Financial Inclusion in India: An Evaluation of the Coverage, Progress and Trends

Access to finance by the poor is a prerequisite for poverty reduction and sustainable economic development. Importance of financial inclusion arises from the problem of financial exclusion of nearly 3 billion people from the formal financial services across the world. The study has critically analyzed the issues and challenges involved in financial inclusion for inclusive growth and has also successfully attempted to highlight the factors that can aid in achieving financial inclusion for inclusive growth in India, particularly in the context of the feared global slowdown and negative impact of high inflation on the Indian economy. The paper has also suggested some policy choices for successful implementation of the policy of financial inclusion for sustainable growth of Indian economy. The paper is a significant attempt to understand and emphasize the importance of the topic.