Building Banking Behemoths: FM Sitharaman’s Bold New Vision with RBI

Updated: November 07, 2025 19:52

Image Source : The Indian Express

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced ongoing discussions with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and public sector banks to build bigger, world-class banks in India. Emphasizing consolidation and a supportive ecosystem, this initiative aims to bolster credit flow, infrastructure investment, and India’s global banking stature.

Key Highlights

Government engaged in talks with RBI and banks on creating larger banking entities
Emphasis on building world-class banks to meet economic growth and investment needs
Consolidation of public sector banks remains a key strategy to form stronger entities
Focus on enhancing credit penetration and infrastructure funding via deepened banking sector
Calls for local language use by bank staff to better connect with customers
Performance appraisals may reflect efficiency in regional languages for better service
Over last decade, major PSB mergers have reduced number to 12, government planning further consolidation
India currently has limited presence in top global banks by assets; seeks to improve ranking
SBI and HDFC among top 100 global banks, with ambitions for more globally competitive banks

Detailed Report

At the 12th SBI Banking and Economics Conclave 2025, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman underscored the need for India to develop bigger and world-class banks aligning with the country’s rapid economic expansion. Citing active discussions with the Reserve Bank of India and public sector banks, the minister confirmed that the government has commenced work to build banking giants capable of sustaining infrastructure-led growth and wider credit access.

Highlighting the importance of customer engagement, especially through the use of local languages at branch levels, Sitharaman emphasized a blend of traditional personal banking and modern technological innovation to serve India’s diverse population. The minister also pointed out the ongoing reclassification and privatisation efforts regarding state-owned banks and noted that further consolidation is likely to reduce the current number of public sector banks.

India currently ranks modestly in the list of global banks by asset size, with State Bank of India and HDFC Bank featuring in the top 100 globally. The government’s vision includes developing more such banks to compete on the international stage and better support India’s growing investment and infrastructure needs.

Sources: Business Standard, Times of India, YouTube - Business Today

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