Digital Financial Inclusion: Strategic Issues and Imperatives
Digital financial inclusion; Digital financial infrastructure; Financial Inclusion; Unified Payment Interface; Unique Digital Identity
The present paper provides insights on digital financial inclusion. Digital financial inclusion means making financial services accessible through technology intervention, i.e. via internet, mobile network, cards, digital wallets, etc. The objective of digital financial inclusion is to bring underserved and financially excluded population under the formal banking network. As per Global Findex, Financial Inclusion (adults holding bank accounts) in India has increased from 35% in 2011 to 80% in 2017. Indeed, there has been a speedy improvement in the financial inclusion index, wherein the role of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PJDY) launched by the Government of India in 2014 has been phenomenal. Later, in the year 2016 demonetization further accelerated the process. Despite, all these concentrated efforts and policies a large section of the population still remains unbanked. With the rise in internet and smartphone users, there will be a significant increase in digital transactions in the coming years. To achieve full financial inclusion and to make the desired benefits reach unserved population there is a need to increase financial and digital literacy among masses. The paper starts with a discussion on Evolution of Digital Financial Inclusion (DFI) in India, followed by the benefits of DFI and challenges specific to India. It ends with some suggestions which can increase the pace of DFI in the country. The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021.
Financial Inclusion in Emerging Markets: A Road Map for Sustainable Growth, pp. 297-309.
Jain P., Department of Commerce, CHRIST University, Bangalore, India; Upadhyay D., Department of Commerce, CHRIST University, Bangalore, India; Purswani G., Department of Commerce, CHRIST University, Bangalore, India