The banking industry in India has historically been one of the most stable systems globally, even during periods of global upheaval. The government has consistently promoted financial inclusion through various initiatives aimed at bringing the underbanked population into the formal banking system. According to the IMF’s Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP), India’s financial system has become increasingly resilient and diverse, supported by rapid economic growth and robust policy frameworks.
India’s banking network today includes 12 public sector banks, 21 private sector banks, 11 small finance banks, 44 foreign banks, and five payment banks. Over 100 Digital Banking Units are operational in rural and semi-urban areas, enhancing last-mile access. In 2026, total assets in the public and private banking sectors were Rs. 1,92,47,302 crore (US$ 2,177.33 billion) and Rs. 1,30,11,622 crore (US$ 1,472.29 billion), respectively. The interest income of public banks reached Rs. 12,48,450 crore (US$ 141.26 billion) in 2026. In 2026, interest income in the private banking sector reached Rs. 9,39,660 crore (US$ 106.32 billion).
Digital payments have become the backbone of the Indian banking system. The number of banks live on UPI increased from 668 in April 2025 to 705 by March 2026, while monthly transaction volume grew from 17.89 billion to a record 22.64 billion. Monthly transaction value also rose from Rs. 23.95 lakh crore (US$ 283.22 billion) to Rs. 29.53 lakh crore (US$ 334.09 billion), reflecting the rapid expansion of digital payment adoption across consumers, businesses and financial institutions in India.
In May 2026, India's digital payment infrastructure continued to witness robust transaction activity through both NEFT and RTGS. NEFT processed over 849.63 million transactions amounting to Rs. 42.33 lakh crore (US$ 443.63 billion), while RTGS facilitated high-value fund transfers worth Rs. 186.19 lakh crore (US$ 1,951.48 billion) across 31.54 million transactions.
As of May 2026, India's banking infrastructure continued to strengthen with 210,114 ATMs and CRMs, 11.53 million PoS terminals, 5.60 million micro-ATMs, over 1.03 billion UPI QR codes and 120.45 million Bharat QR codes. The country also had 290.36 million credit cards and 296.72 million debit cards in circulation, reflecting the rapid expansion of both physical and digital payment infrastructure. Led by major banks such as State Bank of India, HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank, this growing payments ecosystem continues to accelerate digital transactions, deepen merchant acceptance and strengthen financial inclusion across urban and rural India.
India’s fintech ecosystem, already the third largest in the world, is valued at Rs. 9,61,593 crore (US$ 111 billion) and is expected to reach Rs. 36,47,123 crore (US$ 421 billion) by 2029. More than 2,000 DPIIT-recognised fintech startups are operating, with the digital consumer lending market alone projected to exceed Rs. 62,37,360 crore (US$ 720 billion) by 2030, representing nearly 55% of the total digital lending opportunity in the country.
Non-resident deposits with the Indian banking system continued to register steady growth, with total outstanding deposits increasing from Rs. 14.09 lakh crore (US$ 164.68 billion) at the end of March 2025 to Rs. 15.68 lakh crore (US$ 165.65 billion) by the end of March 2026.
On the monetary policy front, in June 2025 the MPC reduced the policy repo rate from 6.25% to 5.50%, cut the Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) to 5.25% and the MSF and Bank Rate to 5.75%, while shifting its stance from accommodative to neutral. On August 6, 2025, the MPC held rates steady, retaining its neutral stance to support growth amid easing inflation.
In December 2025, the IMF recognized UPI as the world’s largest real-time payment system by transaction volume, with UPI accounting for nearly 49% of global real-time payment transactions, highlighting India’s leadership in digital payments.
On November 6, 2024, RBI Deputy Governor Mr. T. Rabi Sankar launched the Unified Lending Interface (ULI) at the Business Standard BFSI Summit in Mumbai. The ULI aims to democratize access to credit for the private sector, similar to how the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transformed digital payments.
Bank deposits grew steadily to Rs. 26,538,623 crore (US$ 2,781.59 billion) as on 31 May 2026, reflecting continued improvement in savings mobilization, stronger household deposits and sustained confidence in India’s banking system amid expanding financial inclusion and economic growth.
As of May 31, 2026, bank credit stood at Rs. 2,20,26,647 crore (US$ 2,308.67 billion), reflecting continued strength in credit demand and sustained lending momentum across the banking sector.
In April 2026, the Reserve Bank of India launched Mission SAKSHAM, a nationwide capacity-building initiative for the urban co-operative banking sector. The programme aims to strengthen governance, improve operational capabilities, enhance compliance standards and build greater institutional resilience, supporting the sustainable growth of urban co-operative banks.
