The government is expected soon to merge State Bank of India and its five subsidiaries as well as Bharatiya Mahila Bank with itself. Replying a media query in New Delhi, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said, at present the government is looking at the proposal of the SBI in this connection. He said, the government's policy by and large supports consolidation.<br/><br/>Last month, SBI cleared proposal for merger of subsidiary banks and Bharatiya Mahila Bank. It sought government's approval for the merger. The country's largest lender has five associate banks — State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Travancore, State Bank of Patiala, State Bank of Mysore and State Bank of Hyderabad.