Who has been elected as the first woman chairperson of the Indian Banks Association (IBA), the apex body representing banking institutions in India?

Introduction / Context:
This question involves Indian banking sector leadership and milestones for women in top positions. The Indian Banks Association, often abbreviated as IBA, is an important representative body of banks in India. Knowing the name of the first woman to become its chairperson is a typical current affairs and banking-awareness topic.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks for the first woman chairperson of the Indian Banks Association.
• The options provided are four prominent women in the financial sector: Usha Ananthasubramanian, Shikha Sharma, Kaku Nakhate, and Chanda Kochhar.
• We assume this refers to the first time a woman held the chair position in IBA history.

Concept / Approach:
Usha Ananthasubramanian, a senior Indian banker, became the first woman chairperson of the Indian Banks Association. She has served in leadership roles in several banks and is known for this particular milestone. The others listed are also notable banking and finance leaders but are not associated with this specific first in IBA history.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that all the names are associated with banking or finance, so you must recall specific roles.Step 2: Recall from banking awareness notes that Usha Ananthasubramanian was noted as the first woman to chair IBA.Step 3: Note that Shikha Sharma is best known for her role at a major private sector bank, not for heading IBA.Step 4: Remember that Chanda Kochhar and Kaku Nakhate have their own achievements but are not linked with this particular IBA milestone.Step 5: Select Usha Ananthasubramanian as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Banking awareness books, economic magazines, and IBA related press releases all highlight Usha Ananthasubramanian as the first woman to chair the Indian Banks Association. Reviewing recent appointments and “first women” lists in the banking sector is a strong way to confirm this fact while revising for exams.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Shikha Sharma: A respected banking leader, but not the first woman chairperson of IBA.Kaku Nakhate: A senior banker and country head for a global bank in India, but not linked with this IBA milestone.Chanda Kochhar: Former head of a large private bank, but again not recorded as first woman chairperson of IBA.

Common Pitfalls:
Because all the options are well-known names, candidates may rely on guesswork or confuse different achievements. To avoid this, maintain a short list of “first woman” milestones in Indian banking and revise it regularly. Associating each name with a specific role or institution makes recall faster and more accurate.

Final Answer:
The first woman to be elected as chairperson of the Indian Banks Association is Usha Ananthasubramanian.