State Bank of India (SBI), India's largest public sector bank, has announced a significant expansion of its workforce, with plans to hire approximately 3,500 officers. This move is aimed at strengthening the bank's operations and enhancing service delivery across its vast network.

Recruitment Drive Details

SBI's recruitment efforts are already underway, with the bank having made substantial progress in various categories:

The bank is employing a three-stage recruitment process for the additional Probationary Officer positions, ensuring a thorough selection of qualified candidates.

Comprehensive Recruitment Plan

SBI Chairman C S Setty has outlined a broader recruitment strategy, revealing plans to hire approximately 18,000 employees across all categories. This includes:

• 3,500 officers (as detailed above)
• 13,500 clerical positions

This extensive hiring initiative underscores SBI's commitment to expanding its workforce to meet growing operational demands and improve customer service.

Focus on Gender Diversity

In addition to expanding its overall workforce, SBI is placing a strong emphasis on improving gender diversity within the organization:

• Current women workforce: 27%
• Target women workforce: 30% (within five years)
• Women in frontline staff: 33%

To support its female employees, SBI has implemented several women-centric initiatives:

1. Creche allowances
2. Family connect programmes
3. 'Empower Her' leadership development initiative

These programs aim to create a more inclusive work environment and provide support for women employees to advance in their careers.

SBI's Current Workforce

SBI currently employs over 2.4 lakh (240,000) staff members, making it one of the largest employers in the Indian banking sector. The planned additions will further solidify its position as a major employer in the country.

This comprehensive recruitment drive, coupled with initiatives to promote gender diversity, demonstrates SBI's commitment to strengthening its human resources and fostering an inclusive work environment. As the bank continues to grow and adapt to changing market demands, these efforts are likely to play a crucial role in maintaining its position as a leader in the Indian banking industry.

A controversy has erupted in India's financial sector as an economist from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) accuses State Bank of India (SBI) of plagiarizing research content. This dispute highlights the importance of intellectual property and proper attribution in economic research.

Allegations of Plagiarism

RBI economist Sarthak Gulati has raised serious allegations against SBI's research team, claiming that they copied sections from the central bank's Monetary Policy Reports (MPRs) without proper attribution. The accusations specifically target SBI's Ecowrap research reports from April and October.

Specific Instances

Gulati pointed out that the July edition of SBI's Ecowrap allegedly reproduced substantial portions of the RBI's April MPR. The similarities reportedly extend to paragraphs, charts, and overall presentation.

SBI's Response

SBI's research team, which includes members like Tapas Parida, has strongly refuted these allegations. They defend their work, stating:

• Their methodology is independent
• Similarities in economic research are natural due to common datasets
• They use publicly available data and cite sources, including the RBI
• Their analytical framework differs from the RBI's approach

Implications for Financial Research

This public dispute raises important questions about:

1. The standards of originality in economic research
2. The proper use and attribution of publicly available data
3. The potential impact on the credibility of financial institutions' research outputs

As this situation unfolds, it may lead to broader discussions about research practices and ethics in India's financial sector.

Key Points of Contention

This dispute underscores the need for clear guidelines and practices in economic research to maintain integrity and trust in financial institutions' publications.