A Nice Round Figure

A Nice Round Figure THE Reserve Bank, it is well known, has been averse to sitting quantitative targets for banks, whether in respect of sectoral allocation of credit, or expansion of advances to 'priority' sectors or multiplication of hank branches. Why their has it decided to come nut with a "perspective plan for commercial banks branch expansion" calling for the opening of 5,000 new bank branches during the three years, 1972-74? Is this "perspective plan" the .Reserve Bank's res- ponse to the growing feeling that the progress of banking is loosing the thrust and momentum of the early post-nationalisation period?