Central banks serve important functions in regulating currency, credit, and monetary policy. Some key functions of central banks include acting as a banker, agent and advisor to governments; controlling money supply through tools like interest rates, reserve requirements, and open market operations; acting as a lender of last resort to banks; and regulating credit allocation. Central banks aim to achieve economic stability through proper monetary management. The Reserve Bank of India operates as India's central bank and performs traditional central banking functions like currency regulation as well as development functions to support financial systems.

1. CENTRAL BANKS AND ITS
FUNCTIONS
BY: NEERAJGARWAL

2. Central Bank
Definition:
“A Central Bank is the bank in any country to which has been entrusted the
duty of regulating the volume of currency and credit in that country”
-Bank of International Settlement.
According to Kent :
“Central Bank may be defined as an institution which is charged
with the responsibility of managing the expansion and contraction
of the volume of money in the interest of general public welfare.”
Bank of England was the world’s first effective central bank that was established in 1694.
As per the resolution passed in Brussels Financial Conference, 1920, all the countries
should establish a central bank for interest of world cooperation. Thus, since 1920, central
banks are formed in almost every country of the world. In India, RBI operates as a central
bank and was formed in 1935.

3. Functions of Central Bank
Central Bank
Traditional
Functions
Primary
Functions
Non-Traditional
Functions
Secondary
Functions

4. Functions of Central Bank
Traditional Functions : Which are generally performed by
central banks all over the world, are classified into two
groups;
◦ Primary Functions: including issue of notes, regulation of financial
system, and conduct of monetary policy
◦ Secondary Functions: including management of public debt,
management of foreign exchange, advising the government on
policy matters, and maintaining close relationships with the
international financial institutions
Non-Traditional Functions: these functions are performed
by the Central Bank include development of financial frame
work, provision of training facilities to bankers, and
provision of credit to priority sectors.

5. FUNCTIONS OF CENTRAL BANK
The main functions of a central bank are common all over the world. But the scope and
content of policy objectives may vary from country to country and from period to period
depending on the economic situations of the respective country. Generally all the central
banks aim at achieving economic stabilityalong with a high growthrateand a favourable
externalpaymentpositionthroughpropermonetarymanagement.
The commonfunctionsof centralbanksare as below:
1. Regulator of currency
2. Banker, Agent and Adviser to the Government
3. Custodian of cash Reserves of commercial banks
4. Custodian and Management of Foreign Exchange reserves
5. Lender of the last resort
6. Clearing house Function
7. Controller of credit

6. 1. Regulator of currency
The issue of paper money is the most important function of a central bank. The
central bank is the authority to issue currency for circulation, which is a legal
tender money. The issue department of the central bank has the responsibility to
issue notes and coins to the commercial banks. The central bank regulates the
credit and currency according to the economic situation of the country. In the
methods of note issue, the central bank is required to keep a certain amount or a
fixed proportion of gold and foreign securities against the total notes issued. The
Reserve Bank of India is required to keep Rs.115 crore in gold and Rs.85 crore in
foreign securities, but there is no limit to the issue of notes.
Having the monopoly of note issue, central bank gains advantages as
Ensuring uniformity of the notes issued and a proper control over the supply of
money can be exercised.
Bring stability in the monetary system and creates confidence among the public.
Government is able to earn profits from printing currencies

7. 2. Banker, Agent and Adviser to the
Government
The central bank of the country acts as the banker, fiscal agent
and advisor to the government. As a banker, it keeps the deposits
of the central and state governments and makes payments on
behalf of governments. It buys and sells foreign currencies on
behalf of the government. It keeps the stock of gold of the
country. As a fiscal agent, the bank makes short-term loans to
the government for a period not exceeding 90 days. It floats loans
and advances to the State governments and local bodies. It
manages the entire public debt on behalf of the government. As
an adviser, the bank gives useful advice to the governments on
important monetary and economic problems like devaluation,
foreign exchange policy and budgetary policy.

