RBI guv unveils 5-year financial inclusion strategy

Reserve Bank of India Unveils National Strategy for Financial Inclusion 2025-30

On Monday, Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra officially released the updated national strategy for financial inclusion (NSFI) 2025-30 at the 32nd meeting of the sub-committee of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC-SC).

Key Priorities of the New Strategy

The NSFI 2025-30 aims to enhance the financial inclusion ecosystem, shifting the focus from access to effective usage of financial services, ensuring resilience, security, and well-being.

• Aligned with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the strategy emphasizes the principle of universality — leave no one behind — and envisions a synergistic ecosystem linking financial services with livelihood initiatives, skill development, and digital infrastructure.

Objectives of NSFI 2025-30

The overall strategy of NSFI 2025-30 is built upon five key objectives, referred to as Panch-Jyoti:

• Expanding Equitable and Affordable Services: Ensuring that financial services are accessible and affordable to all individuals.
• Promoting Women-Led Inclusion: Encouraging women's participation in financial services and promoting inclusive growth.
• Linking Finance with Livelihoods: Integrating financial services with livelihood initiatives to enhance economic stability.
• Leveraging Financial Education: Promoting financial literacy and awareness among citizens.
• Strengthening Customer Protection: Ensuring the security and well-being of customers in financial transactions.

The objectives will be implemented through 47 action points distributed across regulators like RBI, Sebi, Irdai, and PFRDA, as well as institutions like Nabard, NSDC, and NCFE.