Secretary, DFS delivers keynote address at PSB Alliance Annual Strategy Meet 2026 at New Delhi today

1. At a Glance

PSB Alliance is a joint initiative of all 12 Public Sector Banks (PSBs) under the umbrella of the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) to offer common, technology-enabled services (notably Doorstep Banking) [S2][S3].
The Annual Strategy Meet 2026 (held 02 Feb 2026 in New Delhi) was the platform where Secretary, Department of Financial Services (DFS) launched the BAANKNET mobile app and the Digital Balance Confirmation Platform (DBCP) [S1].
Relevance: bank reforms (EASE agenda), NPA recovery infrastructure, DigiTech-in-banking — recurring GS-III economy themes.

On 02 February 2026, the Secretary, DFS delivered the keynote at the PSB Alliance Annual Strategy Meet 2026 in New Delhi and launched two products [S1]:
BAANKNET (Bank Assets Auction Network) Mobile App — extending the existing BAANKNET e-auction portal to mobile.
Digital Balance Confirmation Platform (DBCP) — for digital confirmation of bank balances (audit/reconciliation).
The address flagged PSB Alliance's contribution to Net Interest Margin (NIM) and Cost-to-Income Ratio of banks [S1].

2018: Government rolled out EASE (Enhanced Access & Service Excellence) reforms agenda for PSBs under DFS + IBA [S2].
Sep 2020: Then-FM Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled Doorstep Banking Services of PSB Alliance under EASE 2.0, with 13 services across 100 centres delivered via call centre, web portal and mobile app [S2].
28 Feb 2019: e-BKray portal launched for online auction of bank-attached assets [S4].
03 Jan 2025: BAANKNET e-auction portal (revamped successor of e-BKray) launched by DFS Secretary; all 12 PSBs + IBBI onboarded [S3][S4].
02 Feb 2026: BAANKNET mobile app + DBCP launched at PSB Alliance Strategy Meet [S1].

Parent body: Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance [S1].
PSB Alliance: collective of all 12 PSBs + Indian Banks' Association (IBA) [S2].
Doorstep Banking access channels: toll-free 1800-121-3721 / 1800-103-7188, portals psbdsb.in & doorstepbanks.com, Google Play mobile app [S2].
BAANKNET = Bank Assets Auction Network; one-stop e-auction portal for NPA-attached properties; integrates KYC tools, payment gateways, bank-verified titles; used by all 12 PSBs + IBBI [S3][S4].
DBCP = Digital Balance Confirmation Platform (audit-driven bank balance confirmation) [S1].
Bank metrics flagged: Net Interest Margin (NIM) and Cost-to-Income Ratio [S1].

Economic
NPA disposal infrastructure (BAANKNET) directly aids bank recoveries, improving balance sheets and credit cycle [S3].
DBCP cuts audit/reconciliation friction → supports lower Cost-to-Income Ratio [S1].
Administrative / Governance
Convergence model: 12 PSBs + IBA + IBBI on a common digital rail reduces duplication [S3].
Continuation of EASE Reforms agenda (since 2018) — institutional sequencing of PSB reform [S2].
Scientific / Technological
Mobile-first auction access; integrated e-KYC, secure payment gateway, title verification within BAANKNET [S3].
Social / Inclusion
Doorstep Banking explicitly targets senior citizens & differently-abled [S2]; nationwide reach of BAANKNET app makes auctioned assets accessible to common citizens [S1].
Legal
BAANKNET interfaces with the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 ecosystem via IBBI participation [S3].

03 Jan 2025: BAANKNET e-auction portal launched (revamped e-BKray) [S4].
2025: DFS Secretary chaired PSB Review Meeting for H1 FY 2025–26 (productivity, asset quality review) [S4].
02 Feb 2026: BAANKNET mobile app and DBCP launched at PSB Alliance Annual Strategy Meet 2026, New Delhi [S1].

PSB Alliance Annual Strategy Meet 2026 held on 02 Feb 2026 at New Delhi [S1].
Keynote delivered by Secretary, Department of Financial Services (Ministry of Finance) [S1].
Products launched at the meet: BAANKNET Mobile App and Digital Balance Confirmation Platform (DBCP) [S1].
BAANKNET stands for Bank Assets Auction Network [S1].
BAANKNET e-auction portal itself was launched on 03 January 2025 (revamping e-BKray) [S4].
Predecessor e-BKray was launched on 28 February 2019 [S4].
All 12 PSBs plus the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) use BAANKNET [S3].
PSB Alliance was constituted by all PSBs + Indian Banks' Association (IBA) [S2].
Doorstep Banking under PSB Alliance offers 13 services in 100 cities (as initially rolled out) [S2].
DSB toll-free numbers: 1800-121-3721 and 1800-103-7188 [S2].
Metrics emphasized in keynote: NIM and Cost-to-Income Ratio [S1].
Doorstep Banking was unveiled with results of EASE 2.0 Index by FM in 2020 [S2].

GS-III — Indian Economy / Banking Sector / Mobilisation of Resources.
Sub-heading: PSB reform, NPA management, financial inclusion through tech.
Possible question stems: 1. "Discuss how digital public infrastructure within Public Sector Banks (e.g., BAANKNET, DBCP, PSB Alliance Doorstep Banking) is reshaping NPA recovery and financial inclusion in India." (GS-III) 2. "Examine the role of the EASE reforms agenda and PSB Alliance in improving the Net Interest Margin and Cost-to-Income Ratio of Public Sector Banks." (GS-III) 3. "Evaluate the institutional convergence between DFS, IBA and IBBI in resolving stressed assets of the banking sector." (GS-III)

EASE Reforms Agenda (EASE 1.0 → 7.0) — parent framework of PSB Alliance [S2].
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 & IBBI — links via BAANKNET asset disposal [S3].
SARFAESI Act, 2002 — legal basis for bank-led asset auctions.
NIM, CRAR, GNPA, Cost-to-Income Ratio — RBI's banking sector indicators.
Jan Samarth Portal — DFS-led common credit gateway [S4].
Financial Inclusion Index (RBI) — measures progress PSB Alliance contributes to.
PSB consolidation (2017–2020) — context for "12 PSBs".
Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in finance — UPI, Account Aggregator, OCEN ecosystem.

Wrong nodal ministry: BAANKNET/DBCP/PSB Alliance fall under DFS, Ministry of Finance — not RBI, not MeitY.
BAANKNET vs e-BKray: BAANKNET is the revamped portal (Jan 2025); e-BKray was the 2019 predecessor — both are not separate live platforms [S4].
PSB Alliance ≠ Indian Banks' Association: PSB Alliance is a joint initiative of all PSBs (with IBA support), not IBA itself [S2].
Number of PSBs: post-2020 consolidation, the count is 12, not 21 or 27 [S3].
DBCP is a balance confirmation (audit) platform, not a payment or settlement system [S1].

[S1] Secretary, DFS delivers keynote address at PSB Alliance Annual Strategy Meet 2026 at New Delhi today — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2222343 — (tier: 1)
[S2] Finance Minister unveils Doorstep Banking Services and declares EASE 2.0 Index Results — https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1652723 — (tier: 1)
[S3] Government Launches BAANKNET and e-BKray to enhance PSU Bank E-Auctions for Asset Sales — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2114503 — (tier: 1)
[S4] DFS Secretary launches revamped 'BAANKNET' e-auction portal — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2089806 — (tier: 1)