RBI Inaugurates SAMVAD 2026 International Seminar in New Delhi

What happened

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) organised 'SAMVAD 2026', a two-day international seminar held in New Delhi across October 19 and 20, 2026. The global seminar brought together central bank Governors, Deputy Governors, and financial experts to discuss emerging challenges and opportunities facing the global financial system.

Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman, delivered the keynote address at the event. The opening welcome address was delivered by RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra. Deliberations at the seminar covered crucial themes including monetary policy, the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in finance, financial stability, financial inclusion, and the evolution of payment systems.

Several high-level sessions and panels were conducted during the two-day seminar. A panel on financial stability featured insights from RBI Deputy Governor Dr. Poonam Gupta, Department of Economic Affairs Secretary Anuradha Thakur, IRDAI Chairman Ajay Seth, Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan Governor Yangchen Tshogyel, IMF representative Athanasios Vamvakidis, and Paul Jackson from Invesco. Former RBI Governor and Principal Secretary-2 to the Prime Minister, Shaktikanta Das, also highlighted vulnerabilities related to untested AI valuations, sovereign debt stress, and geopolitical fragmentation.

Additional sessions focused on financial inclusion and autonomous systems. Chief Economic Adviser Dr. V. Anantha Nageswaran noted that financial inclusion remains at the core of central banking, backed by discussions from international central bank representatives. NITI Aayog Member Abhay Karandikar and Central Bank of Sri Lanka Governor Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe also addressed sessions centered on governing autonomous systems and managing uncertainties.

📅 Important dates

📝 What candidates should do

• Note down the names of key dignitaries who addressed SAMVAD 2026, including the Finance Minister and RBI Governor.
• Revise core central banking concepts related to financial stability, financial inclusion, and the integration of artificial intelligence in finance.
• Practice current affairs MCQs based on international central bank summits hosted by India.

🔍 PrepZen analysis

The hosting of 'SAMVAD 2026' by the Reserve Bank of India highlights India's growing leadership role in shaping global financial discourse. By bringing together international central bank heads, multilateral institutions like the IMF, and regulatory bodies, the seminar addresses modern economic complexities such as technological disruptions from AI, geopolitical fragmentation, and evolving payment systems. For banking and civil services aspirants, questions from this event are likely to focus on the host organization, key addresses, core themes, and prominent dignitaries involved in panels on financial stability and inclusion.

✍️ Practice questions

❓ FAQs

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