RBI notification: Reserve Bank of India (Rural Co-operative Banks – Know Your Customer) Amendment Directions, 2026
Rural Development
29 policy documents tracked in this sector, plus 23 related analysis, announcements and news items
Policy Type Breakdown
Top Sources
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Constitutional foundations
Full policy history →Where this sector's policy story begins — in the Constituent Assembly, 1946–1949.
Village panchayats as units of self-government
Article 40 is the constitutional seed of the 73rd Amendment (1992), which made three-tier Panchayati Raj mandatory, and of today's rural governance stack — Gram Sabhas, MGNREGA social audits and Finance Commission grants to panchayats. Read the debate →
Scheduled Areas and tribal administration
The Fifth and Sixth Schedules underpin today's tribal policy — PESA (1996) extending panchayats to Scheduled Areas, the Forest Rights Act 2006, and the continuing autonomy demands of Sixth Schedule councils in the Northeast and Ladakh. Read the debate →
Policy documents 29
Acts, rules, notifications, schemes and budgets in force
RBI notification: Reserve Bank of India (Regional Rural Banks – Know Your Customer) Amendment Directions, 2026
Rs 24,000 crore scheme for comprehensive development of 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) covering 22,000 villages. Provides housing, safe water, electricity, roads, mobile connectivity, and livelihood support.
Comprehensive development programme for villages along the northern border including those in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Ladakh. Provides infrastructure, livelihood, and tourism development to counter depopulation.
Mission to develop and rejuvenate 75 water bodies in each district totalling approximately 50,000 Amrit Sarovars across the country as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. Focus on community participation and convergence of schemes.
Rs 20,050 crore flagship scheme for sustainable and responsible development of fisheries sector. Aims to enhance fish production by 70 lakh tonnes, generate 55 lakh employment opportunities, and double fisheries exports.
Flagship programme to provide functional household tap water connections to every rural household by 2024. From 3.23 crore connections in 2019 to over 14 crore connections, transforming rural water supply infrastructure.
Universal household electrification scheme to provide electricity connections to all willing un-electrified households in rural and urban areas. Achieved near-universal household electrification by March 2019.
Provides free LPG connections to women from Below Poverty Line households to replace unclean cooking fuels. Over 10 crore connections released, significantly reducing indoor air pollution and health risks for rural women.
Project to connect all 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats with broadband through optical fibre, providing 100 Mbps connectivity. Critical digital infrastructure backbone for rural India's internet connectivity.
Comprehensive housing scheme targeting construction of 2 crore houses in urban areas and 2.95 crore in rural areas by 2024. Provides interest subsidy on home loans and direct assistance for house construction.
Nationwide campaign to eliminate open defecation and improve solid waste management. Built over 11 crore toilets in rural and urban areas and declared India open-defecation free by October 2019.
Replaced the colonial Land Acquisition Act of 1894 with provisions for fair compensation (2-4x market value), mandatory consent of landowners, social impact assessment, and rehabilitation of displaced families.
Replaced the colonial-era Land Acquisition Act of 1894. Required consent of 80% of landowners for private projects and 70% for PPP projects, social impact assessment, enhanced compensation (2-4x market value), and mandatory rehabilitation.
Centrally sponsored scheme to strengthen Panchayati Raj institutions by building capacities of elected representatives and functionaries. Aimed to improve local governance, accountability, and devolution of powers to gram panchayats.
Restructured poverty alleviation programme replacing SGSY to reduce rural poverty through self-managed Self Help Groups (SHGs). Mobilised over 9 crore women into 83 lakh SHGs with bank linkages for sustainable livelihoods.
Central Act enacted 2009-01-07. Full text on India Code (indiacode.nic.in).
Central Act enacted 2007-05-11. Full text on India Code (indiacode.nic.in).
Guarantees 100 days of wage employment per year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer for unskilled manual work. The world's largest work guarantee programme, covering over 700 districts.
Guaranteed 100 days of wage employment per year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. The world's largest public works programme, providing a social safety net to millions. Later renamed MGNREGA.
Comprehensive healthcare initiative to provide accessible, affordable and quality healthcare to rural populations, especially vulnerable groups. Introduced ASHA workers at the village level across India.
Major health sector initiative to provide accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare to rural populations. Introduced ASHA workers, strengthened sub-centres and PHCs, and focused on maternal and child health. Later subsumed into National Health Mission.
