Government announcement comes hours after RBI raises concern over delay in appointment

Coincidentally, hours before the government announced the process, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Deputy Governor S S Mundra expressed concern about the delay in the appointment process and urged the finance ministry to expedite the process.

"Certainly, I am deeply worried. Three large public sector banks which fall under the category of the top four banks, are without heads. Leadership matters in our organisation for policy direction," news agency PTI reported quoting Mundra who was speaking on the sidelines of an investors' conference.

"From the RBI side also, these concerns are flagged to the government in its capacity as owner, to hasten the process and see that these appointments are done as early as possible," Mundra added.

The government is also yet to appoint a chief executive in Syndicate Bank which is vacant since August after its chairman and managing director, S K Jain was suspended after his arrest in an alleged graft case.