In April 2026, Bank of Baroda collaborated with Reliance Jio to launch bob World Lite, a feature phone-compatible banking application for JioPhone Prima 4G users. By enabling services such as UPI payments, fund transfers, bill payments and mobile recharges on feature phones, the initiative aims to expand digital banking access and strengthen financial inclusion among customers with limited smartphone access.
Indian tourists can now use the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) at major United Arab Emirates (UAE) outlets such as Dubai Duty Free and Lulu Hypermarket, with this acceptance live as of the latest update from National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) International. NPCI International is now expanding UPI integration across more high-frequency sectors in the UAE in line with the Government of Dubai’s goal of achieving 90% digital transactions by 2026.
The Defence Accounts Department (DAD) has entered into Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with four banks in New Delhi. This partnership will establish SPARSH [System for Pension Administration (Raksha) Service Centres at 1,128 branches of these four banks nationwide. It aims to enhance last-mile connectivity for pensioners, particularly in remote regions.
Google India Digital Services (P) Limited and NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on January 17, 2024 to expand the transformative impact of UPI to countries beyond India.
The Warehousing Development Regulatory Authority and Punjab & Sind Bank signed Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate low interest rate loans to farmers on February 5, 2024.
Fincare Small Finance Bank Limited (Fincare) and AU Small Finance Bank Limited (AU) has merged, with AU being the surviving entity (merged entity).
In March 2024, Kotak Mahindra Bank acquired Sonata Finance Pvt. Ltd. for Rs. 537 crore (US$ 62.5 million), marking a significant strategic move to bolster its presence in the microfinance sector.
Shriram Housing Finance Limited (SHFL), a provider of affordable housing finance services, was acquired by Warburg Pincus for Rs. 4,757 crore (US$ 554 million) on May 13, 2024. It was a key acquisition with 100 percent stake acquired.
The BFSI sector in India saw 64 M&A and private equity (PE) deals in Q3 CY24, with a total value of Rs. 27,472 crore (US$ 3.2 billion). High-value deals exceeding Rs. 2,576 crore (US$ 300 million) accounted for nearly Rs. 12,878 crore (US$ 1.5 billion), as per data by Grant Thornton.
In September 2024, IDFC FIRST Bank completed its reverse merger with parent IDFC Limited, offering 155 equity shares for every 100 shares held in IDFC Limited.
In 2024, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR) acquired a controlling stake in HDFC Credila, India’s largest education loan NBFC, in a deal worth Rs. 9,444 crore (US$ 1.1 billion).
In 2024, Indian corporates raised Rs. 58,120 crore (US$ 6.77 billion) through over 230 private credit deals, with NBFCs being active participants. The total for private credit deals, including those by NBFCs, is expected to reach up to Rs. 85,850 crore (US$ 10 billion) in 2025.
The Government of India has been supportive of the banking sector in the country, especially on the financial inclusion agenda. A flagship program, the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), was launched in August 2014 which aims to provide universal banking services to the unbanked by setting up bank accounts for them and issuing payment cards to all. As of 2023-24, the number of bank accounts opened under the government’s flagship financial inclusion drive ‘Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) reached over 51.11 crore beneficiaries and deposits in the Jan Dhan bank accounts totaled over Rs. 2,17,701 crore (US$ 25.13 billion) till December 15, 2023.
India strengthens banking sector with ‘Baanknet,’ a unified e-auction platform enhancing PSB recoveries, transparency, and credit availability.
Rising income is expected to enhance the need for banking services in rural areas, and therefore, drive the growth of the sector.
The RBI has launched a pilot to digitalize KCC lending in a bid for efficiency, higher cost savings, and reduction of TAT. This is expected to transform the flow of credit in the rural economy.
Digital modes of payments have grown by leaps and bounds over the last few years. As a result, conventional paper-based instruments such as cheques and demand drafts now constitute a negligible share in both volume and value of payments. In November 2022, RBI launched a pilot project on central bank digital currency (CBDC). The platform is called NDS-OM CBDC. The Central bank stated that the use case for the wholesale digital rupee is for the “settlement of secondary market transactions in government securities “as it would reduce transaction costs.
Digitalization of Agri-finance was conceptualized jointly by the Reserve Bank and the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH). This will enable delivery of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans in a fully digital and hassle-free manner.
India’s banking sector stands at the cusp of a transformative era, driven by digital innovation, structural reforms, and a strong push for financial inclusion. With rising adoption of technology, robust policy support, and growing demand across domestic and global markets, the industry is well-positioned to expand its reach and deliver sustainable growth. Looking ahead, India’s banks will continue to play a pivotal role in fuelling economic progress, empowering communities, and shaping the country’s journey as a global financial powerhouse.