Expansion of the rural roads programme to provide all-weather connectivity to unconnected habitations with population of 500+ in plain areas and 250+ in hilly and tribal areas.
Launched to provide all-weather road connectivity to unconnected habitations with population of 500+ (250+ in hilly/tribal areas). Connected over 1.7 lakh habitations, transforming rural access to markets, healthcare, and education.
Campaign to eradicate open defecation through construction of individual household latrines, community sanitary complexes, and school sanitation. Predecessor to Swachh Bharat Mission. Introduced Nirmal Gram Puraskar awards.
Central Act enacted 1996-12-24. Full text on India Code (indiacode.nic.in).
Flagship rural housing programme providing financial assistance for construction of houses to BPL families in rural areas. Predecessor to PM Awas Yojana (Gramin). Provided pucca houses to millions of rural families.
Central Act enacted 1994-04-23. Full text on India Code (indiacode.nic.in).
Constitutional amendment that gave constitutional status to Panchayati Raj institutions, mandating regular elections, reservation for SC/ST and women (one-third), and devolution of powers to local self-government bodies across rural India.
Analysis & research 8
Reports, briefs and long reads
SIAM data shows passenger vehicle sales rose 36.5% and two-wheeler sales grew 10.5% in August 2026, marking the highest-ever August sales. Three-wheeler sales also rose 22.8%, supported by strong rural demand and improving financing conditions.
DoRD and PFRDA have signed an MoU to deploy 'Pension Sakhis' who will expand pension awareness and enrolment in rural India. The initiative leverages the DAY-NRLM network to reach Self Help Group members and underserved rural households.
Coir is evolving from a traditional rural livelihood into a value-added industry, creating opportunities in handicrafts, agriculture, manufacturing and sustainable products.
https://youtu.be/TAjrwzNZywc?si=u_mZb3Cw4C6qOt0D I have been harvesting mahua flowers in Dhipa Toli, Jharkhand, for the past 50 years. Our mahua trees are older than some of the residents in our small village, and have been passed down within families over generations. Traditionally, we have collected mahua through controlled burning of fallen leaves. This would separate them from the flowers, making it easier to pick the flowers. However, as the trees age, we are worried about the decline in th
“I understand my village,” a woman sarpanch in Sehore district told us. “But whenever the discussion turns to budgets, rules, or government procedures, I have to depend on the [village] secretary.” Her statement captures one of the central dilemmas of the panchayati raj today. The sarpanch was not inexperienced. She was the only woman in her community to have studied up to Class XII. For more than a decade, she had managed the mid-day meal programme through her self-help group (SHG). She had str
The Reserve Bank of India has been regularly conducting Rural Consumer Confidence Survey (RCCS). The September 2026 round of the survey is being launched. The survey collects current perceptions and one year ahead expectations of households on general economic situation, employment scenario, overall price situation, own income and spending from the households residing in the rural and semi-urban areas across 31 states/ UTs viz., Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa,
Health researchers argue that factors such as where we are, who we are with, and how we feel play a crucial role in our experience of pain, which therefore has a direct impact on our well-being. While clinical medicine often ignores these factors, palliative care recognises that pain perception is directly connected to the psychological and social conditions of a person. As a specialised care model, it brings together doctors, psychologists, nurses, physiotherapists, allied health professionals,
Indian Railways’ One Station One Product scheme has generated approximately US$ 17.21 million in sales, connecting local artisans and small producers with passengers through more than 2,300 outlets across over 2,000 railway stations.
