The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Monday, 19 October 2026, inaugurated Samvad 2026, a two-day international seminar for central banks, in New Delhi, with RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra delivering the welcome address and Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman giving the keynote address. The high-level gathering brings together central bank governors, senior policymakers, and representatives from international organisations to deliberate on the most pressing challenges facing the global financial system.

What Samvad 2026 Covers

According to the RBI, the seminar's agenda spans a broad range of issues: monetary policy, the growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in finance, financial inclusion, financial stability, and the evolution of payment systems. The central bank described the event as a platform for policymakers and experts to share experiences and best practices on issues that have gained increasing importance globally, particularly amid evolving economic conditions and accelerating digital transformation in the financial sector.

Who Is Attending

The seminar was attended by Governors, Deputy Governors, and senior officials from central banks across the world, alongside representatives of multilateral development institutions, regulatory authorities, and senior leaders from across the financial services industry, according to the RBI. Finance Minister Sitharaman also noted the attendance on social media platform X, underscoring the event's scale and diplomatic significance.

Why This Matters

The convening of Samvad 2026 comes at a juncture when central banks worldwide are grappling with a complex set of pressures — stubborn inflation in several economies, the rapid integration of AI-driven tools into financial services, and the need to ensure that digital financial infrastructure remains stable and inclusive. For India, hosting such a forum reinforces the RBI's standing as a central bank of global relevance, particularly as the country deepens its role in multilateral financial architecture through forums like the G20 and the Global South dialogue.

Fostering Dialogue on Digital and Inclusive Finance

Participants are expected to exchange views on strengthening financial systems, promoting inclusive growth, and harnessing technology to improve the efficiency of financial services. The emphasis on AI in finance is notably timely: central banks from advanced and emerging economies alike are wrestling with how to regulate, adopt, and stress-test AI-driven systems within their oversight frameworks. India's own Unified Payments Interface (UPI) — often cited as a global model for real-time retail payments — is likely to feature as a case study in discussions on payment system evolution.

What Comes Next

The seminar concludes on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. Outcomes, including any joint statements or shared frameworks, are expected to be published by the RBI at the close of the event. The deliberations are also likely to inform the RBI's upcoming domestic policy communications, given the Governor's direct participation in shaping the agenda.