Are PSBs Ready to Take on a Greater Role in Viksit Bharat 2047?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- PSBs are set to play a larger role in driving India's growth towards Viksit Bharat 2047.
- Global competitiveness is essential for PSBs' future.
- Technology transformation is crucial for enhancing operational efficiency.
- Collaboration with fintechs will accelerate innovation.
- Support for emerging sectors like renewable energy is imperative.
New Delhi, Sep 13 (NationPress) Public Sector Banks (PSBs) have progressed beyond mere survival and stability, now poised to assume a more significant role in propelling India towards ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’, according to a senior government official speaking on Saturday.
During the ‘PSB Manthan 2025’, a two-day event organized by the Department of Financial Services (DFS) in Gurugram, M Nagaraj, Secretary of Financial Services, emphasized the necessity for PSBs to aim for global competitiveness, enhance governance, and elevate their status as leaders in both traditional and emerging industries.
“Public Sector Banks have transitioned past the stage of survival and stability and are now on the path to becoming champions of growth, innovation, and leadership in the quest for Viksit Bharat 2047,” stated Nagaraj.
Throughout the two-day discussions, key topics included enhancing customer experience, improving governance, fostering purposeful innovation, ensuring sustainable credit growth, effective risk management, workforce readiness, and modernizing technological frameworks.
Experts underscored the need for PSBs to reimagine customer journeys in an increasingly digital landscape, streamline processes, and provide seamless services while reinforcing customer trust.
The gathering featured senior leadership from PSBs, as well as regulators, industry experts, technologists, and academics.
Notable speakers included RBI Deputy Governor Swaminathan J., Chief Economic Adviser Dr. V. Anantha Nageswaran, former SEBI Chairman M. Damodaran, and multiple former RBI deputy governors and SBI chairmen.
One of the key themes was technology transformation. Speakers stressed the importance of PSBs moving away from outdated systems to adopt agile, interoperable platforms that can integrate with India’s digital public infrastructure.
Furthermore, they emphasized the necessity of building strong cyber resilience and responsibly adopting Artificial Intelligence, with appropriate safeguards against associated risks.
Discussions also highlighted the need for collaboration with fintechs, academia, and global institutions to accelerate innovation.
While enhancing traditional strengths in agriculture, MSMEs, housing, and infrastructure, PSBs were encouraged to lead the way in supporting emerging sectors such as renewable energy, electric mobility, semiconductors, shipbuilding, and green hydrogen.
Speakers further urged that PSBs should aspire to become globally competitive banks capable of supporting Indian enterprises abroad and standing alongside the world's leading financial institutions.