Why is forwarding policies important?
The move to public sector banks (PSBs) has long been criticised for their favor, union influence and lack of transparency. In response, the Ministry of Finance issued new guidelines on November 26, 2024 to ensure a fair and transparent relocation policy for the PSB.
The National Bank of Punjab (PNB) is currently implementing a transfer policy for executives, effective from April 1, 2025. But is this policy consistent with government directives?
Let’s analyze what’s going on, what’s missing, and how it affects bankers.
Which government? Are the guidelines about bank transfers?
The DFS Advisory (26.11.2024) outlined the key principles for transparent, uniform transfers in PSBs.
✅ Automated online forwarding requests – Officers should be able to show their location preferences online.
✅ Tenure defined at various levels – Minimum and maximum tenure in branches, yen, and zones.
✅ Language and Regional Considerations – Officers from Scale I to III must be placed in native regions.
✅ Posting in difficult areas – Officers in difficult locations should take priority in future transfers.
✅ Spouse Posting Policy – Prioritizing placement with government spouses. The job or the PNB itself.
✅ Forwards complaints handling mechanisms – A structured remedy system must resolve complaints within 15 days.
Important highlights of PNB’s 2025 forwarding policy
PNB has assembled a forwarding policy. This includes the following key provisions:
1. Adjusted minimum and maximum stay periods: Officers cannot remain in one place indefinitely:
- Branch/Management Office: 1 year (min), 3-5 years (max)
- Circle: 2 years (min), 6 years (max)
- Zone: 2 years (min), 9 years (max)
2. Rotation transfer based on seniority: Officers are transferred annually based on their longest stay.
3. Spouse and Family Considerations:
- A spouse working for the government. Jobs or PNB can request a maximum of three forwarding during a carrier.
- Female officers are exempt during pregnancy and child care (until the child is 2 years old).
4. Posts from North East & Kashmir Valley: Officers in these regions will prioritize transfers after their tenure is completed.
5. Relocation of the Complaint Committee: The three-person committee must resolve the complaints within 15 days.
6. Prohibiting external influences (sifaarish): Officers caught using political or external recommendations for transfers face disciplinary action.
How does PNB’s policy match the government? Order?
| side | government. Commands (DFS, MOF) | PNB Forwarding Policy 2025 | Is it an alignment? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defined rights | Min & Max Tenure for each layer | It is clearly defined in the policy | ✅ Alignment |
| Language and Regional Submissions | Native Regional Scale-I to III Officers | It has been mentioned in part | ❌ Not fully implemented |
| Automated Transfer Process | Online platform for your preferences | Not mentioned | ❌ do not have |
| Post near your spouse (government work) | It is permitted under the terms | A two-year gap is permitted | ✅ Alignment |
| Forwards complaints handling mechanisms | 15 Day Resolution Committee | 3 Member Committee, 15-day timeline | ✅ Alignment |
Which PNB policies are missing?
- Online Transfer Platform: Automation is not mentioned in the policy. This means that the transfer can be handled manually and lead to favors.
- Stronger language and regional placement rules: PNB considers the language area “as much as possible,” but does not require native territories submissions for Scale I to III executives.
- More flexible spouse posting requests: government. The guidelines suggest greater flexibility, but PNB sets three transmission limits with a two-year gap requirement.
Will this end favor and union have an impact?
One of the biggest issues with the PSB is the political flashy thing in the “union Raj” and relocation. Does this policy end it? Let’s analyze:
✅Yes, it reduces favors like this
- Fixed tenure-based forwarding – executives cannot stay in comfortable posts forever.
- Prohibiting external influences – Political interference is now a punishable crime.
- Complaint Relief System – Bias complaints should be resolved in 15 days.
However, the following issues may not be completely eliminated:
- No automation – transfers are still processed manually and have room for influence.
- Limited Officer Preferences – Officers do not get an online system to indicate their transfer choice.
- Management discretion – Senior executives can override forwarding rules, but this can still lead to favors.
Final Verdict – A step towards transparency?
PNB’s forwarding policy is an important step towards fairness in working with many governments. Order. However, there is a lack of automation, language placement, and greater executive flexibility.
🔹What’s good?
difing Fixed Storage System – Ends indefinite posts.
✅Spouse and Female Executive Considerations – Provides balanced support.
Criefive Relocation – Guaranteed Accountability.
🔹What needs to be improved?
There is no online portal for cransfer transfers – it becomes vulnerable to process manuals and favors. ❌ Language and Regional Placement – A more stringent implementation is required.
Curs Increases flexibility in spousal requests – perfectly matched with the government. Order.
🔹 If PNB fully implements online automation and language placement policies, this could be the most transparent forwarding policy in PSB. 🚀
PNB Forwarding Policy 2025 FAQ
Q1. Do executives still need political connections to get a relocation?
✅, external recommendations (sifaarish) are currently prohibited. Transfers are tenure-based.
Q2. Can officers request inter-parent transfers?
Yes, two years from now on the current scale.
Q3. Are female officers exempt from all transfers?
Cred Pregnancy & Childcare (up to 2 years).
Q4. What happens if an officer refuses to transfer?
If you refuse without a hif exemption, you may face disciplinary action.
Note: This blog is for informational purposes only. All government directives referenced are based on public information from DFS, MOF. Please refer to the official circular for the exact policy.
