Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), a premier Government of India R&D institution under the Ministry of Communications signs a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Punjab National Bank (PNB), one of India’s leading public sector banks, to strengthen PNB’s IT infrastructure and fast-track its technology transformation journey.
As technology continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, its impact on various sectors—ranging from digital payments, blockchain and artificial intelligence to IoT and cloud solutions—has the potential to transform financial systems, improve accessibility and drive economic inclusion. Digital financial inclusion is a key enabler of socio-economic growth and, when fuelled with technology innovation and collaboration, has the potential to realize the collective dreams of “Atmanirbhar Bharat” and “Viksit Bharat”.
Under the MoU, C-DOT will offer specialized IT products and services, enabling faster deployment of advanced, indigenous solutions tailored to the needs of PNB. Key developments include leveraging advanced telecom infrastructure for secure digital transactions, creating a robust cybersecurity framework for promoting financial inclusion with secure banking. C-DOT will offer a comprehensive suite of solutions, which includes Switching and Routing, Wireless technology, software applications including AI, cyber security solution, quantum communication and other applications and ongoing maintenance—ensuring secure, scalable, and regulatory-compliant IT capabilities aligned with PNB’s strategic priorities.
The signing ceremony took place at C-DOT Headquarters, New Delhi, in the presence of officials from C-DOT & PNB. Shri Manish Agrawal, GM, Shri Surendra Vishwakarma, GM, Shri Manish Sharma, DGM along with senior executives were present from Punjab National Bank, while C-DOT was led by Dr.Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO, Dr.Pankaj Kumar Dalela, EVP1, Ms. Shikha Srivastava, EVP2, Shri Rajeev Kumar, Registrar, and Shri. Mahinder Singh, CFO along with other senior officials.
Shri Manish Agrawal, GM-IT, PNB, said:
“This strategic partnership with C-DOT marks a milestone in PNB’s IT transformation journey. Leveraging C-DOT’s expertise, we will accelerate modernisation, enhance customer touchpoints, and deliver secure, seamless digital banking services across India. Together, we are creating a resilient, technology-driven, and customer-first banking ecosystem.”
Shri Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO, C-DOT, said:
We firmly believe that fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge-sharing with Punjab National Bank is a crucial step towards “Atmanirbhar Bharat”, by extending secure, efficient, and digitally inclusive financial services to the citizens. This initiative reflects our collective commitment to innovation, sustainability and inclusivity, which are core to C-DOT’s mission”
Over the past four decades, C-DoT has been at the forefront of India’s telecom revolution—bringing connectivity to rural areas, powering the ambitious BharatNet (NOFN) project, and delivering cutting-edge solutions in Cyber security, Disaster Management, 4G/5G, Next generation networks, AI, Network Management Systems, IoT/M2M applications among others. It has also initiated exploratory research into 6G use cases, aligning with the vision of positioning India as a global leader in next-generation connectivity & fulfilling the vision of AtmanirbharBharat.
Punjab National Bank (PNB) is a major Indian state-owned bank offering a comprehensive range of financial products like loans, accounts, and investments to individuals and businesses. It is one of India’s largest public sector banks, with a significant presence across the country and some international operations. The bank provides various services, including personal, corporate, and capital services, and participates in government initiatives to promote financial inclusion.
This collaboration will continue to foster an environment of digital reinforcement and innovation to achieve financial inclusion and sustainable development supporting Government of India’s Digital India vision and “Atmanirbhar Bharat”
C-DOT continues to facilitate banks to strengthen its IT systems and provide technology solutions for enhanced financial services.
Glimpses from the MoU signing ceremony held today at C-DOT between the Centre for Development of Telematics and Punjab National Bank.
