RBI’s Digital Leap Recognised Globally
RBI Wins Digital Transformation Award for Sarthi and Pravaah Initiatives: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has been honoured with the Digital Transformation Award by Central Banking in London, recognising its commendable efforts in modernising internal and external processes. This award celebrates the RBI’s implementation of Sarthi and Pravaah, two tech-driven platforms that have significantly improved transparency, efficiency, and digital record-keeping within the central bank’s vast ecosystem.
Sarthi: A Digital Backbone for Internal Operations
Launched in January 2023, Sarthi is a robust digital workflow system aimed at improving the RBI’s internal operations. The name “Sarthi,” which means “charioteer” in Hindi, reflects the platform’s role in guiding and supporting RBI staff across 13,500 employees and 40+ locations. It allows secure document storage, sharing, and tracking, replacing outdated paper trails. With integrated dashboards and analytical tools, Sarthi enhances decision-making and record management across all departments.
Pravaah: Smoothening External Regulatory Applications
Building on Sarthi’s foundation, RBI introduced Pravaah in May 2024, a platform that facilitates the digital submission of regulatory applications. The word “Pravaah” means “smooth flow”, highlighting its goal of simplifying external workflows. Designed to handle over 70 regulatory processes, Pravaah has greatly improved turnaround times and enabled real-time tracking for both applicants and RBI officers. It also links directly with Sarthi, creating a seamless ecosystem between internal and external operations.
Measurable Impact on RBI’s Efficiency
The digital shift has already shown measurable success. Since Pravaah’s launch, the RBI has recorded an 80% surge in monthly application volumes, indicating both higher efficiency and user trust in the new systems. By eliminating bottlenecks and reducing reliance on physical paperwork, both platforms are helping RBI save time, reduce errors, and serve stakeholders more effectively.
Significance of the Global Recognition
Receiving the Digital Transformation Award marks a milestone for RBI in its digital evolution. This recognition by a respected international body confirms that India’s central bank is on par with global best practices in digital governance. It also reinforces RBI’s commitment to e-governance, process automation, and making India’s regulatory environment more accessible and efficient.
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RBI Wins Digital Transformation Award for Sarthi and Pravaah Initiatives:
| Aspect | Details |
| Award Name | Digital Transformation Award |
| Awarded By | Central Banking (London) |
| Awarded To | Reserve Bank of India (RBI) |
| Year of Award | 2025 |
| Key Digital Initiatives | Sarthi (Jan 2023), Pravaah (May 2024) |
| Meaning of “Sarthi” and “Pravaah” | Sarthi – “Charioteer”; Pravaah – “Smooth Flow” (Hindi) |
| Users Benefited | Over 13,500 RBI employees and 70+ external application categories |
| Impact Metric | 80% rise in monthly regulatory applications post-Pravaah launch |
| Goal | Reduce paper use, improve efficiency, enable real-time tracking |
| Recognition Significance | Global acknowledgment of RBI’s digital leadership among central banks |
