Kolkata, January 26, 2026:
Veteran banker and former Managing Director & CEO of Bandhan Bank, Shri Chandra Shekhar Ghosh, has been conferred the prestigious Governor’s Award of Excellence – Vande Mataram Puraskar 2026 by the Hon’ble Governor of West Bengal, Dr. C. V. Ananda Bose, in recognition of his pioneering contributions to financial inclusion, institutional innovation, and India’s socio-economic development.
The award was presented on the occasion of Republic Day, acknowledging Shri Ghosh’s transformative role in expanding access to formal banking and empowering underserved and marginalized communities across the country.
Shri Ghosh began his journey in the voluntary sector before establishing Bandhan-Konnagar in West Bengal, where he pioneered micro-credit programmes focused on women entrepreneurs. His initiatives enabled millions of women to achieve self-reliance, financial security, and economic dignity, laying the foundation for a grassroots-led financial inclusion movement.
Under his visionary leadership, Bandhan grew to become India’s largest microfinance institution and achieved a historic milestone in 2015 by transforming into a universal bank. This made Bandhan Bank the first microfinance institution in India to become a bank and the first new bank in Eastern India since Independence, significantly reshaping the country’s banking landscape. The journey stood as a powerful example of how social purpose and financial discipline can advance together.
Nationally recognised for his contributions to social entrepreneurship and business leadership, Shri Ghosh has also played a key role in guiding leading industry bodies in Eastern India. His career remains a testament to service, innovation, inclusive growth, and nation-building.
The conferment of the Vande Mataram Puraskar 2026 underscores his enduring impact on India’s financial ecosystem and his commitment to empowering millions through inclusive and responsible banking.
