In this episode of Innovators Playground Podcast by NPCI, Dilip Asbe, MD and CEO, NPCI, speaks with Lalit Keshre, Co Founder and CEO, Groww, on how Groww built for scale using time tested open source, why simplicity takes constant defence, and what smart tech choices look like when growth is fast and stakes are high.
Here is what the episode dives into:
✅ Open Source as a growth engine: How Groww’s platform was built on time tested open source foundations like Kubernetes and Kafka and why reliability and security demand proven communities over shiny new tools
✅ First principles of tech choices: Why Groww invested early in in house infrastructure and microservices, what they learned from distributed monolith complexity, and how they corrected course
✅ Protecting simplicity at scale: How Groww uses a platform layer that standardises core services for multiple product pods, helping teams ship fast without each team rebuilding resilience from scratch
✅ India’s DPI story and what comes next: A founder’s perspective on how Aadhaar, digital onboarding, KYC, and UPI enabled Groww’s journey and why the next wave will be shaped by engineering talent, platforms, and responsible inclusive innovation
🎧 Tune in for a conversation that blends engineering depth with founder clarity on what it takes to build products and platforms for India at scale.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this channel by the host and guests are for informational and entertainment purposes only, and do not constitute professional advice. The content provided does not claim to be exhaustive and does not cover all aspects of the topic discussed. Host and Guests do not necessarily subscribe the opinions expressed. Viewers are advised to conduct their own research and seek professional guidance for any specific concerns or questions.
In this episode of Innovators Playground Podcast by NPCI, we welcome our first global guest, Alex Chriss, President and CEO of PayPal, in a wide-ranging conversation with Dilip Asbe, MD and CEO, NPCI, on the future of global commerce, AI-led experiences, trust at scale, and the next stage of cross-border payments.
Here’s what the episode dives into:
✅ Building a Borderless Economy – How PayPal enables $2 trillion+ in annual movement and solves for trust, safety, and regulation across 200+ markets
✅ NPCI International × PayPal Partnership – How PayPal’s partnership with @NPCI International, through the integration of @UPI with @PayPal World, can lower friction, expand access, and create new pathways for consumers and small businesses worldwide
✅ Rise of Agentic Commerce – Why AI-led shopping, personalised journeys, remote MCP servers, and verified catalogues will change how people buy and sell
✅ Stablecoins – How the evolving digital currency frameworks can make cross-border payments faster, cheaper, and more transparent
✅ Leading at Global Scale – Balancing innovation and stability while supporting 40M+ merchants and navigating fraud, customer protection, and instant money movement
🎧 Tune in to explore how NPCI and PayPal are shaping a more connected, efficient, and intelligent payment ecosystem for the world.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this channel by the host and guests are for informational and entertainment purposes only, and do not constitute professional advice. The content provided does not claim to be exhaustive and does not cover all aspects of the topic discussed. Host and Guests do not necessarily subscribe the opinions expressed. Viewers are advised to conduct their own research and seek professional guidance for any specific concerns or questions.
In this special episode of Innovators Playground by NPCI, Mr. C S Setty, Chairman of State Bank of India, joins Dilip Asbe for a rare insider look at how SBI is reimagining banking at national scale, from village touchpoints to AI-driven risk systems and global ambitions.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
✅ High-Tech + High-Touch Banking - how SBI is fusing AI, predictive risk models, and YONO 2.0’s omni-channel experience with human trust
✅ Scaling India’s Financial Backbone - serving 520M+ customers through 1.6 lakh+ touchpoints and 140+ patented AI/ML models
✅ Driving Viksit Bharat 2047 - financing new-age sectors like semiconductors & green energy while powering financial inclusion
✅ Leading Through Complexity - lessons from steering India’s biggest bank across disruption, regulation, and global expansion
🎧 Listen now for a masterclass in building and leading the institution that moves India’s economy.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this channel by the host and guests are for informational and entertainment purposes only, and do not constitute professional advice. The content provided does not claim to be exhaustive and does not cover all aspects of the topic discussed. Host and Guests do not necessarily subscribe the opinions expressed. Viewers are advised to conduct their own research and seek professional guidance for any specific concerns or questions.
What does it really take to build India’s future?
In Episode 4 of Innovators Playground by NPCI, Kunal Shah, Founder of CRED, joins Dilip Asbe for an unfiltered conversation on ambition, risk, AI, and the mindset to scale big.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
✅Why ambition is India’s biggest untapped resource
✅ How founders turn chaos into clarity
✅ Why risk-taking is essential to building for scale
✅ How AI can be a 100x productivity multiplier
✅ Why valuing time is central to becoming a developed nation
🎧 Tune in now for insights from one of India’s most dynamic entrepreneurs.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this channel by the host and guests are for informational and entertainment purposes only, and do not constitute professional advice. The content provided does not claim to be exhaustive and does not cover all aspects of the topic discussed. Host and Guests do not necessarily subscribe the opinions expressed. Viewers are advised to conduct their own research and seek professional guidance for any specific concerns or questions.
