Which is the largest foreign bank operating in India by presence and operations?

Introduction / Context:
Foreign banks are banks incorporated outside India but operating through branches and other offices within India. Various exams ask about the largest foreign bank in India in terms of branch network, presence, or operations. This question tests your awareness of which foreign bank has traditionally had the largest footprint in the Indian market.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The options include one large Indian private sector bank and three foreign banks.
• We are concerned with the largest foreign bank in India, not the largest bank overall.
• Standard exam references usually identify Standard Chartered as the foreign bank with the widest presence in India.
• The comparison is based on branch network and overall operations in the Indian market.

Concept / Approach:
HDFC Bank, although one of the largest banks in India, is an Indian bank and not a foreign bank, so it can be eliminated. Among the foreign banks, Standard Chartered has historically maintained a large branch network across major Indian cities and key business centres. American Express and DBS have notable presence but smaller branch networks compared to Standard Chartered in traditional exam data.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Remove HDFC Bank from consideration because it is an Indian incorporated private sector bank, not a foreign bank. Step 2: Compare American Express Bank with Standard Chartered and DBS in terms of branch presence; American Express is more focused on card and payment services rather than a wide branch network. Step 3: Consider DBS Bank Limited, which is a major Singapore based bank but with a smaller footprint in India compared to Standard Chartered. Step 4: Recall that Standard Chartered Bank has long been described in exam materials as the largest foreign bank operating in India. Step 5: Select Standard Chartered Bank as the correct option.

Verification / Alternative Check:
In banking awareness guides, when listing foreign banks in India along with branch counts, Standard Chartered usually appears at the top among foreign players. Even if the exact numbers change over time, it is widely accepted in exam questions that Standard Chartered is the correct answer to this commonly asked general awareness item.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
HDFC Bank is not a foreign bank, so it cannot be the correct choice. American Express Bank has a strong card business but a limited branch network in India. DBS Bank Limited is expanding but is still smaller than Standard Chartered in terms of overall presence in traditional exam data.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may mistakenly choose HDFC Bank simply because they recognise it as a very large bank, ignoring the word foreign in the question. Others may guess among foreign banks without recalling which one has the largest presence. Always pay attention to qualifiers such as foreign, public sector, private sector, or cooperative when answering such questions.

Final Answer:
The largest foreign bank operating in India is Standard Chartered Bank.