What happened: PSB Confluence 2026 ends with bank-level action plans

The Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, organised the two-day PSB Confluence 2026, bringing together leadership of Public Sector Banks (PSBs), Public Financial Institutions (PFIs), senior Government officials, and domain experts to discuss priorities for the next phase of growth in banking and the financial sector. The Confluence concluded with theme-wise actionable strategies that PSBs and PFIs are expected to implement through follow-up actions.

Day 2 deliberations focused on three linked areas:

• Agriculture and Horticulture Value Chain Infrastructure (financing needs beyond farms, such as storage, processing, logistics, and market linkages) • Priority Sector Lending (PSL) (lending targets for specified priority categories) • Reimagining the Credit Card Business (digital onboarding and cross-sell, including RuPay-UPI related opportunities).

In the concluding session, Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, emphasised translating Confluence deliberations into tangible outcomes. The Finance Minister called on PSBs and PFIs to use institutional strengths, anticipate emerging opportunities, and build capabilities aligned with India’s evolving economic requirements. DFS Secretary also stated that the Confluence helped identify sharper priorities and clearer actionable steps across the seven themes, and asked PSBs and PFIs to implement them with clear ownership and realistic timelines.

Background and earlier position: PSBs, PFIs, and Government focus on priority credit and inclusion

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