Business Today has unveiled a distinguished jury for the 30th edition of the BT-KPMG Best Banks study, which will identify and recognise the finest CEOs in India’s banking sector. The jury is scheduled to convene on January 16 as part of the evaluation process for one of the country’s most respected banking awards.

According to a press release, the jury for this milestone edition brings together seasoned leaders with decades of experience across banking, regulation, capital markets and policy. The panel will assess leadership, strategy and performance in a sector widely regarded as one of the most complex and demanding in the economy.

Banking, even in favourable conditions, requires a deep understanding of multiple sectors, prudent lending decisions and constant investment in technology, particularly at a time when digital transformation has become the only constant. The sector has traditionally balanced conservatism with the ability to take calibrated risks, a combination that continues to define successful institutions and their leaders.

This year’s jury will be chaired by Dinesh Kumar Khara, former Chairman of the State Bank of India. He is joined by an eminent panel comprising G.N. Bajpai, Founder and Chairman of GovEva and former Chairman of SEBI and LIC; Gunit Chadha, Founder of APAC Financial Services and former CEO of Deutsche Bank; Zarin Daruwala, Group CEO of PL Capital and former CEO of Standard Chartered Bank for India and South Asia; Ashima Goyal, Professor Emeritus at IGIDR; Ashish Chauhan, Managing Director and CEO of NSE India; and Surojit Shome, former MD and CEO of DBS Bank India Limited.

The BT India’s Best Banks Awards have, over the years, become a key benchmark for recognising outstanding leadership and institutional excellence in the banking industry. Beyond growth and profitability, the awards place emphasis on strategy, innovation, technology adoption and the ability to expand banking services across the country, making them more accessible and inclusive as part of a broader social objective.