financial inclusion

September 15, 2026 9:59 AM

DoRD and PFRDA sign MoU, ‘Pension Sakhis’ to expand reach in rural India

In a bid to expand pension coverage and strengthen social security in rural India, the Department of Rural Development (DoRD) and the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate pension awareness, enrolment and support among rural households through a dedicated cadre of ‘Pension Sakhis’, the Ministry of Rural Development said in a press release. Leveraging rural community networks Leveraging the community institut...

September 10, 2026 12:03 PM

India to work with BRICS nations to expand opportunities for women-led enterprises in global trade: Piyush Goyal

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday called upon BRICS countries to work together to expand opportunities for women entrepreneurs and women-led enterprises in international trade, stressing the need for easier access to credit, markets and predictable business rules. Addressing the BRICS WBA Women-Led Development Conference in New Delhi as the Chief Guest, Goyal said an entrepreneur seeking to enter international business has to cross three key barriers — access to c...

September 9, 2026 5:51 PM

From UPI to global leadership, how PM Modi’s fintech vision is transforming India

India’s fintech story has become one of the most remarkable examples of how technology can transform the daily lives of ordinary people. In a relatively short period, digital payments have moved from being a new concept to becoming a normal part of everyday life. A small shopkeeper, a farmer, a student or a street vendor can now make or receive a payment within seconds. This transformation reflects the power of technology, but it also reflects the clear vision and sustained efforts of Prime Mi...

September 1, 2026 3:42 PM

Jan Dhan: How PM Modi’s vision is empowering millions through financial inclusion

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) in 2014, the objective was clear- to bring every citizen into the formal financial system and ensure that no one is left behind in India’s growth journey. Twelve years later, the scale of the transformation demonstrates how this vision has evolved into one of the world’s largest financial inclusion initiatives. PM Modi’s emphasis on financial inclusion has been based on a simple but powerful idea- that a...

August 25, 2026 11:55 AM

UPI: From a digital payment platform to an engine of India’s digital transformation

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s digital transformation has emerged as a powerful example of how technology can be harnessed to make everyday life simpler, faster and more inclusive. The Unified Payments Interface (UPI), one of the flagship initiatives of this transformation, reflects the Prime Minister’s vision of building a digitally empowered and financially inclusive India. Since its launch in 2016, UPI has grown from a nascent payment platform into a globall...

July 16, 2026 12:41 PM

From fields to finance: How India’s rural credit system is driving inclusive growth

India's rural economy is witnessing a quiet but significant transformation as expanding access to institutional credit, digital financial services and targeted government policies reshape the way millions of farmers, rural entrepreneurs and households access finance. Once heavily dependent on informal moneylenders, the country's rural credit system has evolved into a diversified institutional network that supports agriculture, allied sectors, rural enterprises and household needs while strengthe...

June 10, 2026 1:10 PM

25 crore out of poverty, 15.8 crore homes with tap water: India’s welfare story in numbers

Over the past decade, India's welfare landscape has undergone a significant transformation, marked by an expansion of social protection programmes, improved access to basic services and greater use of technology in public service delivery. Government data indicate that nearly 25 crore people moved out of multidimensional poverty between 2013-14 and 2022-23, while access to housing, healthcare, sanitation, financial services and livelihood opportunities expanded across the country. Poverty R...

May 14, 2026 5:28 PM

AI-powered financial inclusion reshaping India’s digital economy

India’s financial inclusion journey is entering a new phase, powered by the convergence of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), transforming how banking, lending, and financial services are delivered across the country. What began as a mission to provide basic banking access has evolved into a technology-driven ecosystem focused on real-time, intelligent, and inclusive financial services at scale. By leveraging digital footprints, consent-based data sharing, a...

April 30, 2026 6:51 PM

India Post Payments Bank launches zero-balance SHG savings account to boost rural women’s financial inclusion

India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) on Thursday launched a dedicated Self Help Group (SHG) savings account, aimed at strengthening financial inclusion and empowering women-led groups across rural India. The new offering, introduced by the government-owned payments bank under the Department of Posts, is designed to provide SHGs with a simple, zero-cost banking solution, enabling them to integrate more effectively into the formal financial system. Announcing the launch, IPPB Managing Director and CE...

January 8, 2026 12:42 PM

Department of Posts, Rural Development Ministry sign MoU to boost financial inclusion and livelihoods in villages

In a step towards accelerating rural transformation, the Department of Posts (DoP) and the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen financial inclusion, promote livelihoods and enhance logistics and digital services for Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and rural households across the country. The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia and Union Mi...