The National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange Ltd (NCDEX), a leading agricultural commodity exchange in India, has appointed Balkrishna Shankwalker as its new Chief Technology Officer (CTO). With more than 25 years of experience in infrastructure management, IT operations, and business transformation in regulated sectors, Shankwalker is poised to drive the exchange’s technological advancements.
In his new role, Shankwalker will oversee NCDEX’s Technology division, managing areas such as infrastructure operations, technology procurement, software development, business solutions, and the Technology Command Centre. His goals include strengthening the exchange’s platform, improving its reliability, and introducing innovations that meet market demands while adhering to regulatory standards.
Arun Raste, NCDEX’s Managing Director and CEO, said that Shankwalker’s skills will play a pivotal role in advancing the exchange’s digital strategy as it expands its offerings.
Commenting on his new role, Shankwalker expressed his intention to work closely with farmers, farmer-producer organisations, investors, and regulators to build robust, forward-looking systems tailored to their needs.
Before joining NCDEX, Shankwalker held a senior position at the National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL), where he led major projects, including the transition to a new depository system, the development of mobile applications, the adoption of private cloud infrastructure, and the implementation of a microservices-based framework. He also contributed to several national initiatives during his tenure at Protean (previously NSDL e-Governance), supporting projects such as the Tax Deduction Account Number (TAN), Permanent Account Number (PAN), and the Income Tax e-filing system.
Shankwalker holds academic qualifications from ITM Business School and KLE Engineering College. Outside of work, he enjoys music, travelling, and mentoring aspiring technology professionals.
