This Indian Officer Just Made It to the Prestigious World Bank–Milken Program

In a historic achievement, Shri Vivekanand Gupta, Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, has been selected to represent India and the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) in the prestigious Public Financial Asset Management (PFAM) Program 2025–26. The program is jointly organized by the World Bank and the Milken Institute, and hosted at Bayes Business School, City, University of London.

This marks the first time an EPFO officer has been chosen for this elite global program and the first-ever representation from India, establishing a landmark moment in public financial leadership and international engagement.

PDUNASS Leads the Global Leap

The nomination was facilitated through a rigorous selection process conducted by Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Academy of Social Security (PDUNASS)—EPFO’s apex training institution. By identifying and recommending Shri Gupta, PDUNASS has elevated EPFO’s presence in the global arena and set a precedent for future institutional collaborations in investment governance, capital markets, and asset management.

This achievement aligns with EPFO’s strategic goals to,

• Enhance global benchmarking
• Adopt international best practices
• Build capacity for long-term financial sustainability

About the PFAM Program

The Public Financial Asset Management (PFAM) Program is a globally acclaimed leadership development initiative. The 2025–26 cohort includes,

• 16 participants from 13 countries
• 11 from Central Banks
• 3 from Sovereign Wealth Funds
• 2 from major Pension Funds

The program focuses on advanced training in,

• Capital market operations
• Strategic long-term asset management
• Governance frameworks for public institutions

Shri Gupta’s inclusion places India among a global network of top-tier financial professionals and institutions, opening up new learning avenues for public sector financial innovation.

Strengthening EPFO’s Global Outlook

EPFO, with a corpus exceeding ₹25 lakh crore, is one of the largest social security institutions in the world. This international recognition through the PFAM program will,

• Improve asset management practices
• Help integrate global governance standards
• Enable greater returns on retirement savings
• Foster transparency, accountability, and innovation

PDUNASS and EPFO see this opportunity as a strategic capacity-building tool, enabling institutional modernization that will directly benefit millions of Indian workers relying on the Provident Fund system.

Important Takeaways

• Selected Officer: Shri Vivekanand Gupta, Regional Provident Fund Commissioner
• Program: Public Financial Asset Management (PFAM) Program 2025–26
• Organized by: World Bank and Milken Institute
• Host Institute: Bayes Business School, City, University of London
• Representing Institutions: Central Banks (11), Sovereign Wealth Funds (3), Pension Funds (2)
• India’s First Participation: Yes