India’s fintech advocacy body, the Digital Lenders Association of India (DLAI), has rebranded itself as the Unified Fintech Forum (UFF) as it continues to pursue official recognition as a self-regulatory organisation (SRO) from the Reserve Bank of India. The change signifies a strategic shift toward enhanced regulatory alignment and industry representation.
The Digital Lenders Association of India (DLAI), a leading not-for-profit body established in 2016 to represent digital lending and financial technology players, has rebranded itself as the Unified Fintech Forum (UFF). This move is aimed at strengthening its application to become an official self-regulatory organisation (SRO) in India’s fast-evolving fintech sector.
UFF represents over 120 members, including digital lenders, payment aggregators, NBFCs, and tech service providers involved in digital finance. It has long operated as a de facto SRO, and the rebranding comes in response to feedback from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regarding its pending SRO bid.
The expansion of fintech services over the past decade has brought increased responsibility in terms of client protection and product suitability. Our new identity reflects a broader, unified effort to uphold those responsibilities.”
Jatinder Handoo, CEO, UFF
Alongside the rebrand, Manish Lunia, co-founder of FlexiLoans, has been elected as President, while MobiKwik co-founder takes on the role of Vice-President of the executive committee. The leadership revamp signals a renewed focus on compliance, innovation, and sector-wide collaboration.
This announcement comes shortly after the Fintech Association for Consumer Empowerment (FACE) was granted official SRO status by the RBI. UFF’s application remains under review, with expectations of a decision in the near future.
The body emphasized that the name change and leadership restructuring are part of a larger effort to promote responsible innovation and strengthen regulatory cooperation between industry players and the central bank.
An SRO functions as a non-government intermediary that sets ethical and operational standards, ensuring that fintech companies operate transparently and in alignment with regulatory expectations.
With this development, UFF aims to become the key bridge between India’s digital finance ecosystem and regulatory bodies, ensuring long-term sector sustainability.