8. 3.Custodian of cash Reserves of commercial
banks
Commercial banksare required to keep a certain percentage of cash
reserves with the central bank. On the basis of these reserves, the central
bank transfers funds from one bank to another to facilitate the clearing
of cheques .
4.Custodian and Management of Foreign Exchange
reserves
The central bank keeps and manages the foreign exchange reserves of
the country. It fixes the exchange rate of the domestic currency in terms
of foreign currencies. If there are any fluctuations in the foreign exchange
rates, it may have to buy and sell foreign currencies in order to minimize
the instability of exchange rates.

9. 5. Lender of the last resort
By giving accommodation in the form of re-discounts and collateral
advances to commercial banks, bill brokers and their financial
institutions, the central bank acts as the lender of the last resort. The
central bank lends to such institutions in order to help them when they
are faced with difficult situations so as to save the financial structure of
country from collapse.
6. Clearing House Function
The central bank acts as a 'clearing house' for other banks and
mutual obligations are settled through the clearing system.
Since it holds cash reserves of commercial banks, it is easier for
the central bank to act as a 'clearing house'.

10. 7.Controller of credit
The most important function of the central bank is to control the credit creation power of commercial banks in
order to control inflationary and deflationary pressures within the economy. Controlling credit in the economy is
amongst the most important functions of the Reserve Bank of India. The basic and important needs of credit
control in the economy are-
 To encourage the overall growth of the "priority sector" i.e. those sectors of the economy which is
recognizedby the government as "prioritized" depending upon their economic condition or
government interest. These sectors broadly totals to around 15 in number.
 To keep a check over the channelization of credit so that credit is not delivered for undesirable
purposes.
 To achievethe objectiveof controlling inflation as well as deflation.
 To boost the economy by facilitating the flow of adequate volume of bank credit to different sectors.
 To develop the economy.
 Forthis purpose,the central bankadopts
1. Quantitative methods
2. Qualitative (selective) methods.

11. Other Functions:
Besides the above functions, the central bank performs many
additional functions. It has to study all problems relating the
I ) credit,
ii) fluctuations in price level
iii) fluctuations in foreign exchange value.
It has to collect monetary and financial statistics, conduct research
and provide information. It has to look after the matters relating to
IMF and the World Bank. All together, the central bank is the
financial and monetary guardian of the nation.

12. 1.QUANTIATIVE METHOD :
These help the quantity of credit created and the money in circulation the following
method are used :
The quantitative measures of credit control are as follows:
1. BankRate Policy
The bank rate is the Official interest rate at which RBI rediscounts the approved
bills held by commercial banks. For controlling the credit, inflation and money
supply, RBI will increase the Bank Rate.
2. OpenMarketOperations
These refer to direct sales and purchase of securities and bills in the open
market by Reserve bank of India. The aim is to control volume of credit.
3. VaryingInterestRates:
Commercial banks vary interest rates depending on the credit requirements of
the society and as per directions of RBI

13. 4. VaryingReserveRequirements:
The central bank changes the rate of cash reserve and it has direct effect on money supply .
 CashReserve Ratio
CRR refers to that portion of total deposits in commercial Bank which it has to keep with RBI as cash
reserves. an increase in CRR will decrease the capacity of banks to lend money thereby decrease the
money supply and vice versa .
 Statutory LiquidityRatio
refers to that portion of deposits with the banks which it has to keep with itself as liquid assets(Gold,
approved govt. securities etc.) If RBI wishes to control credit and discourage credit it would increase
CRR & SLR.
caseof
5. Varying RepoRateandReverse-Reporate:
Repo rate is the rate at which the central bank of a country (Reserve Bank of India in
India) lends money to commercial banks in the event of any shortfall of funds.
Repo rate is used by monetary authorities to control inflation.
Reverse repo rate is the rate at which the central bank of a country (Reserve Bank of India in case of
India) borrows money from commercial banks within the country. It is a monetary policy instrument
which can be used to control the money supply in the country.

