Banking Sector
SBI, MUFG sign pact to collaborate on M&A, aviation, real estate financing
State Bank of India and MUFG Bank sign a strategic partnership to collaborate on M&A, aviation and real estate financing, supporting cross-border transactions
 "SBI, MUFG sign pact to collaborate on M&A, aviation, real estate financing")
Global banks push back on RBI's plan for offshore rupee trade reporting
Banks told the RBI the proposal could breach client confidentiality and conflict with data and reporting rules in other jurisdictions
 "Global banks push back on RBI's plan for offshore rupee trade reporting")
Waiver danger: Repeated agricultural loan bailouts must be avoided
Maharashtra's new farm loan waiver may fulfil a poll promise, but repeated debt relief risks weakening credit discipline and straining the state's fiscal balance
 "Waiver danger: Repeated agricultural loan bailouts must be avoided")
Banking sector to maintain strong growth over the next two years: ICRA
Profitability in the banking sector is expected to remain healthy, supported by stronger core earnings
 "Banking sector to maintain strong growth over the next two years: ICRA")
Foreign banks find India growth story comes with strict entry conditions
While India offers one of the most compelling growth opportunities in coming decades, overseas bidders in the financial sector face tight voting caps, onerous processes and long payback timelines
 "Foreign banks find India growth story comes with strict entry conditions")
SBI recruits 5,783 junior associates, crosses 18,000 hires in FY26
SBI has selected 5,783 junior associates from nearly 9 lakh applicants, taking its total hires in FY26 to more than 18,000 as the bank ramps up customer service and branch operations
 "SBI recruits 5,783 junior associates, crosses 18,000 hires in FY26")
Asian banks' billions in Gulf loans at risk amid West Asia turmoil
Asian and Chinese banks, which have emerged as the Gulf's top financiers, extended more than $15 billion in loans last year - a record high and triple the previous year
 "Asian banks' billions in Gulf loans at risk amid West Asia turmoil")
Gold loan share in bank retail credit doubles to 6% in a year: RBI data
Additionally, the share of gold loans in overall retail loans of banks has now doubled to 6 per cent (January 2026), from 3 per cent as of January 2025
 "Gold loan share in bank retail credit doubles to 6% in a year: RBI data")
Transition path for NBFCs to become universal banks may be in the offing
DFS to again meet on shadow banks next week
 "Transition path for NBFCs to become universal banks may be in the offing")
RBI workshop urges stronger governance and tech use to fight cyber frauds
At a two-day workshop with 60 banks, RBI called for stronger governance, better internal controls and greater tech adoption to counter rising cyber-enabled financial frauds
 "RBI workshop urges stronger governance and tech use to fight cyber frauds")
India tweaking BIT model to suit bilateral needs: FM Nirmala Sitharaman
"AgriStack is a fantastic experiment. I would think the next UPI-like big revolution shall emerge from AgriStack. Now we'll be able to have a clear picture of how much fertiliser is required"
 "India tweaking BIT model to suit bilateral needs: FM Nirmala Sitharaman")
Credit card spends dip slightly in January; issuances rise to 116.6 mn
Credit card spending eased to Rs 2 trillion in January after festive highs, though outstanding cards rose to 116.65 million as issuers recalibrated amid tighter norms and shifting customer profiles
 "Credit card spends dip slightly in January; issuances rise to 116.6 mn")
Banks step up CD borrowing as deposits lag credit growth: RBI data
Fortnightly issuance hits ₹1.34 trn; outstanding at record ₹6.62 trn
 "Banks step up CD borrowing as deposits lag credit growth: RBI data")
DFS secy urges banks to lower cost of borrowing for small-ticket biz loans
DFS Secretary M Nagaraju asked banks to lower borrowing costs for small-ticket business loans and expand credit, stressing PSBs' strong capital position and upcoming digital lending portals
 "DFS secy urges banks to lower cost of borrowing for small-ticket biz loans")
All you need to know about RBI's new draft norms to curb misselling
Customers must stay vigilant and avoid falling prey as mis-selling is not easy to prove
 "All you need to know about RBI's new draft norms to curb misselling")
DFS secy urges stronger BC ecosystem, better services and process upgrades
M Nagaraju highlighted the vital role of Business Correspondents in last-mile banking, urging continuous process improvement, service expansion and enhanced digital oversight to meet customer needs
Q3 scorecard: OMCs, banks drove India Inc's steepest profit rise in 8 qtrs
The combined net profits of the listed companies excluding these cyclical sectors were up just 7.5 per cent Y-o-Y, decelerating from 17.2 per cent in Q3FY25 and 10.9 per cent in Q2FY26
 "Q3 scorecard: OMCs, banks drove India Inc's steepest profit rise in 8 qtrs")
Short-term debt flows shifting from CPs to CDs on attractive returns
Rising CD yields and lower perceived risk draw investors away from CPs as banks ramp up short-term borrowings amid deposit tightness
 "Short-term debt flows shifting from CPs to CDs on attractive returns")
RBI's new loan recovery norms: NBFCs may incur extra cost to train agents
From a customer perspective, the stricter norms are welcome, industry executives said
 "RBI's new loan recovery norms: NBFCs may incur extra cost to train agents")
3 senior bankers depart Raine Group India to launch new investment firm
Raine's marquee deals in India include the $8.5 billion joint venture between The Walt Disney Co and Reliance Industries Ltdn that combined their respective digital streaming and television assets
 "3 senior bankers depart Raine Group India to launch new investment firm")