New Delhi, Jan 29 (KNN) Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal has asked the state run lenders to step-up lending to the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), agriculture and housing sectors and also assured all kind of help to them.

Goyal was taking a review of the performance of the Public Sector Banks (PSBs) on Monday.

The minister said bankers have also got confidence from the amendment in the Prevention of Corruption Act that bona fide actions are protected by the law.

He said that indulging in bad practice will not be spared but genuine commercial decision taken by bankers will be protected.

The finance minister said that there were also discussions on the working of Bankruptcy Code, , which has helped banks to recover large amount of money both through the IBC mechanism and NCLT.

The finance minister said that there were also discussions on the working of Bankruptcy Code, which has helped banks to recover large amount of money both through the IBC mechanism and NCLT.

The minister also said that banks have had discussions on various matters with RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das.

They have also discussed various ways in which the operations of the banks can become more efficient, customer friendly and profitable, besides ensuring that the stated goals of this government are directed towards reaching financial inclusion of every Indian anywhere in the country, he said.

"We would like them to look at ways to improve delivery of services to our farmers. We would like them to be more proactive in encouraging retail businesses. We are going to see a far more vibrant, a far more proactive and a far more profitable banking sector in the days to come," he said.

Earlier in the day, the Reserve Bank of India governor Shaktikanta Das after his meeting said that wide ranging issues were discussed including future outlook of the lenders.

"Basically the idea was convey to them the regulator's expectation from the banking sector in general and public sector banks in particular, and also to get from them their understanding of the current banking situation, and to get an understanding about the future outlook, the sense they have," he said.