Under the aegis of its Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) Committee, PHDCCI, in collaboration with FPSB India, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Financial Planning Standards Board Limited—the global standards-setting body for the financial planning profession and owner of the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification program—organized the conference titled “The Path to Viksit Bharat: Unlocking the Power of Financial Education” at PHD House, New Delhi. This event aligns with the Government of India’s vision to harness financial education as a cornerstone of inclusive and sustainable growth.
Present at the event were distinguished leaders from the BFSI industry, academia, and key industry associations, including Chief Guest Prof. (Dr.) Anil Sahasrabudhe, Chairman, National Board of Accreditation (NBA), National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) & National Educational Technology Forum (NETF); Guest of Honour Prof. (Dr.) Indrani Bhaduri, Head, Education Survey Division, NCERT; Mr. Dante De Gori, Global CEO, Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd.; Mr S.K Sethi, Founder & CEO, Insurance Foundation of India; Mr. Krishan Mishra, Chief Executive Officer, FPSB INDIA; Ms. Shalini S. Sharma, Assistant Secretary General, PHDCCI; Ms. Amisha Sethi, Head- Policy & Communication, FPSB INDIA; Prof. (Dr.) Indira Bhardwaj, Dean, Management K R Mangalam University, Gurgaon; Dr. Sandhya Rai, Ex- Dean, IILM, GSM; Program Head, Undergraduate Program, School of Management, Bennett University; Dr. Rajiv Kishore Dubey, Former CMD, Canara Bank; Dr Narinder Kumar Bhasin, Zonal Head, Indian Institute of Banking and Finance, New Delhi; Ms. Suparna Tandon, CEO, NPS Trust; CMA (Dr.) S K Gupta, Managing Director, ICMAI Registered Valuers Organisation, New Delhi; Mr. B N Mishra, Senior Advisor Indian Bank Association (IBA); Prof. (Dr.) Arvind Kumar, Atal Bihari Vajpayee School of Management, JNU, New Delhi; Ms. Babeeta Sharma, Senior Secretary, PHDCCI; and Mr. Sanjay Ahuja, Joint Secretary, PHDCCI.
Prof. (Dr.) Anil Sahasrabudhe, Chairman of NBA, NAAC, and NETF, underscored the critical importance of financial literacy and inclusion. He highlighted the widespread lack of financial literacy and stressed the urgent need for comprehensive financial education. Acknowledging the challenges posed by India’s large population, he emphasized that financial inclusion is essential to ensure equitable access to vital services for all citizens.
Dr. Sahasrabudhe also pointed out that SDG 4, which focuses on education, is interconnected with all 16 Sustainable Development Goals, both directly and indirectly. He further advocated for using engaging and relatable methods, such as stories and comics, to teach children about financial literacy and inclusion, making these concepts more accessible and impactful.
Prof. (Dr.) Indrani Bhaduri, Head of the Education Survey Division at NCERT, emphasized the importance of introducing financial literacy at the school level. She noted that financial literacy is an integral part of Sustainable Development Goal 4.7, which focuses on education for responsible citizenship.
Dr. Bhaduri highlighted that fostering financial awareness is essential for helping students build sustainable lifestyles from an early age. She advocated for integrating financial literacy into the existing education system, beginning at the preparatory stage, to ensure deeper understanding and long-term impact.
Mr. Dante De Gori, Global CEO of Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. (FPSB), expressed his gratitude to PHDCCI for their collaboration. He highlighted that FPSB Ltd. offers the globally recognized CFP® certification, a mark of excellence in financial planning grounded in rigorous competency requirements and high ethical standards.
He further emphasized that through a robust curriculum and continuous professional development, FPSB is dedicated to empowering CFP® professionals to provide trusted, high-quality financial planning services. These efforts, he noted, aim to enhance the financial well-being and security of individuals and families—because financial security should be recognized as a fundamental human right.
Mr. S.K. Sethi, Founder & CEO of the Insurance Foundation of India, stressed the pressing need to expand financial education across rural India. He emphasized that empowering individuals with financial knowledge is crucial for improving access to essential services such as banking and insurance, ultimately contributing to inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
Mr. Krishan Mishra, Chief Executive Officer of FPSB India, emphasized that education is a key driver of both employability and entrepreneurship—crucial pillars for building a Viksit Bharat. Referencing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), he highlighted education and finance as two fundamental components for sustainable progress. Citing the RBI’s December 2024 report, he noted that although 42% of Indians are financially literate, only 4% are financially educated, underscoring the urgent need for focused financial awareness initiatives.
He stated that financial planning is not just about managing money but about managing life and navigating it more effectively.
Following the inaugural session, a series of engaging panel discussions took place.
The first panel discussion, titled “The Seeds of Financial Awareness: Higher Education’s Role in Building Financial Futures,” was expertly moderated by Ms. Amisha Sethi, Head of Policy & Communication at FPSB India. The session brought together a panel of distinguished experts from academia and the financial sector, including Prof. (Dr.) Indira Bhardwaj, Dean, Management, K.R. Mangalam University, Gurgaon; Dr. Sandhya Rai, Former Dean, IILM Graduate School of Management; Program Head, Undergraduate Program, School of Management, Bennett University; Dr. Rajiv Kishore Dubey, Former Chairman and Managing Director, Canara Bank; Dr. Narinder Kumar Bhasin, Zonal Head, Indian Institute of Banking and Finance, New Delhi
The discussion explored how higher education can play a pivotal role in nurturing financial literacy and shaping financially responsible citizens.
The second panel discussion was centred on the theme “Building Future Skills: Financial Planning for a Thriving, Sustainable Bharat.” The session was skilfully moderated by Ms. Shalini S. Sharma, Assistant Secretary General, PHDCCI, and featured an esteemed panel of thought leaders: Ms. Suparna Tandon, CEO, NPS Trust; CMA (Dr.) S. K. Gupta, Managing Director, ICMAI Registered Valuers Organisation; Mr. B. N. Mishra, Senior Advisor, Indian Banks’ Association (IBA); Prof. (Dr.) Arvind Kumar, Atal Bihari Vajpayee School of Management, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
The discussion focused on equipping individuals with future-ready financial planning skills, aligning with the vision of a sustainable and economically empowered Bharat.
Ms. Shalini S. Sharma, Assistant Secretary General, PHDCCI, delivered the opening remarks, skillfully moderated the second panel discussion, and concluded the session with a formal vote of thanks.
Ms. Babeeta Sharma, Senior Secretary, PHDCCI, graciously conducted the felicitation segment of the conference, and Mr. Sanjay Ahuja, Joint Secretary, PHDCCI, efficiently coordinated the conference, ensuring its smooth execution and success.
The event saw a strong turnout, with active participation from a diverse and sizable audience.