WB Governor honours veteran banker Chandra Shekhar Ghosh with Governor’s Award of Excellence for pioneering Financial Inclusion

Veteran banker and former MD & CEO of Bandhan Bank, Shri Chandra Shekhar Ghosh has been conferred the 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 contribution for financial inclusion, institutional innovation, and India’s socio-economic development. The award was presented on the Republic Day on January 26, 2026, acknowledging his transformative role in expanding access to formal finance and empowering underserved communities.

Beginning his journey in the voluntary sector and later establishing Bandhan-Konnagar in West Bengal, he pioneered micro-credit programmes for women entrepreneurs, empowering millions to achieve self-reliance and economic dignity. Under his visionary leadership, Bandhan evolved into India’s largest microfinance institution and, in a historic milestone, transformed into a universal bank in 2015 – the first such institution in the country and the first new bank in Eastern India since Independence. This singular achievement reshaped the nation’s banking landscape and demonstrated how social purpose and financial prudence can advance together.

Honoured nationally for social entrepreneurship and business leadership, and having guided leading industry bodies in Eastern India, Shri Ghosh’s career embodies service, innovation, and nation-building.