial institutions.
• Unlike banks, DFIs do not accept deposits from people.  They source funds from the market, government, as well as multi-lateral institutions, and are often supported through government guarantees.  

Functions of NBFID:

• NBFID will have both financial as well as developmental objectives.
• Financial objectives will be to directly or indirectly lend, invest, or attract investments for infrastructure projects located entirely or partly in India.  Central government will prescribe the sectors to be covered under the infrastructure domain.
• Developmental objectives include facilitating the development of the market for bonds, loans, and derivatives for infrastructure financing.
• Functions of NBFID include:
  • Extending loans and advances for infrastructure projects
  • Taking over or refinancing such existing loans
  • Attracting investment from private sector investors and institutional investors for infrastructure projects
  • Organising and facilitating foreign participation in infrastructure projects
  • Facilitating negotiations with various government authorities for dispute resolution in the field of infrastructure financing
  • Providing consultancy services in infrastructure financing.  

Source of Funds

• NBFID may raise money in the form of loans or otherwise both in Indian rupees and foreign currencies, or secure money by the issue and sale of various financial instruments including bonds and debentures.
• NBFID may borrow money from: (i) central government, (ii) Reserve Bank of India (RBI), (iii) scheduled commercial banks, (iii) mutual funds, and (iv) multilateral institutions such as World Bank and Asian Development Bank.

Management of NBFID:

• NBFID will be governed by a Board of Directors.
• The members of the Board include: (i) the Chairperson appointed by the central government in consultation with RBI, (ii) a Managing Director, (iii) up to three Deputy Managing Directors, (iv) two directors nominated by the central government, (v) up to three directors elected by shareholders, and (vi) a few independent directors

Support from the central government:

• The central government will provide grants worth Rs 5,000 crore to NBFID by the end of the first financial year.
• The government will also provide guarantee at a concessional rate of up to 0.1% for borrowing from multilateral institutions, sovereign wealth funds, and other foreign funds. 

Prior sanction for investigation and prosecution:

• No investigation can be initiated against employees of NBFID without the prior sanction of: (i) the central government in case of the chairperson or other directors, and (ii) the managing director in case of other employees

Other DFIs:

• The Bill also provides for any person to set up a DFI by applying to RBI.  
• RBI may grant a licence for DFI in consultation with the central government.  RBI will also prescribe regulations for these DFIs.

Earlier such institutions:

• IFCI
  • Industrial Finance Corporation of India was established in 1948.
  • It is India's first Development Finance Institution.
• ICICI:
  • Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India Limited was established in the year 1955 by an initiative of the World Bank and was the first DFI in the private sector.
  • ICICI Bank Limited was established in 1944 and in 2002; both were merged together making it the first universal bank of India.
• IDBI:
  • Industrial Development Bank of India was set up in 1964 under RBI and was granted autonomy in 1976.
  • Back then it was responsible for ensuring adequate flow of credit to various sectors and was converted into a universal bank in 2003.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Consider the following statements regarding ‘Development Financial Institutions’:

1. It is set up for providing long-term finance for such segments of the economy where the risks involved are beyond the acceptable limits of commercial banks.

2. Unlike banks, DFIs do not accept deposits from public.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer