NABARD

State-owned telecom operator Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd. (MTNL) has completed the sale of a prime commercial property in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) to the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) for Rs. 350.72 crore. The transaction marks a significant step in MTNL’s ongoing asset monetisation drive aimed at strengthening liquidity and reducing financial stress. For NABARD, the acquisition secures a strategic presence in one of India’s most expensive business districts.

The Finance Ministry has reaffirmed the government's commitment to empowering Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) through targeted support by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). As a key rural development institution, NABARD is expanding its engagement with FPOs to enhance agricultural productivity, improve market access, and boost farmers’ income. The move is aligned with the broader national agenda of doubling farmers’ income and fostering inclusive economic growth.

In a strategic policy push aimed at redefining the contours of rural finance, NABARD's Deputy Managing Director, Ajay Kumar Sood, called on Indian banks to pivot from conventional production-centric lending toward more holistic, market-aligned approaches such as value chain financing and aggregation. During a high-level interaction with key stakeholders, including officials from commercial, cooperative, and regional rural banks, Sood emphasized the importance of integrated rural credit delivery systems, supported by digital infrastructure and ecosystem-wide reforms.