Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has directed banks to align Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) with MSME clusters and expand rural branch networks in cluster areas identified by the MSME ministry. This directive emerged during a Northern Region RRBs review meeting chaired by Sitharaman. She urged RRBs to eliminate duplication of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) accounts, enhance Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana outreach, and establish time-bound roadmaps. Sitharaman stressed RRBs' digital capability enhancement and set a deadline of November 1, 2023, for PNB-sponsored RRBs to achieve digital onboarding capability. During these review meetings, the government aims to bolster RRBs' viability plans, promote technology adoption, and discuss issues like NPA reduction, IT initiatives, financial inclusion, and credit delivery. The government holds a 50% stake, sponsor banks have 35%, and state governments hold 15% in these entities.