Synopsis Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) represent an innovation in Indian Banking. The innovation is not only institutional but relates to objectives, functions, area of operation and its clientele. For this reason, RRBs be regarded as specialized institutions, i.e., distinct from commercial banks as well as co-operative credit agencies. This book divided into six chapters contain interalia the analysis of the purpose and logic of the already existing credit institutions, their strengths and weaknesses in achieving the goals for which they were setup, the changing environment which necessitates the setting-up of new institutions called Regional Rural Banks, an analysis of their operations at all India level and in the state of Orrisa. It provides an indepth analysis of the features they possess as rural credit institutions history of the various committees on RRBs, the liberalised policy measures exclusively for the RRBs in the wake of Financial Sector Reforms (FSRs) and the impact these measures have had on their growth and performance over the years. It is hoped that the book will be very useful to the teachers and researchers engaged in the study of rural banking especially in the post banking sector reform period.