UPSC Mains 2026 · GS III · Q2 · 10 marks · 150 words

Examine the view that financial inclusion is an integral part of social and economic inclusion in a country like India. Also throw light on the usefulness of the R.B.I.’s Financial Inclusion Index.

हिन्दी में

इस दृष्टिकोण का परीक्षण कीजिए कि वित्तीय समावेशन भारत जैसे देश में सामाजिक तथा आर्थिक समावेशन का अभिन्न हिस्सा है । आर.बी.आई. के वित्तीय समावेशन सूचकांक की उपयोगिता पर भी प्रकाश डालिए ।

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “Financial Inclusion is not only a goal in itself, but also means to an end as an enabler and accelerator of economic growth. In this context, highlight the role of fintech in deepening financial inclusion in India with egs.”

Ghazalpreet KaurAIR 529 · CSE 2022 · 248 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a definition

Financial inclusion is defined as timely access to credit facilities, availability of pension and insurance to all people in India. It is not just ensuring economic security to people but accelerates the economic growth.

Earlier policies vis-a-vis digital financial inclusion:

Traditional method → Regional Rural Banks

Body · points and prose

→ Banking Correspondents → Priority sector lending

New method pushed by digitisation

Diagram
* New method pushed by digitisation * DBT in schemes * Bank account (PM Jan Dhan Yojana) * Payment apps, Rupay card. [Boosted by fintech]

Financial Inclusion boost economic growth

  1. Ensure economic security → poors and weaker sections of society are made economically secure give them psychological support

  2. Demand increase → when income in the account increase, consumption of goods rises, thus economy boost.

  3. Savings and hence investment increase → savings in the bank can be used to park towards investments by coporates thus boost public and private investment

  4. Data in policy making → vast amount of data helped government in evidence based policy making

  5. Ensures transparency in transaction → keeps check on the nefarious activities on digital network.

  6. Formalisation of economy → help to decrease informalisation in the formal economy. (SBI report on informalisation in formal economy → decrease by 54% post-demonetisation).

  7. Tax revenues increased by formalisation of economy.

According to Financial inclusion Index → 54% of India is in financial inclusion bracket. To boost more:

  1. Focus on digital literacy
  2. Leverage post-offices to increase financial savings.
  3. Infrastructure → ATMs, banks in rural areas.
  4. Data protection and prevent privacy breach.

Close · a way forward

Financial inclusion is paramount in ensuring inclusive growth. It must be given huge push.

How toppers approach this question, and more on its topic: open the question.

Toppers’ answers to other close questions

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2026, General Studies Paper III, Q2. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.