Net Sticky Assets Decline By 5.8%

Net non-performing assets (NPAs) as a percentage of net advances of the 27 public sector banks (PSBs) as at March-end 2002 declined to 5.80 per cent compared with 6.74 per cent as at March-end 2001.

In absolute terms, too, the net NPAs declined by Rs 111 crore compared with an increase of Rs 1,803 crore in the previous fiscal.

Gross NPAs as a percentage of gross advances as at March-end 2002 was lower at 11.79 per cent (13.39 per cent as at March-end 2001). In absolute terms, the gross NPAs of the 27 PSBs, however, increased by Rs 1,420 crore in 2001-02 against Rs 1,797 crore in 2000-01.

As on March 31, 2002, gross NPAs of these banks stood at Rs 55,459 crore (Rs 54,039 crore as on March-end 2001), while net NPAs stood at Rs 27,875 crore (Rs 27,986 crore).

Among the 27 PSBs, State Bank of India reported the maximum decline in gross NPAs by Rs 673 crore to Rs 14,800 crore in FY 2001-02, while Punjab National Bank reported the maximum jump in gross NPAs by Rs 679 crore to Rs 4,139 crore in the same period.

Similarly, Indian Bank reported the maximum decline in net NPAs by Rs 145 crore to Rs 805 crore, while Bank of India reported the maximum rise in net NPAs by Rs 166 crore to Rs 2,304 crore.

Gross NPAs as a percentage of gross advances was the maximum in the case of Dena Bank at 24.11 per cent as at March-end 2002 (25.31 per cent as at March-end 2001), while in the case of Corporation Bank, NPAs were the least at 5.19 per cent (5.40 per cent).

Net NPAs as a percentage of net advances was the maximum in the case of Dena Bank at 16.34 per cent (18.37 per cent), while in the case of Corporation Bank it was the least at 2.31 per cent (1.98 per cent).

Recoveries including upgradations and write-offs by the 27 PSBs stood at Rs 13,993 crore against Rs 12,745 crore in the previous year.