The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) celebrated its 44th Foundation Day with a renewed commitment to rural transformation, unveiling a series of forward-looking initiatives aimed at deepening financial inclusion, promoting innovation, and empowering rural communities.
Held at ITC Grand Chola, Chennai, the event was marked by a vibrant gathering of senior government officials, financial experts, cooperative leaders, and development practitioners.
Shaji K V, Chairman of NABARD, described the occasion as a defining moment in the institution’s journey, calling it a “testament to our unwavering commitment to inclusive and sustainable rural development.” He emphasized that NABARD would no longer remain confined to being a credit institution but would increasingly focus on anchoring innovation ecosystems, enabling technology adoption, and enhancing cooperative resilience across rural India.
In his address as the Chief Guest, M. Nagaraju, Secretary, Department of Financial Services, urged NABARD to ensure that credit mechanisms are aligned with the real-time needs of farmers. He highlighted that timely delivery of credit, especially for small and marginal farmers, is essential for strengthening rural livelihoods.
He also urged greater outreach in the northeastern states. Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary N Muruganandam praised NABARD’s role in accelerating SHG empowerment, rural infrastructure, and value chain integration, describing it as a key pillar in Tamil Nadu’s journey toward a $1 trillion economy by 2030.
NABARD also unveiled “NIVARAN,” a dedicated Internal Grievance Redressal System for Rural Cooperative Banks, providing 24×7 digital access for complaint resolution and aimed at enhancing governance and service delivery. It also announced awareness campaigns through All India Radio to enhance financial literacy.
One of the most ambitious programs introduced was GRIP, the Graduated Rural Income Generation Programme, which aims to provide ultra-poor households with returnable livelihood grants, training, and capacity-building support to transition into sustainable economic activity.
The institution also launched the “RuralTech CoLab Portal,” designed to bring startups, research institutions, and FPOs together to co-create solutions for rural India. Further, an environmental campaign titled “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” was launched across states like Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, symbolizing NABARD’s renewed environmental focus.
To commemorate the occasion, key publications such as RIDF@30, a coffee-table book titled Grameen Bharat Mahotsav, and Beyond Numbers 2025, an impact report capturing NABARD’s work across credit, climate resilience, digitization, and institutional development, were also released.
As the country moves toward the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, NABARD’s Foundation Day celebration stood out as more than a ceremonial milestone. It was a declaration of intent, a strategic shift from transactional finance to transformational development. With innovation, inclusion, and sustainability at its core, NABARD reaffirmed its role as a catalyst for change in India’s rural economy.
On the occasion, Indian Bank MD & CEO Binod Kumar, Indian Overseas Bank MD & CEO Ajay Kumar Shrivastava, NABARD Deputy MDs Goverdhan S. Rawat and Dr Ajay K. Sood, along with other senior NABARD officials, were also present at the event.
