Parliament Question: Opening of New Bank Branches in Bargarh and Jharsuguda Districts of Odisha

**Executive Summary** This document is an answer to Unstarred Question No. 1250 in the Lok Sabha regarding the opening of new bank branches in the Bargarh and Jharsuguda Districts of Odisha. The Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance responded on December 8, 2025, stating that the government aims to ensure a banking outlet within 5 km of every inhabited village. The progress of banking infrastructure is monitored via the Jan Dhan Darshak (JDD) App, with data current as of October 31, 2025. **Key Points / Main Content** * **Government's Objective:** * To ensure the availability of a banking outlet (Bank branch / BC / India Post Payments Bank) within 5 kilometers of all inhabited villages in the country. * **Monitoring and Data:** * Availability of banking outlets is monitored using the Geographic Information System (GIS) based Jan Dhan Darshak (JDD) App. * As of October 31, 2025, 99.91% of villages in the country are covered with banking outlets within a 5 km radius, according to data uploaded by banks on the JDD App. * As per JDD app, as on 31.10.2025, all the inhabited villages of Bargarh and Jharsuguda Districts of Odisha are covered by a Banking Outlet within 5 Km radius. * **RBI Guidelines and Bank Actions:** * Rolling out banking outlets in uncovered areas is a continuous process managed by the State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC)/ Union Territory Level Bankers Committee (UTLBC) in consultation with State Governments, member banks, and stakeholders, as per RBI guidelines. * Banks consider proposals for opening banking outlets based on RBI instructions, business plans, and commercial viability, and they conduct surveys to assess viability. * Data for such proposals are not maintained centrally. * **Banking Infrastructure Progress (as of Oct 2025):** * Bargarh District: 212 Branches, 1,393 BCs, 186 ATMs, 281 IPPBs * Jharsuguda District: 113 Branches, 342 BCs, 140 ATMs, 92 IPPBs * Odisha State: 6,411 Branches, 36,081 BCs, 7,187 ATMs, 9,051 IPPBs **Impact Analysis** **Banks** * **Impact** * Banks need to consider proposals for opening banking outlets based on RBI instructions, business plans, and commercial viability. * Banks are required to conduct surveys to assess viability for opening a banking outlet. * Banks must upload the data onto the JDD App * **Action Required** * Assess the need for new banking outlets and align with RBI's guidelines and commercial viability. * Conduct surveys to determine the viability of opening new outlets. * Upload data onto JDD App. **State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC)/ Union Territory Level Bankers Committee (UTLBC)** * **Impact** * Responsible for overseeing the continuous process of rolling out banking outlets in uncovered areas. * **Action Required** * Monitor the progress of banking outlets and collaborate with State Governments, member banks, and other stakeholders to determine the best course of action for each area. **State Government** * **Impact** * To improve financial inclusion and access to banking facilities, especially in rural and semi-urban areas. * **Action Required** * Continue the endeavor of ensuring availability of banking outlet within 5 kilometres of all inhabited villages. **Ministry of Finance** * **Impact** * Required to provide clarity and visibility of coverage across the country * **Action Required** * Continue to monitor the progress, and make any necessary changes or interventions where availability is low.

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