Finance Forward

  “Am I still relevant in the market?” That was the first question on the opening slide of my talk at Delhi Technological University (formerly Delhi College of Engineering) . And honestly, it’s the question that sits quietly in every finance professional’s mind today. On October 31, 2025, I had the privilege of speaking to a packed hall of bright young management students at DTU about a topic that’s reshaping not just finance, but the future of work itself — Artificial Intelligence in Finance . My thanks to Dr. Arushi Jain for making the session possible and for the energy she brought to the conversation. What’s happening? AI is no longer a buzzword. It’s a boardroom strategy. McKinsey estimates that Generative AI could add up to $4.4 trillion in annual economic value , with financial services at the heart of that growth. From banking to tax to consulting, algorithms are becoming colleagues — handling data analysis, automating compliance, and even drafting financial insights....

  Audits in India are about to look very different. Until now, they meant piles of files, long travel for auditors, and months of delays. But starting November 2025, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) will move everything to a new online system called CAG-Connect . This is like moving from typewriters to cloud apps overnight. Instead of chasing paperwork, auditors will log in to a single dashboard that pulls data from India’s digital systems—things like state financial accounts, e-procurement records, and even geospatial maps. The real game-changer is AI.  CAG is building its own large language model, CAG-LLM , that works like a specialized chatbot for government accounts. With Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), it can pull information from different sources, link it together, and explain patterns in plain language. So instead of auditors digging through spreadsheets line by line, the system highlights unusual trends - say, a sudden spike in spending on a project or...

So, when ChatGPT first made headlines, a lot of people thought: “Cool, students now have a machine to do their essays.” But here’s the twist it’s not just students. Everyone from lawyers to travel junkies to tired parents planning dinner are sneaking ChatGPT into their daily routines. Think of it less like a robot doing your homework and more like a Swiss Army knife for thinking, writing, and problem-solving. Let’s break it down. What’s Happening? People are using ChatGPT in five big ways: work, learning, life hacks, creativity, and just plain fun. At work, employees are asking it to draft emails, summarize reports, or explain complex data without the jargon. Programmers? They’re debugging code or asking ChatGPT to write quick scripts. It’s like having an unpaid intern minus the coffee runs. In learning, students and lifelong learners treat it like a 24/7 tutor. Whether it’s explaining calculus in plain English or practicing Spanish, ChatGPT makes complex stuff feel way less scary. ...

Imagine standing in a long queue at a government office, holding stacks of documents, only to be told to return the next day. Now contrast this with filing taxes, applying for subsidies, or renewing licenses—all from your smartphone. That’s the promise of E-Governance , a rapidly growing market projected to touch USD 50.4 billion by 2032 , with a CAGR of 11.7% . The transformation is not merely technological; it’s a shift in how states engage with citizens. The Rise of E-Governance At its core, E-Governance (electronic governance) refers to the use of digital platforms by governments to deliver services, increase transparency, and engage with citizens. It blends technology with administration—like replacing an outdated manual ledger with a smart dashboard accessible in real time. Growth is driven by multiple factors: governments pushing digital transformation to cut costs, smartphone and internet penetration (India already has over 750 million users), advanced technologies like AI, ...

Artificial Intelligence is evolving rapidly, and its newest frontier, known as Agentic AI , is beginning to reshape how the banking industry operates. Unlike earlier AI models that merely responded to prompts, agentic systems are designed to act with autonomy. They can initiate actions, complete multi-step processes, and make decisions without constant human oversight. This shift promises enormous efficiency gains for banks but also raises significant concerns around security, ethics, and governance. The appeal of agentic AI lies in its ability to transform routine operations. Already, around 41% of organisations in Australia report using some form of agentic AI and that's a huge number, and by 2029 it is projected that nearly 80% of customer service issues could be handled autonomously (Banker's jobs??). For banks, this translates into faster response times, reduced costs, and an enhanced customer experience. Compliance monitoring is also evolving, with solutions such as Proo...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept — it is here, actively shaping how decisions are made, risks are managed, and careers are evolving. Yesterday, I had the privilege of addressing students at Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management (LBSIM), Dwarka, New Delhi , on the fascinating intersection of AI and finance. The session was an engaging exchange of ideas, where we explored not just how AI is transforming industries today, but also how aspiring professionals can prepare themselves for tomorrow. The discussion began with a critical question: Am I still relevant in a world where machines are becoming smarter every day? This is a question every finance professional must ask. From there, we examined real-world applications — how AI is driving efficiency in banking, consulting, and taxation . Generative AI, for instance, is estimated to add $2.6–$4.4 trillion in annual economic value globally, with financial services accounting for a major share through ri...

