Banking Innovation
Bank of Baroda Phygital Transformation
Bank of Baroda won “Best Bank in India” at The Banker’s 2025 Asia-Pacific Awards for its customer-centric phygital branches that blend digital convenience with in-branch support, enabling fast access to statements, certificates, nominee updates, and video assistance.
Financial Inclusion
Unclaimed Assets Campaign
The campaign “Aapki Poonji, Aapka Adhikar — Your Money, Your Right” helps rightful owners reclaim unclaimed financial assets across bank deposits, insurance, dividends, shares, mutual funds, and pensions using awareness drives, camps, and regulatory portals.
Policy Framework
3A Framework for Unclaimed Assets
The “Your Money, Your Right” campaign follows the 3A Framework: building Awareness of unclaimed assets, improving Accessibility to claim mechanisms, and enabling Action through camps, helpdesks, and guided processes.
Insurance Regulation
Sahaj Insurance Corporate Agency
Sahaj Insurance Services received IRDAI approval as a Corporate Agency to market and distribute insurance products on behalf of insurers (underwriting remains with insurers), focusing on low-premium, high-relevance coverage.
Technology & AI
Global AI Conclave Chennai
The Global AI Conclave 2025 is hosted by IIT Madras and the India AI Mission in Chennai, supporting India’s vision for safe, trusted, and inclusive AI aligned with MeitY’s direction.
Digital Safety
Australia’s Social Media Age Ban
Australia’s under-16 social media restriction places compliance responsibility on major platforms (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube) to prevent underage access, with financial penalties for non-compliance, while parents/children are not punished.
Corporate Leadership
Coca-Cola Leadership Transition
The Coca-Cola Company announced Henrique Braun as incoming CEO, while James Quincey will transition to Executive Chairman, indicating continuity with planned leadership succession.
Strategic Finance
ICICI AMC Stake Protection
ICICI Bank acquired additional stake in ICICI AMC to safeguard majority control in case the AMC issues stock-based compensation, which could otherwise dilute the bank’s holding.
Mergers & Acquisitions
JSW Paints-Akzo Nobel Deal
JSW Paints’ acquisition of Akzo Nobel India is significant as Akzo Nobel is strongly associated with the Dulux brand in India. This is among the largest deals in India’s paints and coatings segment.
Quantum Technology
National Quantum Communication Hub
The IITM C-DOT Samgnya Technologies Foundation at IIT Madras functions as India’s National Hub for Quantum Communication, focusing on quantum cryptography, post-quantum security, QKD, quantum repeaters/memory, and satellite-based quantum communication under the National Quantum Mission.