**Summary:**
This Reserve Bank of India (RBI) circular, reference number RBI/2022-23/109 DOR.AUT.REC.6222/01.001/2022-23 dated August 22, 2022, addresses the Branch Authorisation Policy under Section 23 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, specifically concerning Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected districts. The circular is directed to all Domestic Scheduled Commercial Banks, excluding Regional Rural Banks, Payments Banks, and Local Area Banks.
The circular revises the list of LWE-affected districts, reducing the number from 90 (as per the circular DBR.No.BAPD.BC.11/22.01.001/2017-18 dated June 14, 2018) to 70, based on a recent Government of India notification. Banks are instructed to adhere to this updated list, effective immediately from the date of the circular.
The annexure to the circular provides the revised list of 70 LWE-affected districts, spanning across the states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana and West Bengal.
Prakash Baliarsingh, Chief General Manager, is the contact person for this circular.
Key Entities Referenced
Reserve Bank of India: The central bank of India, which issued this circular.
Banking Regulation Act, 1949: An act of the Parliament of India to regulate banking companies in India.
Branch Authorisation Policy: Policy related to authorization of bank branches.
Left Wing Extremism: Refers to districts affected by left-wing extremist activities.
Prakash Baliarsingh: Chief General Manager at Reserve Bank of India.
Andhra Pradesh: A state in India with districts affected by LWE.
Chhattisgarh: A state in India with districts affected by LWE.
Odisha: A state in India with districts affected by LWE.
भारतीय �रज़व� ब�क
RESERVE BANK OF INDIA
RBI/2022-23/109
DOR.AUT.REC.62/22.01.001/2022-23 August 22, 2022
All Domestic Scheduled Commercial Banks
(excluding Regional Rural Banks, Payments Banks and Local Area Banks)
Madam/Dear Sir,
Section 23 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 – Branch Authorisation Policy –
Left Wing Extremism affected districts – Revised List
Please refer to our circular on ‘Rationalisation of Branch Authorisation Policy-Revision of
Guidelines’ DBR.No.BAPD.BC.69/22.01.001/2016-17 dated May 18, 2017. As per paragraph
4.2 (c) of the circular, a list of 90 Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected districts in the country
was issued vide our Circular DBR.No.BAPD.BC.111/22.01.001/2017-18 dated June 14, 2018,
based on Government of India’s notification issued in April 2018.
2. The Government of India has further reduced the list of LWE affected district to 70. The
banks are advised to follow the revised list (effective from the date of this circular) as annexed
herewith.
Yours faithfully,
(Prakash Baliarsingh)
Chief General Manager
Encl: As aboveANNEX
List of LWE districts
Andhra Pradesh Jharkhand (contd.) Odisha (Contd.)
1.East Godavari 34.East Singhbhum 62.Rayagada
2.Srikakulam 35.Garhwa 63.Sundergarh
3.Visakhapatnam
36.Giridih
4.Vizianagram
37.Gumla Telangana
5.West Godavari
38.Hazaribagh
64.Adilabad
Bihar 39.Khunti
65.Bhadradri-Kothagudem
40.Latehar
66.Jayashankar-Bhupalpally
6.Aurangabad 41.Lohardaga
67.Komaram-Bheem
7.Banka 42.Palamu
68.Mancherial
8.Gaya 43.Ranchi
69.Mulugu
9.Jamui 44.Saraikela-Kharaswan
10.Kaimur 45.West Singhbhum
West Bengal
11.Lakhisarai
12.Munger
Kerala 70.Jhargram
13.Nawada
14.Rohtas 46.Malappuram
15.West Champaran 47.Palakkad
48.Wayanad
Chhattisgarh
Madhya Pradesh
16.Balrampur
17.Bastar 49.Balaghat
18.Bijapur 50.Mandla
19.Dantewada 51.Dindori
20.Dhamtari
21.Gariyaband Maharashtra
22.Kanker
52.Gadchiroli
23.Kondagaon
53.Gondia
24.Mahasamund
25.Narayanpur
Odisha
26.Rajnandgaon
27.Sukma
54.Bargarh
28.Kabirdham
55.Bolangir
29.Mungeli
56.Kalahandi
57.Kandhamal
Jharkhand
58.Koraput
59.Malkangiri
30.Bokaro
60.Nabrangpur
31.Chatra
61.Nuapada
32.Dhanbad
33.Dumka