Page 39 - Banking Finance July 2025

ARTICLE

Why Experience Still

Matters: The

Untapped Power of

India's Former

Banking Talent Dr. Rajat Chopra
Founder & CEO
Bankersklub

Retired banking professionals have an opportunity to contribute to a sector that promises to be a
key enabler in India's aspiration to become the third largest economy in the world by 2028. The
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector in India has been a huge growth driver,
contributing to around 30 percent of India's GDP, 45 percent of its manufacturing output and 48
percent of exports, and providing employment to around 11 crore people.

T he retired banking community in India has a lot to Former bankers have core expertise that MSMEs can tap
to address challenges around fundraising. These profession-
feel proud of - having contributed to a sector that
has recorded high performance and profitability,
35 years, possess unmatched institutional knowledge, ana-
helped advance the country's financial inclusion goals, sur- als, many of whom have served the sector for more than
passed global peers in digital transformation and is now on lytical insights, regulatory familiarity and diverse banking
its way to becoming one of the top three domestic banking sectoral expertise that are more relevant today than ever.
sectors in the world. Such financial wisdom goes a long way in helping MSMEs
navigate the complexities around accessing credit.
However, once retired, professionals from this dynamic in-
dustry do not have adequate avenues to utilize their core Bridging the MSME Credit Gap: What
expertise. And the goldmine of financial wisdom at their Needs to be Done
disposal remains untapped.
Non-standard accounting practices: A strong account-
ing foundation, including standard book-keeping prac-
Now, retired banking professionals have an opportunity to
tices and the maintenance of financial records, needs
contribute to a sector that promises to be a key enabler in
to be in place for informed decision-making and boost-
India's aspiration to become the third largest economy in ing lender confidence.
the world by 2028. The Micro, Small and Medium Enter-
prise (MSME) sector in India has been a huge growth driver, Lack of formalisation: Many MSMEs continue to oper-
contributing to around 30 percent of India's GDP, 45 per- ate in an informal manner. Effort must go into
cent of its manufacturing output and 48 percent of exports, sensitising them about registering their business under
and providing employment to around 11 crore people. How- Udyam, which will improve their chances of accessing
ever, the sector continues to face a large credit gap of Rs funds.
20-25 lakh crore that threatens to stifle growth. Lack of awareness of government schemes: Several

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