RBI’s Financial Inclusion Index Rises To 67 In 2025, Reflecting Growth In Key Areas
India’s Financial Inclusion Index has touched 67.0 as against 64.2 in March 2024, reflecting the progress of financial inclusion and financial literacy efforts.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has published the Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index) for the year ending March 2025, which stands at 67.0 compared to 64.2 in March 2024. The FI-Index has witnessed a 24.3% rise since 2021, pointing to improved availability and accessibility of financial services, products, and awareness.
As per an official statement, growth has been seen across all three sub-indices—Access, Usage, and Quality. The increase in the FI-Index highlights the positive impact of financial inclusion and financial literacy initiatives.
Understanding Financial Inclusion
Financial Inclusion (FI) refers to the availability of affordable and accessible financial products and services that cater to the needs of individuals and businesses in a responsible and sustainable manner. This accessibility promotes entrepreneurship and enterprise development, thereby strengthening economic activity, improving productivity, and contributing to economic growth.
Emphasis on Government Development Schemes
India’s achievement in this area can be credited to pathbreaking and inclusive financial schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), which had over 55.98 crore beneficiaries as of August 4, 2025, and the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), which recorded a total enrolment of 50.54 crore people as of March 19, 2025.
Additionally, the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY), which provides loans of up to ₹20 lakh to income-generating micro and small enterprises, has sanctioned 53.85 crore loans as of August 4, 2025.
Moreover, India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has transformed the country’s digital payment landscape by linking various bank accounts through a single mobile app. In June 2025 alone, UPI recorded transactions worth ₹24.03 lakh crore. Currently, UPI contributes to 85% of India’s digital payments and has emerged as a strong medium for financial inclusion.
The Narendra Modi-led government also launched the Mahila Sammriddhi Yojana (MSY) to empower women from socially and economically disadvantaged sections. As of March 2025, the scheme has disbursed ₹72,859 lakh to women beneficiaries across the nation, according to the official release.
The Department of Financial Services, under the Ministry of Finance, has also initiated a three-month campaign to achieve saturation of financial inclusion schemes in Gram Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies by ensuring bank accounts for every citizen. Under PMJDY alone, approximately 6.65 lakh accounts were opened in July.
