**Executive Summary**
This document answers a parliamentary question regarding the financial inclusion of women in India. The Ministry of Finance states that NITI Aayog has evaluated five flagship financial inclusion schemes. The participation of women borrowers has increased in retail and MSME segments.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Evaluation of Financial Inclusion Schemes:**
* The Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO), NITI Aayog, has evaluated five flagship financial inclusion schemes with significant female participation.
* The schemes evaluated are:
* Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) (56%) -2024-25
* Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) (54%) - 2024-25
* Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) (51%) - 2024-25
* Stand-Up India (SUPI) (82%) - 2024-25
* Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) (67%) - 2023-24
* **Increase in Women Borrowers:**
* The participation of women borrowers has increased 2.14 times under Retail and 2.62 times under MSME segments in the last five years, based on data from Public Sector Banks (PSBs).
* **Government Steps for Effective Implementation:**
* The Government has taken various steps to improve the implementation of existing schemes:
* Intensive publicity campaigns.
* Simplification of application forms.
* Credit Guarantee Scheme.
* Reduction in margin money.
* Inclusion of activities allied to agriculture.
* Nomination of Mudra Nodal Officer.
* Frequent reviews at various levels to monitor achievement against allocated targets.
* **Online Portals for Support:**
* The online portal (www.standupmitra.in) for the Stand-Up India Scheme provides guidance to prospective entrepreneurs.
* The Jan Samarth portal serves as a one-stop digital platform linking various government-sponsored loan schemes, including PMMY and SUPI.
**Impact Analysis**
**Women Entrepreneurs/Borrowers**
* **Impact:**
The evaluation of financial inclusion schemes and the increased participation of women as borrowers indicate a positive impact. The various government steps to improve implementation of schemes aim to provide easier access to loans.
* **Action Required:**
Utilize the resources provided by the online portals (www.standupmitra.in and Jan Samarth portal) to explore and apply for relevant schemes.
**Public Sector Banks (PSBs)**
* **Impact:**
PSBs are central to the implementation of these schemes and are responsible for collecting and reporting data on women borrowers.
* **Action Required:**
Continue to support the schemes and provide necessary data for monitoring and evaluation.
**NITI Aayog/DMEO**
* **Impact:**
These are the evaluating authority of the schemes.
* **Action Required:**
Continue evaluating the financial inclusion schemes.
**Government/Ministry of Finance**
* **Impact:**
The Government is accountable for the success of these initiatives and for making necessary adjustments to policy.
* **Action Required:**
To continue to monitor and improve the schemes based on feedback and evaluation data.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY): A government scheme providing loans to small entrepreneurs.
Stand-Up India (SUPI): A scheme to promote entrepreneurship among women and Scheduled Castes/Tribes.
Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY): A national mission for financial inclusion.
MINISTRY OF FINANCE: The government ministry responsible for financial matters.
NITI Aayog: The National Institution for Transforming India, a policy think tank of the Government of India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
LOK SABHA
UN-STARRED QUESTION No. 379
ANSWERED ON MONDAY 2nd FEBRUARY, 2026/ 13 MAGHA, 1947(SAKA)
Financial Inclusion of Women
† 379. SHRI SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV:
Will the MINISTER OF FINANCE be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Government has conducted any study pertaining to the schemes introduced for financial
inclusion of women in the country during the last five years and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the number of women applicants of loans for retail and business has tripled during the last five
years;
(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(d) whether the Government is taking steps for improving the existing schemes to increase access to loan for
women entrepreneurs; and
(e) if so, the steps taken by the Government to mitigate the challenges being faced by women creditors?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)
(a): The Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO), NITI Aayog has undertaken the evaluation
study of five flagship financial inclusion schemes in which women have a significant share of participation:
1. Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) (56%) -2024-25
2. Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) (54%) - 2024-25
3. Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) (51%) - 2024-25
4. Stand-Up India (SUPI) (82%) - 2024-25
5. Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) (67%) - 2023-24
(b) and (c): As per the data received from Public Sector Banks (PSBs), the participation of Women borrowers
has increased 2.14 times under Retail and 2.62 times under MSME segment respectively during the last five
years.
(d) and (e): The Government has taken various steps towards effective implementation of the existing Schemes.
These, inter alia, include intensive publicity campaigns, simplification of application form, Credit Guarantee
Scheme, reduction in margin money, inclusion of activities allied to agriculture, nomination of Mudra Nodal
Officer and frequent reviews at various level to monitor the achievement against allocated target etc.
Apart from linking prospective borrowers with banks for loans, the online portal (www.standupmitra.in) for
Stand-Up India Scheme provided guidance to prospective entrepreneurs in their endeavour to set up business
enterprises, starting from training to filling up of loan applications as per Bank requirements.
The Jan Samarth portal acts as a one-stop digital platform for linking various government-sponsored loan schemes
including Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) and Stand Up India Scheme (SUPI), thereby facilitating easy
access for applications under these Schemes.
*****