Sri. Gautam Thakur, Chairman of Saraswat Co-operative Bank Ltd., has brought laurels not only to his esteemed institution but also to the co-operative banking sector at large by being inducted as a Member of the newly formed Advisory Group on Regulation (AGR) set up by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

The Advisory Group on Regulation is a high-level body constituted to strengthen stakeholder participation in the regulatory process and provide expert industry insights for periodic reviews.

The Group is chaired by Sri. Rana Ashutosh Kumar Singh, Managing Director, State Bank of India, and includes eminent financial leaders such as Sri. T. T. Srinivasaraghavan (Former MD & Non-Executive Director, Sundaram Finance Ltd.), Sri. Shyam Srinivasan (Former MD & CEO, Federal Bank Ltd.), Sri. Ravi Duvvuru (Former President & Chief Compliance Officer, Jana Small Finance Bank Ltd.), Sri. N. S. Kannan (Former MD & CEO, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Co. Ltd.), along with Sri. Gautam Thakur.

The Group has been given an initial tenure of three years, extendable by two more years subject to review. It also carries the flexibility to co-opt additional experts as deemed necessary, reflecting RBI’s consultative and inclusive approach towards regulation.

This development coincides with RBI’s move to strengthen its regulatory framework through the establishment of a Regulatory Review Cell (RRC) in the Department of Regulation, effective October 1, 2025. The RRC will ensure that all regulations issued by RBI undergo a systematic internal review every 5 to 7 years, making them more adaptive to the evolving financial sector dynamics.

The AGR will serve as a vital channel for industry feedback, ensuring that diverse viewpoints are effectively integrated into the regulatory review process. Sri. Gautam Thakur’s induction into the AGR not only highlights the rising stature of Saraswat Bank but also signifies the growing recognition of the co-operative banking sector’s pivotal role in shaping India’s financial architecture.