In the third episode of Innovators Playground by NPCI, Dilip Asbe speaks with Dr. Pramod Varma, Former Chief Architect of India Stack, Co-Creator, Finternet & Beckn, to explore what it takes to engineer systems at billion-user scale.
Key takeaways:
• Advice for young engineers to move beyond coding into problem-solving and execution
• Principles behind building modular, resilient, and future-ready architecture
• Why protocol thinking is the key to scaling globally without central bottlenecks
• The vision for tokenizing real-world assets through the Internet initiative
• Lessons from Aadhaar, UPI, and India Stack on innovation at population scale
🎧 Tune in for a masterclass on technology, scale, and imagination shaping India’s digital future.
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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this channel by the host and guests are for informational and entertainment purposes only, and do not constitute professional advice. The content provided does not claim to be exhaustive and does not cover all aspects of the topic discussed. Host and Guests do not necessarily subscribe the opinions expressed. Viewers are advised to conduct their own research and seek professional guidance for any specific concerns or questions.
In the second episode of Innovators Playground by NPCI, Dilip Asbe speaks with Rahul Chari, Co-founder & CTO of PhonePe, for a deep dive into what it truly takes to build and scale trusted technology for a billion-plus India.
From the early chaos of Flipkart’s Big Billion Day to leading a fintech giant at the forefront of India’s digital revolution, Rahul shares candid reflections on building for scale, designing resilient systems, and staying ahead of the innovation curve.
Tune in to hear:
• How a foundational gap in India’s early digital infrastructure sparked the birth of PhonePe
• The architectural and cultural principles behind building resilient, high-concurrency platforms for a billion-plus user base
• Extensibility of the UPI specs
• Why AI is not just augmenting developers but redefining the role of software engineers
• Rahul Chari’s perspective on nurturing engineering talent, decentralising learning, and building outside legacy institutions
Follow NPCI on Social Media Handles:
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https://www.instagram.com/npci_npci_/
Linkedin:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/npci/
Website:
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this channel by the host and guests are for informational and entertainment purposes only, and do not constitute professional advice. The content provided does not claim to be exhaustive and does not cover all aspects of the topic discussed. Host and Guests do not necessarily subscribe the opinions expressed. Viewers are advised to conduct their own research and seek professional guidance for any specific concerns or questions.
Innovators Playground is a podcast by NPCI that brings together sharp minds building the future of India’s digital economy. Each episode features conversations with founders, engineers, product leaders and technologists who are shaping how we live, work and pay in a tech-first world. This is not just a podcast about technology. It is about how innovation actually happens and what it takes to stay ahead.
In this episode, Harshil Mathur, Co-founder and CEO of Razorpay, joins Dilip Asbe to discuss the future of tech talent, the role of AI across functions, and how open-source culture is influencing the way companies hire and build.
Key discussion points
• Why AI is not a function but a shift in mindset
• The rise of ‘Human + AI’ across every role and domain
• How GitHub is emerging as a filter for top tech talent
• Open-source contributions as a differentiator for early-career professionals
• What companies are really looking for in the next generation of engineers
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the individual host and guest and do not necessarily represent the official policies or positions of NPCI or any of its affiliate or group companies. The content provided is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as professional, legal, or financial advice. Listeners are encouraged to seek appropriate professional counsel before making decisions based on the content presented. Neither the host nor the podcast producers shall be liable for any damages or losses arising from reliance on the information provided.
This is where technology meets real-world impact. Innovators Playground is a podcast series that brings together builders, founders and engineers who are shaping the future of digital economy.
In this trailer, get a glimpse of what’s coming… conversations on AI, open source, digital payments, system design, cloud infrastructure and everything in between. Whether you’re just out of college or growing your career in tech, this series helps you stay curious, stay relevant and stay ahead.
What to expect:
• Sharp conversations with industry leaders
• Real insights on the future of work and tech
• Ideas to help you build smarter, code better and think bigger
Presented by NPCI, this is not just another tech podcast. This is a space to learn from those building what comes next.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the individual host and guest and do not necessarily represent the official policies or positions of NPCI or any of its affiliate or group companies. The content provided is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as professional, legal, or financial advice. Listeners are encouraged to seek appropriate professional counsel before making decisions based on the content presented. Neither the host nor the podcast producers shall be liable for any damages or losses arising from reliance on the information provided.