RBI Wins UK’s Digital Transformation Award 2025 for Game-Changing ‘Sarthi’ & ‘Pravaah’ Systems!
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) won the Digital Transformation Award 2025 from Central Banking, UK for its innovative Sarthi and Pravaah systems. Announced via platform X on March 14, these in-house digital initiatives have modernized RBI’s internal and external operations. Sarthi, launched in January 2023, digitizes internal workflows, enhancing document storage, sharing, and data analysis. Pravaah, introduced in May 2024, streamlines regulatory applications, integrating them into a secure, centralized system. Over 70 regulatory processes across nine RBI departments have been digitized. Led by IT Chief General Manager Shailendra Trivedi, the project optimized resource utilization and expedited implementation. The award recognizes RBI’s commitment to digital efficiency and reduced paper-based processes.
RBI Wins UK’s Digital Transformation Award 2025 for Game-Changing ‘Sarthi’ & ‘Pravaah’ Systems!
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has been honored with the Digital Transformation Award 2025 by Central Banking, a leading UK-based financial publication, recognizing its cutting-edge technological advancements through the Sarthi and Pravaah systems. Announced via RBI’s official social media handle on platform X on March 14, this award highlights the institution’s leadership in embracing digital transformation to modernize financial governance and streamline operations. The recognition underscores RBI’s commitment to leveraging technology to improve regulatory processes, enhance transparency, and boost efficiency across its internal and external workflows.
RBI’s digital transformation strategy gained momentum with the launch of two key in-house initiatives—Sarthi in January 2023 and Pravaah in May 2024. These systems were specifically designed to address inefficiencies associated with paper-based workflows and manual regulatory procedures. By digitizing operations, the central bank aimed to align itself with global standards, improve compliance mechanisms, and create a more responsive financial ecosystem. Through these initiatives, RBI has significantly reduced reliance on physical documentation, minimized processing delays, and enhanced data security, setting a new benchmark for central banks worldwide.
The Sarthi system, a pivotal component of this transformation, has revolutionized RBI’s internal workflows by replacing traditional paper-driven processes with a centralized digital workspace. This platform enables seamless document management, efficient storage, and real-time collaboration across departments. Among its standout features are integrated dashboards that provide actionable insights, encrypted storage for safeguarding sensitive financial data, and automated workflows that streamline approvals and inter-departmental communications. In addition to improving operational efficiency, Sarthi has also contributed to environmental sustainability by significantly reducing paper consumption. Since its implementation, the system has optimized resource allocation, accelerated decision-making processes, and enhanced accountability, reinforcing RBI’s leadership in public sector digitization.
Complementing Sarthi, the Pravaah system has transformed the way external stakeholders interact with RBI. Launched in mid-2024, this digital portal provides banks, financial institutions, and businesses with a streamlined platform for submitting regulatory applications, tracking their progress, and receiving approvals electronically. The system consolidates over 70 regulatory processes across nine RBI departments, eliminating the need for multiple physical submissions and reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks. With robust cybersecurity measures such as multi-factor authentication and end-to-end encryption, Pravaah ensures data integrity and safeguards sensitive financial information. Additionally, its real-time tracking and notification system has improved transparency and significantly reduced application processing times, enhancing stakeholder confidence in RBI’s digital services.
A key aspect of Pravaah is its integration with Sarthi, allowing for seamless routing of submitted documents for internal review. This interconnected framework has enhanced coordination between RBI’s internal and external functions, making regulatory compliance more efficient. The system’s success is evident in its widespread adoption, with over 85% of users reporting higher satisfaction due to its simplicity and reliability. The digital transformation driven by these platforms has also led to a 40% reduction in paper-based transactions and a 30% improvement in process turnaround times, according to internal audits.
The successful implementation of Sarthi and Pravaah was led by Shailendra Trivedi, Chief General Manager of RBI’s IT department. Under his leadership, the bank pursued an in-house development strategy, ensuring cost efficiency and allowing for greater customization to meet RBI’s unique institutional needs. This approach not only facilitated rapid implementation but also ensured that RBI retained full control over the system architecture, making it adaptable to future challenges. The decision to develop these systems internally proved instrumental in achieving scalability while maintaining robust cybersecurity standards. Within just 18 months of conceptualization, both platforms became fully operational, marking a significant milestone in RBI’s digital evolution.
The global recognition of RBI’s efforts through the Digital Transformation Award 2025 underscores the broader impact of its digital initiatives. By prioritizing technological innovation, the bank has not only modernized its operations but also set a precedent for other central banks seeking to enhance digital resilience. The award serves as a testament to RBI’s proactive measures in embracing digital tools to strengthen financial governance and streamline regulatory functions.
Looking ahead, RBI plans to further enhance Sarthi and Pravaah by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) for predictive analytics and automating compliance checks. The bank is also exploring collaborations with fintech firms to leverage blockchain technology for secure cross-border transactions. These advancements will further solidify RBI’s position as a pioneer in digital transformation, ensuring that India’s financial infrastructure remains resilient, inclusive, and future-ready.
In conclusion, RBI’s recognition on the global stage reflects its strategic foresight in harnessing technology to redefine central banking. By implementing Sarthi and Pravaah, the institution has not only enhanced operational efficiency but has also demonstrated the potential of digital solutions in public sector governance. This award reinforces RBI’s role as a digital leader and signals its continued commitment to fostering an innovative and technology-driven financial ecosystem.
