Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Sitharaman urges public sector banks to win young Indians
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman wants public sector banks to connect more closely with young people.
She proposed a month-long “Banking for Youth” campaign starting on October 2, 2026.
The campaign would reach people aged 16 and older at colleges, universities and skill centres.
Banks could help young people open accounts and learn about safe banking, credit and government schemes.
They could also create special “Yuva” kiosks and online learning tools.
Sitharaman said young Indians use digital payments often and expect banking to be simple and available at any time.
She wants banks to support customers from education through jobs, entrepreneurship and investing.
She also asked banks to provide more useful credit to small farmers growing pulses and oilseeds.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed a month-long “Banking for Youth” campaign beginning October 2, 2026.
The campaign would target people aged 16 and above through colleges, universities and skill-building institutions.
She urged public sector banks to offer simpler, personalised digital services and build relationships from “campus to career.”
Sitharaman called for dedicated youth facilities, financial-literacy tools and education about credit scores and government schemes.
She also asked banks to expand timely, locally tailored credit for small and marginal pulses and oilseeds farmers.
- Who
- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and India’s public sector banks.
- What
- Sitharaman proposed a youth-banking campaign and urged banks to expand targeted agricultural credit.
- When
- The proposal was made on Tuesday at PSB Confluence 2026; the campaign is proposed to begin on October 2, 2026.
- Where
- At PSB Confluence 2026 in New Delhi, with outreach planned at campuses, universities and skill-building institutions.
- Why
- To bring young people into formal banking early, build long-term customer relationships and support domestic production of pulses and oilseeds.
- Campaign
- “Banking for Youth,” proposed as a month-long programme
- Proposed start
- October 2, 2026, on Gandhi Jayanti
- Target group
- Citizens aged 16 and above
- Youth outreach
- Colleges, universities, campuses and skill-building institutions
- Digital-payments statistic
- People aged 18–29 account for 66% of UPI transactions, according to Sitharaman
- Agricultural focus
- Expanded, timely and locally tailored credit for pulses and oilseeds farmers, especially small and marginal farmers
- Suggested services
- Yuva Kiosks, Yuva Banking Mitra and a web- and mobile-friendly youth banking portal
Sources
Sitharaman asks PSBs to woo young Indians, expand credit to pulses and oilseeds farmers
Reach out to youth for next growth phase, FM tells PSBs
FM Sitharaman asks public sector banks to shake off ‘government bank’ image, target youth