New Delhi, Aug. 17 -- Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday declared that non-performing assets (NPAs) in Indian banking have fallen to their lowest-ever level, telling public sector bank chiefs at the inaugural session of PSB Confluence 2026 that lenders are now in their strongest-ever position to drive reform.

Addressing top bank leadership at the two-day conclave, Sitharaman said the Department of Financial Services (DFS) had, for the first time in her tenure, prepared detailed research documents on all seven themes chosen for discussion at the meet. She singled out the document on youth as particularly striking, noting it breaks down India's young population by age and life stage, and pointed out that nearly 29% of Indi...