This book addresses the gaps in the present institutional structure of inclusive finance framework in India. It provides a comprehensive review of the role of banks in financial inclusion policy and micro-finance landscape in India at present. It identifies the key issues within the banking system which prove to be obstacles in the way of achieving financial inclusion and sustainable growth. The book conceptualizes inclusive banking, delves into the theoretical foundations thereof and suggests an institutional framework to avoid overlapping of their functions in order to ensure profitability. It reviews the existing market structure and competition in the inclusive finance arena while considering the role of banks, micro-finance institutions and SHGs in financing the poor. The book proposes a distinct change to the existing business model, examines the bank business model for inclusion and how the banks can and should treat the micro lending clientele as their core client base to counter the issues of profitability and competition in today’s banking sector. It also discusses some of the latest initiatives in inclusive finance and the importance of entrepreneurship development experiments in India and their efficacy in comparison with the micro-lending model.

This book discusses the essential role of Business Correspondents (BCs) and Business Facilitators (BFs) in transforming India's rural economy. The book outlines a comprehensive approach towards financial inclusion, targeting unbanked communities and unpenetrated geographies. It emphasizes the importance of the BC/BF model in providing vital banking services to those previously excluded and in areas devoid of bank branches. This book has been developed under the guidance of the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). It adopts a modular approach, ensuring a coherent and logical flow of content across its four modules, which are as follows: • General Banking • Financial Inclusion and Role of Business Correspondents • Technical Skills • Soft Skills and Behavioural Aspects It is an invaluable resource for practising bankers and institutions seeking a deeper understanding of financial inclusion, the BC/BF model, and the certification aspirants. The Present Publication is the 2024 Edition, revised and updated by Mr K.S. Padamnabhan | Retd. CGM – NABARD. Taxmann exclusively publishes this book for the Indian Institute of Banking and Finance with the following noteworthy features: • [Economic Significance] Emphasizes the role of the BC/BF model in supporting India's rural economy by connecting unbanked populations with banking services • [Objective of BC/BF Model] Explains the purpose of the BC/BF model in reaching excluded individuals and offering banking services in areas without bank branches • [Operational Risks and Skill Requirements] Discusses the operational and reputational risks involved for banks in engaging BCs and the necessary skill sets required for effective performance The detailed contents of this book are as follows: • Module A – General Banking o Structure of Indian Banking and types of banks o Deposit schemes and other banking services o Account opening procedures and KYC mechanisms o Grievance redressal and the Integrated Ombudsman Scheme • Module B – Financial Inclusion and Role of Business Correspondents o Concept and need for financial inclusion o BC and BF model as a vehicle for financial inclusion o Risk and fraud management in the BC/BF context o Government schemes like PMJDY, PMJJBY, PMSBY, and APY • Module C – Technical Skills o Basic technical skills for handling various banking devices and connectivity issues o Overview of digital banking products • Module D – Soft Skills and Behavioural Aspects o Importance of communication and financial counselling o Strategies for dealing with different types of customers

Once praised as a panacea to overcome poverty microfinance has had to face harsh criticism because of painful failures and unfulfilled expectations. Still many people in particular in rural regions do not have any access to formal financial services, many microfinance institutions are weak, and others rather exploit their clients driving them into over indebtedness than helping them out of poverty. What should microfinance achieve? Can it help to build up inclusive financial systems allowing access to basic financial services for everybody? The historic templates for this book are the German Sparkassen and Cooperative banks that have a strong track record of development and growth spanning over 200 years. For obvious reasons their results cannot be transferred directly into specific solution options to today's challenges in developing countries. Nevertheless the coming into existence of Sparkassen and Cooperative banks can well be seen as part of a period of revolutionary developments in the European economic and social landscape, which can be viewed as analogous to the transformation that emerging economies are undergoing today. While Europe faced dramatically changing living conditions during the period of industrialization these newly creatd banks made change possible by unequivocally including the lower class population in the transformationby providing access to savings and loans. And it is this is parallel - even in the face of the many differences - which is why their development and success deserves careful consideration today. The authors' approach differsfrom other explorations by specifically adopting an interdisciplinary strategy. They take into account past developments as well as current global ones from a historical, social science and economic point of view. Analysis and the interpretation of data is supported by case studies to illustrate their considerations. The authors identify general parameters both for failure and for success and also indicate how to optimize existing potentials - both for institutions and policy makers. As a result of this interdisciplinary work the authors advance an inclusive stylised facts based model. The will to build up institutions, to adhere to corporate social responsibility and creating conducive legal frameworks form the basic conditions for success. More specifically, the guiding principles of these successful business models are a fair savings and credit policy, the promotion of capital transfers without reference to class and gender, a focus on business activities in a well defined region, decentralized organizational structures combined with national networks which avoid regional capital drains and the securing of economies of scale and scope. Llast but not least is the centrality of objectives beyond that of the sheer maximisation of profits.

