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Welcome to our dedicated Industry Updates page, where we bring you the latest developments, trends, and insights shaping the banking and financial services sector. Whether you are a banking professional, a finance enthusiast, or an aspirant preparing for IIBF examinations, staying informed is key to remaining competitive in a rapidly transforming landscape.
Stay updated on the latest banking industry developments from March 2025 that could be relevant for your JAIIB exams. These updates highlight key changes, policy shifts, regulatory news, and important financial indicators, all presented as concise one-liners.
List of Updates: March 2025
HDFC Bank Deposits Growth: HDFC Bank’s deposits grew by 5.9% to ₹27.15 trillion, outpacing loan growth of 4% to ₹26.44 trillion in Q1 2025.
Revised Priority Sector Lending Guidelines: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) revised its priority sector lending guidelines, effective April 1, 2025, to expand coverage and increase loan limits.
New RBI Deputy Governor: India appointed Poonam Gupta, former World Bank and IMF economist, as RBI’s deputy governor for a three-year term.
KYC Compliance Penalty for HDFC Bank: RBI imposed a ₹75 lakh penalty on HDFC Bank for non-compliance with Know Your Customer (KYC) norms.
IndusInd Bank Market Deposits: IndusInd Bank raised $2 billion via market deposits following accounting discrepancies.
RBI Repo Auction Decision: The RBI decided not to conduct the 14-day variable rate repo auction for the fortnight ending April 17, 2025, due to liquidity surplus.
Bank Nifty Index Performance: The Bank Nifty index gained 6.6% in March 2025, ending a three-month losing streak.
FATF Compliance Easing for UPI: India is lobbying the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to ease compliance requirements for cross-border payments via its Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
Postponed Bank Strike: The nationwide bank strike planned for March 24-25, 2025, was postponed after constructive discussions with authorities.
Lloyds Banking Group IT Job Shift: Lloyds Banking Group announced plans to move hundreds of skilled IT jobs from the UK to India by the end of 2025.
Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill Passed: The Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, passed on March 26, 2025, introduced reforms including redefinition of substantial interest and cooperative bank director tenure extensions.
S&P Banking Industry Assessment: S&P Global Ratings released the Banking Industry Country Risk Assessment Update for March 2025, covering 87 global banking systems.
New India Cooperative Bank Scam Arrests: Multiple individuals were arrested in connection with the ₹122 crore scam at New India Cooperative Bank.
RBI Fixed Funding Schemes: RBI may reintroduce fixed daily funding schemes for banks to better manage liquidity.
Current Repo Rate: RBI’s policy repo rate stood at 6.25% as of February 10, 2025.
IMPS 24/7 Services: Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) in India continued offering round-the-clock inter-bank electronic fund transfer services.
New Regulators for Growth: India appointed new regulators to key financial positions to drive faster economic growth.
WhatsApp Payments Expansion: WhatsApp received approval to extend its payment services to all users in India, potentially reaching over 500 million individuals.
Extended JAIIB Registration Deadline: The JAIIB May 2025 exam registration deadline was extended to March 2, 2025, with exams scheduled for May 4, 10, 11, and 18, 2025.
Hindu Review for March 2025: The Hindu Review for March 2025 was released, providing comprehensive current affairs coverage for competitive exam preparation.
List of Updates: February 2025
Economic Growth Projections: RBI’s latest report revised GDP growth forecast for FY25 to 6.8%.
Digital Payment Penetration: UPI transaction volume surged by 12% in February, surpassing the 10-billion mark.
Repo Rate Decisions: RBI kept repo rate unchanged at 6.5% during the February monetary policy meeting.
Basel III Compliance: Indian banks reported a significant improvement in their Basel III capital adequacy ratios.
MSME Lending Guidelines: New directive issued to banks on restructuring MSME loans for stressed units.
Financial Inclusion Push: Total PMJDY accounts crossed 500 million, with average balance per account increasing.
NPA Reduction Strategies: Major public sector banks recorded a drop in Gross NPAs, improving asset quality.
Green Financing Initiatives: Leading private sector banks launched specialized green bonds to fund renewable projects.
Banking Fraud Prevention: Enhanced vigilance measures led to a 20% reduction in reported banking fraud cases.
IFSC Banking Units (IBUs): GIFT City IBUs saw a spike in forex transactions, underlining their growing global importance.
Priority Sector Lending Updates: Adjusted PSL norms include renewable energy projects and electric vehicle financing.
Fintech Partnerships: Banks expanded collaborations with fintech firms for seamless digital lending solutions.
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC): Pilot phase for the digital rupee extended to new regions and user categories.
New Corporate Loan Guidelines: Banks instructed to follow revised exposure norms to prevent concentration risks.
Cybersecurity Frameworks: RBI urged banks to adopt advanced threat intelligence systems to counter cyber risks.
Capital Infusion in PSBs: Government allocated additional capital to bolster public sector bank balance sheets.
Cross-Border Remittance Update: New policy measures announced to facilitate faster and cheaper cross-border remittances.
Digital KYC Mandate: Regulatory push for complete digital onboarding of customers through video KYC.
Payment Bank Evolution: Payment banks allowed to offer select small-ticket loans under regulatory sandbox conditions.
Rural Banking Expansion: Rural branches increased by 15% year-on-year, strengthening financial inclusion efforts.
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