Financial Services

The collaboration models emerging between Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) and Housing Finance Companies (HFCs) are redefining how credit is delivered in India. Our discussion focused on several pivotal themes: how banks and NBFCs can jointly manage the borrower lifecycle, the importance of technology in making co-lending truly scalable, the growing alignment of NBFCs with India’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) priorities, and the need to strengthen domestic financing through a deeper bond market.

NBFCs remain essential to India's credit engine because they reach segments that are still outside the formal system. When they work in concert with banks, consumers gain broader access and greater flexibility across financial products. These partnerships are laying the foundation for a more inclusive and resilient credit ecosystem.

Rural Finance & Credit Acceleration

Access to timely and well-priced credit is critical to propel the rural economy. Despite lender availability, structural challenges to borrower data, simplified processes, and last-mile delivery are limiting granular credit growth. With strong policy intent, alternative data points (household score, image-based patterns, satellite information), and digital infrastructure, we are well poised to make transformative changes to boost rural credit and consequentially accelerate the rural growth engine.

The RBI’s measures give exporters timely breathing space at a moment when cash cycles are tightening due to tariffs and delayed realisations. Extending repayment timelines and easing credit terms will directly help companies manage working capital without disrupting production plans. It’s a practical intervention that stabilises sentiment in the near term, and the next thing industry is now watching closely is the tariff rationalisation announcement — because that will ultimately decide cost competitiveness and planning the future.

Over the past few decades, the finance function has undergone a profound transformation, evolving from a custodian of numbers to a strategic partner that drives growth, insight, and innovation. Gone are the days when finance merely reported the past; today, it is shaping the future.

AI is no longer just a tool for efficiency. It has become the engine powering this transformation. Indian enterprises are embedding AI into their core financial strategies by unifying data across ERP and CRM systems, applying advanced analytics, and fostering a culture of digital fluency. CFOs are using AI and machine learning to move from reactive reporting to predictive and prescriptive insights, from manual processes to intelligent automation, and from a focus on cost control to one on value creation.

As adoption scales responsibly, finance leaders are unlocking new sources of enterprise value while redefining the role of finance as a driver of business resilience and inclusive growth. This transformation is helping position India as a trusted global hub for AI-led financial innovation and progress.

Building a future-ready finance function is about creating value with purpose. It is not just digital adoption or analytics, it is about building trust through sharper insights and smarter decisions. Finance, at its best, becomes the compass that helps businesses stay resilient and forward-looking

With a rehash of the income statement and significant new disclosure requirements including MPMs (Management defined performance measures), IFRS 18 will be a strategic shift in how performance is communicated to the key stakeholders. Early planning could help in unlocking better insights.

Whilst changes in financial statement presentation and disclosures as per Ind AS 118 would be effective 1 April 2027 onwards, starting early is critical to ensure appropriate changes are made in the accounting systems and processes. Companies should watch out for the consequential changes to Division II of Schedule III to the Companies Act 2013 and SEBI LODR formats alongside evolving interpretations on the topic.

Inspiring to see so many leaders from the financial services tech and digital world come together with clarity and purpose. Financial services is transforming fast, and future readiness will depend on how we continue to connect, collaborate, and lead with intent. True to its theme, the third edition of the huddle was more than an event; it was a step toward building institutions truly prepared for what lies ahead. We will aim to continue this journey together.

Had an enriching exchange with S. Ganeshkumar Sir on the evolution of India’s financial sector over the past three decades. We agreed that digital innovation must continue to enhance convenience and value, while keeping interoperability, customer-centricity, affordability, and resilience at the core. Regulatory initiatives - like sandboxes and directional guidance - play a pivotal role in balancing innovation with systemic safety and stability. Crucially, sustained collaboration among regulated entities, fintechs, regulators, and government is key to accelerating inclusive, well-calibrated financial transformation.

Crisis management: Business continuity management metrics and methodologies

An organisation’s ability to respond effectively to crises is not only dependent on up to date and tested capability but also people confidence on the same. The session focused on how institutions can move beyond documented business continuity plans and instead build a metrics-driven, leadership-enabled continuity framework. The discussion brought out how measurable metrics on

• IT setup health
• Disaster recovery and data availability
• Regular scenario-based drills, and
• Readiness of people, including leadership

go a long way in sustaining preparedness and building confidence towards prompt and effective response.