This book presents a set of conversations with five former Governors of Reserve Bank of India (from 1992 onwards) on the topic of financial inclusion. Two key aspects are introduced in the conversations with each Governor: the initiatives that were undertaken during their tenure and their responses to some of the current issues. Further, they examine the reasons and justifications for significant decisions and measures that were undertaken or withheld. The discussion captures the evolution and approach of the central bank in addressing a variety of questions pertaining to financial inclusion. The volume is an important contribution to the study of India’s continuous but not entirely successful efforts in increasing the reach of its formal financial sector. It reconstructs how the policy approach to inclusive banking has progressed and resisted commercial and market imperatives to safeguard the deprived and dispossessed sections of society. With its wide-ranging blend of conversations, documentation, research and commentary coupled with its engaging style, the book will interest students and researchers in the areas of development, banking, macroeconomics, public administration and governance, as well as academics, analysts, policymakers, think tanks, journalists, media and those concerned with the Indian economic policy.

The exclusion of the destitute population from the formal financial system is a long-standing problem in India. This book examines the performance of financial inclusion policies in India to understand their impact on two urban vulnerable groups, Slum Dwellers and Beggars. This study includes analysis at the national level, the variables of the financial inclusion index like Penetration, Availability, and Usage from 2006 to 2020 from the world bank data set. Similarly, the authors examine five policies on financial inclusion by conducting a primary level survey on two urban capital cities of Lucknow and Kolkata, using a well-structured questionnaire for data collection. The authors uses two sampling techniques: simple random in the case of beggars, and stratified random in the case of slum dwellers. This book highlights the difference between financial access and non-access of household respondents in capturing the impacts of financial inclusion schemes on their socio-economic condition and financial behavior. The findings indicate that access to these schemes is extremely limited for the underprivileged population, such as beggars and slum dwellers. The analysis has shown that claims made by the government are not based on real-life occurrences. This book demonstrates that these programs have a negligible effect on life-deprived people. This book will be of interest to academia, policymakers, and society at large.

Using India as a case study, Microfinance and Development in Emerging Economies builds and evidences an argument that microfinance and group lending are the best way to combat and address the economic exclusion that blights so many across the Global South.

Achievement of Millennium Development Goals is a priority for every nation, and the contribution of every nation accounts for making the world more prosperous. This book analyzes the status and proximity to the achievement of Millennium Development Goals in India. The present compilation of research paper focus on issues of Health, Poverty, Employment issues, Provision of safe drinking water, Education, food security, women empowerment and sustainable development. The papers present the Indian journey, the different perspective of the efforts, and analyze the various initiatives that India has undertaken in the process of attaining the MDGs.

The book portrays the scope and dimension of different financial inclusion strategies. It looks at the role and potential of banks involved in financial inclusion. This book focuses on the importance of financial inclusion and in measuring its important determinants. It provides an empirical insight into how the different factors influence financial inclusion of a nation, providing a guideline to the banks and the regulators to select an effective structure of bank branch and efficient composition, to ensure best utilization of their devoted resources in the context of a developing economy.