Women in India are playing a significant role in the country’s credit market, moving beyond small loans to retail and business lending, according to NITI Aayog CEO Nidhi Chhibber. A recent report by NITI Aayog highlighted the changing dynamics of women’s participation in the formal credit system. The report, titled “From Borrowers to Builders: Women and India’s Evolving Credit Market,” emphasized the increasing benefits women are deriving from digital infrastructure and formal financial systems.
Chhibber, speaking at the report’s launch, emphasized the importance of broader market participation for economic growth. She noted that as more individuals engage efficiently in markets, economic development progresses. The report’s findings underscore the growing influence and advantages that women are experiencing as a result of these market shifts.
The report disclosed that women borrowers in India now hold a credit portfolio worth Rs 76 lakh crore, representing 26% of the total system credit. This marks a substantial increase from Rs 16 lakh crore in 2017, with an overall credit exposure surge of 4.8 times during this period. Furthermore, the report highlighted a steady growth in the number of women actively utilizing credit, with a compound annual growth rate of 9% from 2017 to 2025.
Prepared under the Women Entrepreneurship Platform of NITI Aayog in partnership with TransUnion CIBIL and MicroSave Consulting, the report offers a comprehensive view of women’s advancement within the credit ecosystem. By integrating extensive credit bureau data with insights from rural women entrepreneurs, the report sheds light on the progress women are making in the credit landscape. Anna Roy, who heads the Women Entrepreneurship Platform, emphasized that the increasing scale and diversity of women’s credit utilization signify a significant transformation in India’s economy.
