RBI GOVERNOR PRESIDES OVER NIBM'S 18TH CONVOCATION

On the 10th of June, 2024, NIBM held its 18th convocation for the PGDM (Banking & Finance) 2022-24 batch. The Convocation ceremony was presided over by Shri. Shaktikanta Das, Honorable Governor - Reserve Bank of India and Chairman - NIBM Governing Board. The welcome speech by Prof. Partha Ray, Director - NIBM, touched upon the key achievements of the Institute in the year 2023-24, whilst giving a brief snapshot of the various educational, training, research and consulting activities undertaken by the Institute in the academic year. Prof. Arindam Bandyopadhyay, Dean (Academic Programme) & Principal, PGDM (B&FS) - NIBM, then introduced the Chief Guest, Prof. (Dr.) T. G. Sitharam, Chairman - All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), to the assembled gathering of high-ranking bank officials, industry representatives, academicians, students and their parents.

In his convocation address, Prof. Sitharam shed light on the immense growth potential of technology in banking and finance, which offers huge opportunities for the recently passed out PGDM students to contribute to this segment. The students were advised to focus on innovation, garner abilities to adapt to changes as well as ensure the optimal and ethical use of technology. He also emphasised on the tremendous skill requirements in banking, finance, technology, audit, and payment systems, while underscoring the critical role played by financial services in the promotion of innovation and business startups.

While congratulating the students on the successful completion of the course, he also highlighted the stellar achievements of the Indian banking and financial sector especially with reference to DPI (Digital Public Infrastructure), and urged them to take up challenging projects in order to become disruptors and BFSI product innovators, so that the nation can reach its avowed goal of becoming a fully developed nation ('Viksit Bharat') much before the target date of 2047. These inspiring words from the Chief Guest were greeted by a huge round of applause, that was followed by a vote of thanks by Prof. Bandyopadhyay to all, for the successful completion of the ceremony.

A total of 130 students from the 2022-24 batch received their diplomas and there were also nine individual gold medals presented by State Bank of India, India Exim Bank, Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, Bank of India, Indian Bank, Central Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra and Standard Chartered Bank. This year there was a special addition - The 'India Exim Bank Gold Medal for Academic Excellence', that was presented to Ms. Disha Patwa, the top scorer in the subject of 'Risk Management', which is one of the core themes of the PGDM (B&FS) curriculum. Being the topper of her batch, Ms. Patwa also received the 'State Bank of India Gold Medal for Academic Excellence'.

The Institute has continued its unbroken record of 100% placement, wherein the highest package is 26.5 LPA for this batch (2022-24). Along with academic excellence, the Institute also has collaborations with CMT, CFA and PRIMA for providing varied hands-on exposure to students thereby making them industry-ready. Hence, it is not surprising that NIBM was ranked in the top hundred management institutes in the 2023 rankings of NIRF and Fortune India.

The Honourable Governor (RBI) declaring the 18th convocation open [L-R: Prof. Partha Ray, Director - NIBM; Shri. Shaktikanta Das, Governor - Reserve Bank of India and Chairman - NIBM Governing Board; Prof. T. G. Sitharam, Chairman - All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE), and Prof. Arindam Bandyopadhyay, Dean (Academic Programme) - NIBM].

Prof. Partha Ray, Director - NIBM, delivering the welcome address.

The Chief Guest, Prof. T. G. Sitharam, Chairman - All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE), delivering the convocation address.

Prof. Arindam Bandyopadhyay, Dean (Academic Programme) & Principal, PGDM (B&FS) - NIBM, proposing the vote of thanks.