The head of India’s market regulator and the deputy governor of the country’s central bank will chair the 18th edition of the Mint BFSI Summit in Mumbai today. The day-long summit comes at a time when India’s financial services landscape is being reshaped by new regulations, changing customer expectations and rapid advances in technology. Themed ‘Finance’s Next Frontier’, the 2025 Summit brings together the country’s most influential voices to discuss how banking, markets, insurance and fintech are preparing for a new era of challenge and collaboration. The day begins with two marquee talks anchoring the summit in the perspectives of India’s key regulators. Tuhin Kanta Pandey, Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), will take the stage with a keynote address, followed by a fireside chat on ‘Steering India Inc. through a regulatory lens’. At a time when global markets continue to experience volatility, India’s regulatory framework plays a central role in maintaining stability, enhancing transparency and guiding corporate behavior. This discussion will provide a grounded view of Sebi’s priorities and how the regulator sees the interplay between market oversight, investor protection and innovation. Following this, T. Rabi Sankar, Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), will deliver a keynote address and participate in a fireside discussion. As the RBI shapes policy on inflation, liquidity, digital payments and financial stability, Sankar’s perspective will be essential to understanding the forces influencing India’s macroeconomic and financial outlook. Apart from the regulators, the main highlight of the day will be a high-level discussion on the state of India’s banking system with India’s top bankers. The panel “The Banking Sector as a Catalyst for India’s Economic Growth” brings K. Balasubramanian, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Citi India; Rajiv Anand, Managing Director (MD) and CEO, IndusInd Bank; and Debadatta Chand, MD and CEO, Bank of Baroda. As India’s economy grows, banks must manage rising credit demand, maintain strong asset quality and invest in digital capabilities. This closing session will determine how the sector balances these imperatives and what will drive bank performance in the coming years. The summit will also see a debate on a sector undergoing significant transition: insurance. The panel ‘The Insurance Industry After GST 2.0’ brings Rakesh Jain, executive director and CEO, IndusInd General Insurance Company; Satishwar B., MD & CEO, Bandhan Life; Animesh Kumar Das, MD & CEO, Acko General Insurance; and G. Srinivasan, MD & CEO, Galaxy Health Insurance, to unpack how the next phase of GST reform will shape pricing, distribution models and competition. With India’s protection gap still wide, the stalwarts will deliberate on how the industry can rethink product design, customer outreach and digital platforms. This session will explore how leaders prepare for that shift. Markets now take center stage, with celebrity investor Madhusudan Kela, founder of Invexa Capital, fireside chat on ‘Markets at a Turning Point: Global Headwinds, Domestic Euphoria—What Gives?’ India’s markets continue to attract strong domestic flows and sustained optimism even amid global uncertainties. This discussion will examine the drivers of that sentiment, the risks that may be undervalued, and what investors should watch for in the coming year. The summit then turns to the asset management industry with the panel ‘Mutual funds: Market drivers or mere riders?’ with DP Singh, Deputy Managing Director and Joint Chief Executive Officer, SBI Mutual Fund; Nilesh Shah, Managing Director of Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Company; and Sundeep Sikka, executive director and CEO, Nippon Life India Asset Management; and Chairman of Amfi (Association of Mutual Funds in India). With the rise of SIPs, passive investing and broader retail participation, mutual funds are playing a greater role in shaping market behavior. The panel will explore how the industry is evolving, whether domestic flows can remain resilient, and what innovations can define the next phase of growth. In the afternoon, the focus shifts to how India moves towards its long-term economic ambitions. Hitesh Sethia, MD & CEO, Jio Financial Services, will outline ‘The Playbook for a $5 Trillion India’. The session will explore the critical role of financial services in enabling new consumption patterns, expanding credit access and supporting the digital economy. Fintech’s evolution is explored in depth by the panel ‘Rewiring credit: Fintech’s next Chapter’, with Madhusudhan Ekambaram, CEO and co-founder, Kreditbee; Sandeep Singh, CEO, Trillionloans (Bharatpe); and Akshay Mehrotra, MD and Group CEO, Fibe. With the first wave of fintech innovation behind us, the next phase will require stronger risk management, sustainable unit economics and deeper collaboration within the ecosystem. The discussion will reflect on how these companies plan to expand responsibly while managing rising regulatory expectations. The summit also examines India’s growing global financial presence. A fireside chat with Revolut India CEO Paroma Chatterjee will focus on ‘Opportunities in Cross-Border Payments’. As India builds links with global payment systems and strengthens digital infrastructure, cross-border movement of money will become faster, more transparent and more affordable. The session will highlight what this shift means for consumers, businesses and fintech operators. Partnerships across the ecosystem are spotlighted in the conversation “Why NBFCs and fintechs need each other to win the digital-first consumer”, with Nirav Shah, managing director, Equirus Capital (investment banking) and Ravi Narayanan, managing director and CEO, SMFG India Credit Co. Ltd. models, this session will explore the practical realities of these relationships and how they benefit the digital first consumer. Across all sessions, the 18th edition of the Mint BFSI Summit provides a clear view of the opportunities and challenges ahead. With regulatory shifts, technological change, rising consumer expectations and new competitive dynamics shaping the industry, this year’s discussions will help leaders understand how to navigate finance’s next frontier. As India’s financial sector becomes more digitally connected, more inclusive and more globally connected, the summit aims to equip participants with the insights needed to prepare for the next phase of growth.