14. II. Qualitative or Selective Method of Credit Control:
The qualitative or the selective methods are directed towards the
diversion of credit into particular uses or channels in the economy.
Their objective is mainly to control and regulate the flow of credit into
particular industries or businesses.
Thefollowing aretheimportant methodsof credit controlunder
selectivemethod:
1. Rationing of Credit.
2. Direct Action.
3. Moral Suasion.
4. Method of Publicity.
5. Regulation of Consumer’sCredit.
6. Regulating the Marginal Requirementson Security Loans.

15. 1. Rationing of Credit:
Under this method the credit is rationed by limiting the amount
available to each applicant. The Central Bank puts restrictions
on demands for accommodations made upon it during times of
monetary stringency.
In this the Central Bank discourages the granting of loans to
stock exchanges by refusing to re-discount the papers of the
bank which have extended liberal loans to the speculators. This
is an important method of credit control and this policy has
been adopted by a number of countries like Russia and
Germany.

16. 2. DirectAction:
Under this method if the Commercial Banks do not follow the policy of the
Central Bank, then the Central Bank has the only recourse to direct action. This
method can be used to enforce both quantitatively and qualitatively credit
controls by the Central Banks. This method is not used in isolation; it is used as a
supplement to other methods of credit control.
Direct action may take the form either of a refusal on the part of the Central Bank
to re-discount for banks whose credit policy is regarded as being inconsistent with
the maintenance of sound credit conditions. Even then the Commercial Banks do
not fall in line, the Central Bank has the constitutional power to order for their
closure.
This method can be successful only when the Central Bank is powerful enough
and has cordial relations with the Commercial Banks. Mostly such circumstances
are rare when the Central Bank is forced to resist to such measures.

17. 3. MoralSuasion:
This method is frequently adopted by the Central Bank to
exercise control over the Commercial Banks. Under this
method Central Bank gives advice, then request and
persuasion to the Commercial Banks to co-operate with the
Central Bank is implementing its credit policies.
If the Commercial Banks do not follow or do not abide by
the advice or request of the Central Bank no gross action is
taken against them. The Central Bank merely was its moral
influence and pressure with the Commercial Banks to
prevail upon them to accept and follow the policies.

18. 4. Method of Publicity :
In modern times, Central Bank in order to make their policies
successful, take the course of the medium of publicity. A policy
can be effectively successful only when an effective public
opinion is created in its favour.
Its officials through news-papers, journals, conferences and
seminar’s present a correct picture of the economic conditions of
the country before the public and give a prospective economic
policies. In developed countries Commercial Banks automatically
change their credit creation policy. But in developing countries
Commercial Banks being lured by regional gains. Even the
Reserve Bank of India follows this policy.

19. 5. Regulation of Consumer’s Credit:
Under this method consumers are given credit in a little quantity and this period is
fixed for 18 months; consequently credit creation expanded within the limit. This
method was originally adopted by the U.S.A. as a protective and defensive measure,
there after it has been used and adopted by various other countries.
6. Changes in the Marginal Requirements on Security Loans:
This system is mostly followed in U.S.A. Under this system, the Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System has been given the power to prescribe margin
requirements for the purpose of preventing an excessive use of credit for stock
exchange speculation.
This system is specially intended to help the Central Bank in controlling the volume
of credit used for speculation in securities under the Securities Exchange Act, 1934

20. Objectives of credit control :
Credit control policy is just an arm of economic policy which comes under
the purview of Reserve Bank of India, hence, its main objective being the
attainment of high growth rate while maintaining the reasonable stability
of the internal purchasing power of money. The broad objectives of credit
control policy in India have been-
Ensure an adequate level of liquidity enough to attain high economic
growth rate along with maximum utilisation of resource but without
generating high inflationary pressure.
Attain stability in the exchange rate and money market of the country.
Meeting the financial requirement during a slump in the economy and in
the normal times as well.
Control business cycle and meet business needs.

21. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CENTRAL BANK AND
COMMERCIAL BANK
CENTRAL BANK COMMERCIAL BANK

22. Reserve Bank Of India
Establishment
The Reserve Bank of India was established on April 1, 1935 in
accordance with the provisions of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
The Central Office of the Reserve Bank was initially established in
Calcutta but was permanently moved to Mumbai in 1937. The Central
Office is where the Governor sits and where policies are formulated.
Though originally privately owned, since nationalisation in 1949, the
Reserve Bank is fully owned by the Government of India.
Preamble
The Preamble of the Reserve Bank of India describes the basic functions
of the Reserve Bank as:
"to regulate the issue of Bank notes and keeping of reserves with a view
to securing monetary stability in India and generally to operate the
currency and credit system of the country to its advantage; to have a
modern monetary policy framework to meet the challenge of an
increasingly complex economy, to maintain price stability while keeping
in mind the objective of growth."

23. CentralBoard:
The Reserve Bank's affairs are governed by a central board of
directors. The board is appointedby the Governmentof Indiain keepingwiththe
Reserve Bank of India Act. Appointed/nominated for a period of four years
Constitution:
OfficialDirectors
Full-time: Governorandnot morethanfourDeputyGovernors
Present Governor of RBI is Dr
. Urjit R. Patel
Non-OfficialDirectors
Nominatedby Government:tenDirectorsfromvariousfieldsandtwogovernment
Official
Others:four Directors- one eachfrom fourlocalboards
Functions: Generalsuperintendenceanddirectionof theBank'saffairs
Local Boards:
One eachforthe fourregionsof the countryin Mumbai,Calcutta,Chennaiand New
Delhi
Membership:consistof fivememberseachappointedby the CentralGovernmentfora
termof fouryears
Functions: Toadvisethe CentralBoardon localmattersandtorepresentterritorialand
economic interests of local cooperativeand indigenous banks; to perform such other
functionsasdelegatedby CentralBoardfromtimetotime.

24. Offices:
Has 20 regionaloffices,mostof themin statecapitalsand11 Sub-
offices.
Training Establishments:
Has five trainingestablishments
Two, namely, College of Agricultural Banking and Reserve Bank of
India Staff College are part of the Reserve Bank
Others are autonomous, such as, National Institute for Bank
Management, Indira Gandhi Institute for Development Research
(IGIDR),Institutefor Development and Research in Banking Technology
(IDRBT)
For detailson trainingestablishments, please check theirwebsites links
for which are available in Other Links.
Subsidiaries
Fully owned:
1. Deposit Insuranceand Credit Guarantee Corporationof India(DICGC),
2. Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note MudranPrivate Limited(BRBNMPL),
3. NationalHousingBank(NHB)

25. Names and addresses of the Central Board of Directors
of the Reserve Bank of India as on 01.01.2018
1. 7.
Dr. Urjit R. Patel, Governor Shri Bharat Narotam Doshi
2. Shri N. S. Vishwanathan, Deputy
Governor
8. Shri Sudhir Mankad
3. Dr
. Viral V
. Acharya, Deputy
Governor
9. Dr. Ashok Gulati
4. Shri B.P. Kanungo, Deputy Governor 10. Shri Manish Sabharwal
5. Dr. Nachiket M. Mor
11. Shri Subhash Chandra Garg
6.
Shri Natarajan Chandrasekaran 12. Shri Rajiv Kumar

26. BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. www.google.co.in=images+of+central+bank&chips=q:images+
and+its+functions
2. www.wikipedia.com
3. www.gktoady.com
4. https://www.rbi.org.in
5. https://www.google.co.in
6. Macroeconomics : BY T.R.JAIN & V.K.OHRI
7. Macroeconomics : BY SANDEEP GARG
8. All in One : Akansha Sharma