Theme 2: Banking, Financial Inclusion, and Digital Finance
Where Financial Insight Sparks Innovation
Banking systems worldwide are undergoing rapid transformation driven by digital innovation, data-enabled decision-making, regulatory reforms, and a renewed focus on financial inclusion. Advances in digital finance—such as mobile banking, real-time payments, fintech platforms, and algorithmic credit assessment—are reshaping how financial services are delivered and accessed, particularly in emerging economies.
This theme invites research that examines how financial insight and innovation can strengthen banking systems while expanding access to affordable, secure, and inclusive financial services. It emphasizes the role of technology, policy, and consumer behaviour in building resilient and inclusive financial ecosystems, with particular relevance to India and other developing markets.
Sub-Track I: Banking Innovation, Fintech, and Institutional Change
Traditional banking models are being redefined through fintech innovation, platform-based services, and increased use of data analytics. These developments raise important questions about competition, efficiency, and regulatory oversight.
Key Themes
Digital Banking Models: Branchless banking, neo-banks, embedded finance, and platform-based intermediation.
Fintech–Bank Dynamics: Collaboration, competition, and implications for market structure and service delivery.
Technology and Efficiency: Use of AI, big data, and automation in lending, risk management, and customer engagement.
Regulation and Supervision: Regulatory frameworks, sandbox approaches, and prudential challenges in digital banking.
Encouraged Approaches
Empirical banking studies, regulatory and institutional analysis, case-based research, and India-focused investigations.
Sub-Track II: Financial Inclusion, Access, and Consumer Behaviour
Financial inclusion remains a central development objective, with digital finance acting as a key enabler of access and usage among underserved populations.
Key Themes
Access and Usage: Determinants of adoption of bank accounts, digital payments, credit, savings, and insurance.
Consumer Behaviour: Financial literacy, trust, behavioural biases, and barriers to digital adoption.
Equity Dimensions: Gender gaps, rural–urban disparities, and regional inclusion outcomes.
Impact Assessment: Economic and social effects of inclusion initiatives on households and small enterprises.
Encouraged Approaches
Survey-based studies, behavioural experiments, impact evaluations, and comparative inclusion research.
Sub-Track III: Digital Finance Infrastructure, Payments, and Risk
Digital financial infrastructure has become central to modern banking and inclusion strategies, enabling scale, interoperability, and innovation.
Key Themes
Digital Payments Ecosystems: Mobile payments, real-time settlement systems, and interoperability frameworks.
Digital Credit and Data Use: Alternative data, algorithmic lending, and platform-based credit delivery.
Public Digital Infrastructure: Digital identity, open banking, and API-enabled ecosystems.
Risk and Consumer Protection: Cybersecurity, data privacy, fraud risk, and regulatory safeguards.
Encouraged Approaches
Interdisciplinary research, policy-oriented studies, technology impact assessments, and case analyses.
Methodologies & Contribution Types Encouraged
Submissions may include:
Empirical research using bank-level, household-level, or transaction data
Conceptual or theoretical models on digital banking and inclusion
Case-based studies focused on India or other emerging economies
Behavioural experiments and survey-based research
Policy-oriented analyses relevant to regulators and financial institutions
Interdisciplinary work linking finance with technology, development, or behavioural science