Financial Inclusion is the delivery of banking services at an affordable cost to the vast sections of disadvantaged and low income group. As banking services are in the nature of public good, it is essential that availability of banking and payment services to the entire population without discrimination is the prime objective of the public policy. It means not only to extending banking facilities to rural people but also to provide at their convenient time and location. Availability of banking services means to provide Basic Savings Bank Deposit Account (formerly known as No-Frills account) with Overdraft facility; Remittance product for Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) and other remittances; Variable Recurring Deposit and General Credit Card or Kisan Credit Card etc.

Evolution of Financial Inclusion: Social Banking is an instrument for Financial Inclusion. Though, social banking initiatives were introduced in India long back through measures such as co-operative banking movement, nationalization of banks (in 1969 & 1980), creation of Regional Rural Banks etc., their success was largely constrained by the size and population of the country (1.30 billion) and non-availability of banking services. In the above backdrop financial inclusion has received a big boost and greater efforts have been laid on inclusive banking. The following steps are initiated for enhancing financial inclusion in India.


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