BJP's Digital Detox: Cleansing Ghost Workers Ahead of 2026 Elections As India gears up for the 2026 general elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is undertaking a major overhaul of its digital machinery. Dubbed as a “digital detox,” this move is aimed at identifying and removing ghost workers—volunteers or digital operatives who exist more on paper than in practice—from the party's extensive data networks. This decision is not just a political clean-up; it's a strategic alignment that speaks volumes about the intersection of governance, economics, and digital accountability in India. And if you're like me—someone who loves decoding policies through the lens of economics and taxation—then this shift has more layers than it initially appears. What Are Ghost Workers and Why Do They Matter? Ghost workers are entities—real or fabricated—who are enlisted in party systems but contribute little to no actual work. In bureaucracies and political circles, their exis...

Bridging the Gaps in Enrollment Tech to Boost Student Engagement In today’s increasingly digital age, bridging the gaps in enrollment tech isn’t just a tech upgrade—it's a strategic necessity for improving student engagement. From AI-based application portals to personalized communication, innovative technology can make or break student onboarding. If you’ve ever wondered why dropout rates remain high or why students disengage despite academic potential, it might be time to look closely at outdated enrollment systems. And trust me, as someone who studies systems—economic and otherwise—this one’s due for disruption. Why Enrollment Technology Matters in 2024 Whether you're a policymaker, university administrator, or a parent navigating admissions, the value of seamless enrollment tech cannot be overstated. Modern students expect intuitive, digital-first experiences similar to what they're used to with banking apps or e-commerce platforms. When enrollment systems a...

Ever heard someone say they’re moving their company to avoid taxes? Well, now the world’s biggest corporations won’t find that so easy. That’s because the global tax game just changed—and Thailand is making its move too. If your business or client operates overseas—or plans to—you’ll want to understand how “minimum taxes” and Thailand’s new strategy with tax credits could impact you. It’s all about staying competitive, but within the rules! ## What’s Thailand Doing, and Why Should You Care? So here's the thing—Thailand’s trying to get ahead of new global tax rules, specifically the 15% global minimum tax pushed by the OECD. If you’ve never heard of that, it’s basically a worldwide agreement to stop big companies from dodging taxes by using low-tax countries. Thailand, like many others, doesn’t want to lose out on global investments just because it’s following new rules. So now, the country is looking to beef up tax credits that still qualify under the new regime. Think of it like t...

What happens to the 15% global minimum corporate tax that 140+ countries agreed on? It’s like planning a group dinner across countries, and just when everyone finally agrees on the place and time, one big guest says, “Nope, I’m ordering in!” That guest... is the United States.    ## But first, what exactly is this global minimum tax ? Think of it like a floor— no country can charge big multinational companies less than 15% in corporate taxes . Why? Because for years, these giant companies have played "musical chairs" with their profits—shifting them to tax havens like Bermuda or Ireland to avoid paying fair taxes. So the goal of this tax is to stop this race to the bottom, where countries compete by slashing tax rates just to attract businesses. It’s not about taxing small local stores or freelancers—it’s aimed at global giants like Apple, Google, and Meta. And yes, India is part of this deal too. We want to make sure our piece of the tax pie doesn't vanish to some zero-t...

What if I told you that your multinational company could be taxed in India—even if it doesn’t have a physical office here? Sounds wild, right? But that’s exactly what the Supreme Court’s decision in the Hyatt case just confirmed. And let me be honest—this isn’t just any boring tax verdict, this one’s a game-changer. ## What Is the Hyatt Ruling —and Why Is Everyone Talking About It? At the center of the ruling is a deceptively simple idea: if a foreign company creates what's called a “Permanent Establishment” (PE) in India, it has to pay Indian taxes on income earned here. Here’s where it gets tricky. You don't need a physical office, factory, or even a branch to have a PE. If you’re operating through a dependent agent who's habitually finalizing contracts on your behalf—boom! That’s enough. The Hyatt case involved a US-based hotel chain that had Indian affiliate companies doing all the heavy lifting—marketing, bookings, even negotiating with guests. Even though Hyatt said,...