File picture of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis
| Photo Credit: ANI

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday (May 19, 2025) slammed the State Level Bankers’ Committee during the Maharashtra chapter’s 167th meeting, over credit to farmers, and issued a strict warning to them.

Urging the SLBC to take action against all those bank branches that continue to seek CIBIL scores from the farmers, he said that the practice continues in the State despite previous FIRs in the matter and despite clear-cut RBI (Reserve Bank of India) guidelines on it. He also asked the nationalised banks to take special efforts to increase the loan disbursal amount for farmers in this financial year.

“Provide loans to the farmers without the condition of CIBIL score. If credit is not provided to farmers, it has repercussions on the economy and it leads to farmers’ suicides. This meeting should urgently find a solution to it. The government has previously registered FIRs against the banks that have sought CIBIL scores from the farmers. But you need to take this issue seriously now. The Reserve Bank of India has also given clear guidelines about farm loans. You all should decide in this meeting today that strict action will be taken against such branches that seek CIBIL score from farmers,” Mr. Fadnavis said.

The credit draft of ₹44,76,804 lakh crore for the financial year 2025-26 for the State was also approved in the meeting on Monday.

CIBIL score is the record of a borrower’s credit history, which is used to assess the capability of repayment of the borrowed money.

“The State does not face drought situation this year. The crop production will be good. The meteorological department has given a forecast of good monsoon. All the nationalised banks should pay attention towards increasing credit to the farmers. Agriculture is an important part of the State’s economy. It cannot be ignored,” the CM said.

Maharashtra a half trillion economy

Maharashtra has already crossed the half trillion dollar economy mark, he said, appealing to the banks that their role will be crucial in taking the State towards a one trillion dollar economy. “Maharashtra is the capital of start-ups. Banks should pay attention to them as well. They will lead to substantial employment generation in the State,” he said.

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that the banks should provide special attention to women entrepreneurs.