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    National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development

    National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development: refinances and develops rural credit, including cooperative banks and regional rural banks.

    Facts last verified 29 September 2026 Updated
    On this page
    1. At a glance
    2. What it does
    3. Ownership
    4. Size
    5. Connections

    At a glance

    Owned by the Government of India
    Short name
    NABARD
    Legal form
    Statutory development bank wholly owned by the Government of India; RBI's stake was sold in 2010 and 2019
    Headquarters
    Mumbai
    Established
    1982
    Employees
    3,134(as of 31 March 2024; National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, source 3)
    Official site
    www.nabard.org
    Roles
    • Refinances and develops rural credit, including cooperative banks and regional rural banks
    • Supervises regional rural banks and state and district cooperative banks

    What it does

    The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development finances and supervises rural credit. NABARD was established on 12 July 1982 by an Act of Parliament and is wholly owned by the Government of India.1National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development. Citizen's Charter. As of 31 March 2024. NABARD's head office is at Bandra-Kurla Complex, Mumbai.4National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development. Standalone Financial Results for the quarter ended June 30, 2025. As of 30 June 2025.

    Ownership

    NABARDNational Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development. A statutory development bank for agriculture and rural credit, wholly owned by the Government of India since RBI sold its last shares in 2019. was once majority-owned by RBIReserve Bank of India. India's central bank. It regulates banks and payment systems, runs RTGS and NEFT, and holds the accounts in which banks settle with one another.. RBI sold its remaining stakes in NABARD (26 February 2019) and NHB (19 March 2019); the Government of India now owns 100% of both.2Reserve Bank of India. Reserve Bank of India divests its share in NABARD and NHB (Press Release 2018-2019/2528). As of 24 April 2019. Earlier drafts dated this change to 2023; the correct year is 2019.

    Size

    NABARD had 3,134 staff members as of 31 March 2024.3National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development. Annual Report 2023-24, chapter 9: People, Processes and Policies. As of 31 March 2024. Earlier drafts gave a figure of about 28,000, which has no official basis.

    Connections

    • RBI: RBI sold its last NABARD shares to the Government of India on 26 February 2019.2

    Sources

    1. Citizen's Charter. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development. Primary source, accessed 29 September 2026. Supports: NABARD was established on 12 July 1982 by an Act of Parliament and is wholly owned by the Government of India (as of 31 March 2024).
    2. Reserve Bank of India divests its share in NABARD and NHB (Press Release 2018-2019/2528). Reserve Bank of India. Primary source, accessed 29 September 2026. Supports: RBI sold its remaining stakes in NABARD (26 February 2019) and NHB (19 March 2019); the Government of India now owns 100% of both (as of 24 April 2019).
    3. Annual Report 2023-24, chapter 9: People, Processes and Policies. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development. Primary source, accessed 29 September 2026. Supports: NABARD had 3,134 staff members as of 31 March 2024 (as of 31 March 2024).
    4. Standalone Financial Results for the quarter ended June 30, 2025. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development. Primary source, accessed 29 September 2026. Supports: NABARD's head office is at Bandra-Kurla Complex, Mumbai (as of 30 June 2025).