**Executive Summary**
The document is an answer provided by the Minister of State of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to the Lok Sabha regarding measures taken to strengthen financial awareness in India. These measures include initiatives like the Centre for Financial Literacy (CFL) project, Financial Literacy Centres (FLCs) operated by banks, and the "Niveshak Didi" program in partnership with India Post Payments Bank (IPPB). Niveshak Didi Phase II has been launched on April 7th, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Financial Literacy Measures:**
* **CFL Project:** Initiated by RBI, with 2,421 CFLs set up across the country.
* **FLCs:** Banks conduct camps via FLCs on "Going Digital" through UPI and *99# for the public and tailored groups.
* **Rural Bank Camps:** Rural branches must conduct one camp monthly, covering Financial Awareness Messages (FAME).
* **Financial Literacy Week (FLW):** Conducted annually since 2016 to promote financial education.
* **RBI's "RBI Kehta Hai" Campaign:** Multi-media, multilingual campaign to promote financial literacy and safe banking.
* **Investor Awareness Programmes (IAPs):** IEPFA undertakes IAPs by organizing camps, including the "Niveshak Didi" initiative in various community settings.
* **Niveshak Didi Program:**
* IEPFA partnered with IPPB to promote financial literacy through 1110 camps, reaching over 68,738 beneficiaries.
* **Niveshak Didi Phase II:** Launched on April 7th, 2025, envisaging 4000 financial literacy camps targeting rural and semi-urban populations.
* **Training:** Around 40,000 women postal workers will be trained as community financial educators.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: General Public**
* **Impact:** Increased access to financial literacy education, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas, covering topics such as basic banking, digital financial literacy, consumer protection, responsible investing, fraud prevention, and digital banking.
* **Action Required:** Participate in camps and awareness programs to improve financial knowledge and practices.
**Stakeholder: Banks and Financial Institutions**
* **Impact:** Requirement to actively participate in financial literacy initiatives, including conducting camps through FLCs and rural branches.
* **Action Required:** Organize and conduct camps as per guidelines, utilizing resources like the FAME booklet.
**Stakeholder: India Post Payments Bank (IPPB)**
* **Impact:** Key partner in the "Niveshak Didi" program, leveraging its rural presence to deliver financial education.
* **Action Required:** Continue and expand the "Niveshak Didi" program, train postal workers as financial educators, and conduct financial literacy camps.
**Stakeholder: Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for undertaking Investor Awareness Programmes (IAPs) and partnering in initiatives like "Niveshak Didi" to impart financial literacy.
* **Action Required:** Organize camps, collaborate with partners, and expand initiatives like "Niveshak Didi" Phase II.
Key Entities Referenced
Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA): Key regulator partnering in financial literacy initiatives, organizing Investor Awareness Programmes (IAPs) across the country.
Niveshak Didi: Financial literacy initiative, focused on organizing camps and providing education, especially in areas where mobility is restricted.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI): Central Bank that initiated the Centre for Financial Literacy (CFL) Project and runs a public awareness campaign called 'RBI Kehta Hai'
Centre for Financial Literacy (CFL) Project: Project initiated by the RBI to adopt community-led innovative and participatory approaches to financial literacy.
India Post Payments Bank (IPPB): Partnered with IEPFA in the “Niveshak Didi” program to promote financial literacy.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1371
ANSWERED ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2025/AGRAHAYANA 17, 1947 (SAKA)
STRENGTHENING FINANCIAL AWARENESS
+1371.SHRI DARSHAN SINGH CHOUDHARY:
Will the Minister of CORPORATE AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the measures taken by the Government to strengthen financial awareness, increase
outreach and launch interactive training modules;
(b) the number of awareness programs/camps conducted so far under the said initiative
along with the names of the States and Union Territories involved therein;
(c) whether the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) has partnered
with any institutions or grassroot organizations to ensure last-mile access to financial
education and services; and
(d) if so, the achievements made so far along with the future plan of action for expanding
the “Investor Didi” initiative across the country?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS AND MINISTRY OF
ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(HARSH MALHOTRA)
(a): The financial literacy measures being undertaken are as under:
(i) The Centre for Financial Literacy (CFL) Project has been initiated by the
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) with an objective to adopt community-led
innovative and participatory approaches to financial literacy. A total of 2,421
CFLs have been set up across the country, with one CFL covering three blocks
on an average.
