Building future-ready workforce in banking sector leveraging Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)

Emerging leadership and technical skills

Leadership in the banking digitalization era today demands more than traditional management—it requires CIOs/CTOs and executives to drive innovation, lead digital transformation, and foster collaboration. Key competencies include a strong customer centric approach powered by data and technology, emotional intelligence to lead inclusive teams, and a digital-first mindset to strategize technology needs. Leaders must also build a culture grounded in data-driven insights, champion responsible and collaborative partnerships, and enable continuous talent transformation to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving landscape.

With changing customer expectations, technology-led disruption, and the growth of fintech, emerging job roles and skill sets require tailored skill development courses based on role specific responsibilities. Key focus areas for digital skilling include digital banking, AI in banking/ML, cybersecurity, augmenting customer experience, and fintech innovation.

DPI-driven learning ecosystem

The existing skilling framework follows a siloed learning and development approach, provides limited opportunity for growth and specialization, and lacks inter-bank collaborative approach for a sustainable and unified learning platform. DPI offers a cost-effective and scalable skilling framework integrated with AI to improve efficiency, learning and accessibility.

DPI and Digital Public Goods (DPGs) are open-source software built with open standards, open data, open AI systems and open content collections that adhere to privacy and other applicable laws and best practices. As of 2025, there are 191 DPGs in existence1. The banking and financial sector already leverages DPIs under India Stack, such as DPIs in identity, data exchange, and digital payments. India’s Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), also listed in India Stack, signifies the importance of building a comprehensive and unified learning ecosystem. To address the skilling, reskilling, and upskilling needs of the banking sector, DPI or DPG can provide several benefits, such as:  

A roadmap for banks to leverage DPI for skilling

To harness the full potential of DPI in workforce development, financial institutions must assess the current landscape, design for scalability and interoperability, and create a comprehensive learning and development strategy that addresses the needs of learners, trainers, and employers. Key considerations include:

1. Content curation: 

Curate engaging, modular, and gamified learning content using microlearning, simulations, and crowd-sourced or partner-driven models for agility and relevance

2. Anytime anywhere personalized delivery: 

Enable flexible, multi-device learning with AI-driven personalization, immersive AR/VR experiences, and hybrid models for broader reach

3. Right learning for right person: 

Use AI to recommend and customize and contextualise competency-based learning paths tailored to individual roles and demand-driven skill needs

4. Security and data privacy by design: 

Open-source, scalable, and interoperable secure systems through encryption, consent-based frameworks, and robust API management

5. Data-led insights: 

Data-led decisions to plan and size the training needs and implement real time tracking

6. User enablement: Support learners with AI-integrated helpdesks, technical repositories, and community resources like guides and video tutorials

7. Seamless experience: Policy decisions to create a unified learning experience through integration with HR systems and internal tools like messaging and other collaboration platforms

8. User management and authentication: Implement secure access through Single Sign-On (SSO), Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), and role-based access control (RBAC)