TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT; TABLE OF CONTENTS; CHAPTERIZATION; I. INTRODUCTION; I.A. A General Overview; I.B. Research Framework; I.B.1 Statement of Research Problem; I.B.2 Aims and Objectives; I.B.3 Scope and Ambit; I.B.4 Hypothesis; I.B.5 Research Questions; I.B.6 Review of Existing Literature; I.B.7 Research Methodology; I.B.8 Mode of Citation; II. MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS: A GENERAL OVERVIEW; II.A. A General Elucidation; II.B. Justification for Mergers & Acquisitions; II.B.1 Synergy; II.B.2 Growth of a Company; II.B.3 Large Scale Economies; II.B.4 Diversification; II.B.5 Industry Factors; II.B.6 Deregulation; II.B.7 Inefficient -yet-valuable Target; II.B.8 Getting a step ahead in Competitive Market; II.B.9 Other Motivations; II.C. The Irrefutable Need to Regulate Mergers and Acquisitions; 11.D . Emergence of Corporate Restructuring Regulations in India; III. MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS IN THE 44 - INDIAN BANKING SECTOR; III.A. Evolution of the Banking Sector in India: A Historical Perspective; III.B. Advent of the Merger Wave in the Indian Banking Sector; III.C. Rationale for Bank Mergers ; III.C.l Increasing the Customer Base ; III.C.2 Increase in Size ; III.C.3 Gaining an Edge in the Competitive Market ; III.C.4 Greater Profitability ; III.C.5 Large Scale Economies ; III.C.6 Synergism ; III.C.7 Stability & Diversification ; III.C.8 Better Financial Capacity ; III.C.9 Benefits of Deregulation ; III.C.l0 Technological advancement ; III.C.ll Expansion of the Geographical Reach ; 111.0 . Necessity for Special Regulation of Banking Amalgamations; III.E. Contribution of the Commissions and Committees constituted on Amalgamation of Banking Companies; IV. REGULATION OF MERGERS AND ACQUISTIONS UNDER COMPANIES ACT, 2013 AND BANKING REGULATION ACT, 1949: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS; V. ROLE OF THE RESERVE BANK OF INDIA; IN MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS IN THE INDIAN BANKING SECTOR; V.A. Emergence of the Reserve Bank of India ; V.B. Role of Reserve Bank of India in Mergers n & Acquisitions of Banks; V.C. Authority of RBI vis-a-vis Courts of Justice; VI. SAFEGUARDING THE INTERESTS OF VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS ASSOCIATED WITH BANK-MERGER; VI.A. Depositors; VI.B. Shareholders; VI.C. Customers; VI.D. Employees; VI.E. Society; VII. MERGERS IN THE INDIAN BANKING SECTOR:; A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT; VIII. CONCLUSION & SUGGESTIONS BIBLIOGRAPHY; LIST OF ANNEXURES; ANNEXURE-I: RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF THE BANKING REGULATION ACT, 1949; ANNEXURE- II: RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF THE COMPANIES ACT,2013; ANNEXURE- III: RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF THE RESERVE BANK OF INDIA ACT, 1934; ANNEXURE- IV: CHARTER OF CUSTOMER RIGHTS (RBI).