SBI made the government coffers swell by Rs 4,599 crore (Rs 45.99 billion) in 2007-08. SBI had paid Rs 4,266 crore (Rs 42.66 billion) in taxes in 2006-07.

Brushing aside fears of industrial slowdown, the government's revenue collections from direct tax such as corporate and income tax continued the growth momentum and was up by 43.45 per cent at Rs 49,411 crore (Rs 494.11 billion) during the April-June 21 period over the corresponding period last fiscal.

Image:Chairman of the State Bank of India O P Bhatt addresses delegates at an Indian Banking Conference at The Indian School of Business in Hyderabad. | Photograph: Noah Seelam/AFP/Getty Images