MUMBAI, March 15: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has been awarded the prestigious Digital Transformation Award 2025, presented by Central Banking, London. The award recognizes the RBI’s pioneering digital initiatives, including the launch of the Pravaah and Sarthi systems, which have significantly reduced paper-based submissions and transformed the bank’s internal and external processes.
According to a press statement from Central Banking, the RBI’s efforts have been integral to its ongoing digital transformation. The Sarthi system, which went live in January 2023, digitized all internal workflows within the RBI. The Hindi word for ‘charioteer,’ Sarthi has enabled employees to store and securely share documents, improved record management, and provided increased options for data analysis through customized reports and dashboards.
The second stage of this digital overhaul, Pravaah (meaning ‘smooth flow’ in Hindi), was launched in May 2024. Pravaah created a fully digitized platform for external users to submit regulatory applications to the RBI, reducing paperwork and streamlining submission processes. Documents processed through Pravaah are integrated into the Sarthi database, where they can be managed digitally across RBI’s offices, benefiting from centralized cybersecurity systems and digital tracking mechanisms.
Central Banking acknowledged the successful implementation of these digital systems, noting that the adoption of Sarthi was made possible through thorough collaboration between the RBI’s IT team and staff. A detailed process of understanding the needs of employees helped shape the system, with senior ‘nodal officers’ from each department acting as champions of the upgrade.
To further ensure smooth integration, the RBI introduced the Sarthi Pathshala (or ‘school’) to assist users in getting acquainted with the system. This initiative was paired with in-person training sessions to make the transition more seamless. In addition, ‘Sarthi Mitras’ (or ‘friends’) were appointed in each RBI office to offer ongoing support to colleagues using the new system.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the RBI expressed its pride in receiving the award, stating, “RBI was awarded and recognized for its initiatives, including Pravaah and Sarthi systems, developed by in-house teams. The awards committee praised how these digital initiatives have reduced paper-based submissions, effectively transforming both internal and external processes of the RBI.”
