Status check: Banks are yet to build up a robust 'Covid loan book'

Banks are yet to actively tap into the Rs 50,000-crore special liquidity window offered by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for the health sector, as well as the Rs 15,000-crore window for the contact intensive sectors such as hotels and tourism.

The RBI came up with the scheme on May 7, mainly for the health sector. It subsequently increased the amount to include contact intensive sectors to ease the hardship. Banks were allowed to include the lending amount, termed ‘Covid book’ in their priority sector obligation. The RBI had said banks can park an equivalent amount of their Covid loan