(ii) Banks conduct camps through their Financial Literacy Centres (FLCs) on
"Going Digital" through UPI and *99# (USSD) for general public and tailored
camps for different target groups.
(iii) Rural branches of banks are required to conduct one camp per month covering
all the messages that are part of the Financial Awareness Messages (FAME)
booklet, which, inter alia, contains messages on various facets of financialliteracy including basic banking, digital financial literacy, consumer
protection etc.
(iv) Financial Literacy Week (FLW) has been conducted every year since 2016 to
propagate the message of financial education on various themes among
members of the public across the country.
(v) RBI’s multi-media, multilingual public awareness campaign, titled "RBI Kehta
Hai" uses various mediums to promote financial liateracy and to educate the
public on safe banking practices.
(vi) Investor Awareness Programmes (IAPs) are being undertaken by Investor
Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) across the country. Under
these IAPs, financial literacy and awareness are imparted by organising
camps. “Niveshek Didi” is one such initiative wherein camps are held at
Anganwadis, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), panchayat halls and women-only
gatherings with the help of SHGs and Mahila Mandals. Niveshak Didis also
visit homes and neighbourhoods, bringing financial education to their
doorsteps, especially in areas where mobility is restricted.
(b): The details of the number of awareness programs/camps conducted under Niveshak
Didi is at Annexure I.
(c)&(d): Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) had partnered
with India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) under the “Niveshak Didi” program to promote
financial literacy through 1110 camps reaching over 68738 beneficiaries across India.
Niveshak Didi Phase II has been launched on 7th April, 2025 for expanding the reach and
outcome of this initiative at PAN India Level. Niveshak Didi Phase-II, envisages 4000
financial literacy camps on responsible investing, fraud prevention and digital banking
targeting rural and semi urban population including women across the country. Around
40,000 women postal workers will be trained as community financial educators. This
initiative leverages postal workers’ widespread rural presence to deliver financial
education at the grassroots level.
********Annexure I
State and Union Territory-wise details of Niveshak Didi Awareness Programs/Camps
Conducted [2022-23 to 2025-26(till September, 2025)]
Sl. 2025-26 No. of camps
2022-23 2023-24
No. STATE / UTs (till September 2025) conducted
(Phase-I) (Phase-I)
(Phase-II (Phase-I & II)
1. ANDAMAN AND
- - 3 3
NICOBAR ISLANDS
2. ANDHRA PRADESH - 50 113 163
3. ASSAM - 7 - 7
4. BIHAR - 19 - 19
5. CHANDIGARH - 1 - 1
6. CHHATTISGARH - 21 32 53
7. DELHI - 11 4 15
8. GUJARAT - 29 4 33
9. HARYANA - 54 - 54
10. HIMACHAL PRADESH - 25 5 30
11. JAMMU AND
2 11 5 18
KASHMIR
12. JHARKHAND - 8 16 24
13. KARNATAKA - 67 74 141
14. KERALA - 35 13 48
15. MADHYA PRADESH 2 88 30 120
16. MAHARASHTRA 2 34 - 36
17. MANIPUR - - 4 4
18. MEGHALAYA - 6 - 6
19. MIZORAM 8 6 - 14
20. NAGALAND - 10 - 10
21. ODISHA - 96 65 161
22. PUDUCHERRY - 6 2 8
23. PUNJAB - 21 - 21
24. RAJASTHAN - 22 10 32
25. SIKKIM - - 5 5
26. TAMIL NADU 2 269 78 349
27. TELANGANA - 45 92 137
28. TRIPURA - 2 4 6
29. UTTAR PRADESH - 80 65 145
30. UTTARAKHAND - 20 5 25
31. WEST BENGAL 2 49 153 204
Grand Total 18 1092 782 1892