Features of NABARD: '
(i) Apex Bank : NABARD acts as an apex bank for meeting the credit needs of all type of financial institutions working in the field of agricultural and rural development. It works to frame policies and guidelines for rural financial institutions in India. It provides credit facilities to institutes working in agricultural finance.
(ii) Refinancing Facilities : It provides refinancing facilities to State Co-operative Banks (SCBs), Land Development Banks (LDBs), Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) and other approved financial institutions for financing rural economic activities. It also provides short-term, medium term and long term credit to these institutes.
(iii) Provides Credit for Rural Development : It takes initiatives in the development and promotion of different activities in rural area by providing funds to State governments. It also provides refinancing for upliftment of weaker section of the society. It also works on improvement of small and minor irrigation by way of promoting agricultural activities.
(iv) Financing Rural Industries : It provides refinancing facility to small scale industries and other village and cottage industries. It provides loans to commercial and cooperative banks to promote rural employment. It organizes skill and entrepreneurship development programs to promote an entrepreneurial culture among the rural youth and encourage them to start enterprises in the rural areas.