New Delhi, Feb. 14 -- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday released draft revised guidelines for the Lead Bank Scheme (LBS), inviting public comments until March 6, 2026.

The move follows its February 6 policy statement indicating that updated norms would be issued to streamline the scheme's operational framework.

Launched in 1969, the LBS is designed to coordinate banks, government departments and development agencies at the district level to enhance credit flow to priority sectors and strengthen financial inclusion.

The proposed revisions seek to refine the scheme's objectives, restructure and clarify the functioning of various LBS fora, clearly define roles and responsibilities of key functionaries, and strengthen State Level B...