Announcements 8
Official press releases
Government of India press release: Ministry of Panchayati Raj to undertake cleanliness drive and disposal of pending matters on 14 October 2026 under Special Campaign 6.0
The Reserve Bank of India today released on its website the results of the following Surveys: Urban Consumer Confidence Survey (UCCS) – September 2026 Inflation Expectations Survey of Households (IESH) – September 2026 Rural Consumer Confidence Survey (RCCS) – September 2026 Survey of Professional Forecasters on Macroeconomic Indicators–Results of the 102nd Round1 Order Books, Inventories and Capacity Utilisation Survey on the Manufacturing sector for Q1:2026-27 Industria
Consumer Awareness Program at Kinnaur (Himachal Pradesh) by Indian Institute Of Technology & Entrepreneur Development (IITED), Himachal Pradesh nitinkumar Mon, 10/05/2026 - 12:08 Date Sun, 10/11/2026 - 12:00 District Kinnaur Division Consumer Affairs Date & Time Sun, 10/11/2026 - 11:00 Programme Category CAP by CAG's Event Status In progress Contact Person Name Dr. R.D. Usmani Contact person Email iited_mngo@rediffmail.com Event Category COP By TRAI Venue Details Panchayat Hall, Village-
Data on lending and deposit rates of scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) (excluding regional rural banks and small finance banks) received during September 2026 are set out in Tables 1 to 9. Highlights: Lending Rates: The weighted average lending rate (WALR) on outstanding rupee loans of SCBs declined marginally to 8.96 per cent in August 2026 from 8.97 per cent in July 2026. The WALR on fresh rupee loans of SCBs stood at 8.61 per cent in August 2026 (8.52 per cent in July 2026). 1-Year median Mar
NITI Aayog organises National Workshop on “Viksit Panchayat: Connecting People, Places, Resources and Opportunities”- an initiative under NITI Aayog’s State Support Mission (SSM) niti_admin Tue, 09/29/2026 - 20:21 Publishing Date Tue, 09/29/2026 - 12:00 Release Link https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2316563®=48&lang=1
Consumer Awareness Program at Siddharthnagar (Uttar Pradesh) by Rural Consumer's Federation nitinkumar Thu, 09/24/2026 - 11:59 Date Tue, 09/29/2026 - 12:00 District Siddharthnagar Division Consumer Affairs Date & Time Tue, 09/29/2026 - 11:00 Programme Category CAP by CAG's Event Status In progress Contact Person Name Naveen Kumar Dixit Contact person Email nk5039@gmail.com Event Category COP By TRAI Venue Details Government ITI Dumuriyaganj, Block Dumuriyaganj, Event From Consumer Awareness
Consumer Awareness Program at Palamu (Jharkhand) by Prerna Rural Development Society nitinkumar Thu, 09/10/2026 - 18:30 Date Tue, 09/15/2026 - 12:00 District Palamu Division Consumer Affairs Date & Time Tue, 09/15/2026 - 13:00 Programme Category CAP by CAG's Event Status In progress Contact Person Name Sahdeo Mahto Contact person Email sahdeoprdsngo@gmail.com Event Category COP By TRAI Venue Details High School Kasturwa Gandhi , Palamu, Jharkhand Event From Consumer Awareness ( In House ) Co
Consumer Awareness Program at Majuli (Assam) by Gram Vikas Parishad nitinkumar Mon, 09/07/2026 - 11:59 Date Tue, 09/15/2026 - 12:00 District Majuli Division Consumer Affairs Date & Time Tue, 09/15/2026 - 12:00 Programme Category CAP by CAG's Event Status In progress Contact Person Name Madhurjya Bora Contact person Email gramvikasparishad@gmail.com Event Category COP By TRAI Venue Details Majuli Auniati Hemchandra Higher Secondary School”, Vill. & PO: Kamalabari, Dist: Majuli (Assam), PI
News coverage 7
Journalism about this sector — not policy documents
The community had not secured reservation in either the zilla or taluk panchayat in the constituency for the past 35 years, resulting in social and political injustice, he alleges
It has been organising food festivals featuring dishes made using millets, tubers, and various kinds of leaves in wards and panchayats for the past month
The voluntary, non-political initiative has been launched by the Haryana Professional Forum and Jind Social Forum, a network of volunteers with roots in Haryana
The initiative has also trained over 90,000 farmers, strengthened more than 154,000 livelihoods and promoted improved agricultural practices across over 171,000 hectares of farmland
The Supreme Court has recently directed the University Grants Commission (UGC) and all regulatory authorities to issue public advisories asking people to verify educational institutions before taking admission. [Ayesha Jain v. Amity University, Noida and Others].A Bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and NV Anjaria passed the direction after taking note of an Indian Express report about a fake medical college operating from a dilapidated farmhouse in Mahmoodpur Nagaria village in Uttar Pradesh
SEIL Energy India invested ₹1.56 crore in a 10-km water pumping project expected to improve drinking water access for nearly 10,000 people across five villages affected by salinity.