Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman emphasized the essential role of the banking sector in India's vision to become a developed nation, or Viksit Bharat, by 2047 during the 90th Foundation Day of the Bank of Maharashtra. She outlined key responsibilities for banks, including supporting infrastructure development, providing funding to MSMEs, increasing financial inclusion for the unbanked, and enhancing insurance penetration. Sitharaman highlighted the importance of robust cybersecurity measures to protect digital banking systems from potential breaches, stating that banks must maintain trust with their customers. She also noted that India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is a global leader, handling 45% of real-time digital payments worldwide and operational in seven countries. The Finance Minister's remarks reflect the government's commitment to leveraging banks in achieving economic growth and stability as part of the broader development agenda.