This book discusses ideas for stakeholders to develop strategies to access and use financial products and services such as deposits, loans, and fund transfer mechanism, insurance, payment services, and intermediaries, distribution channels at economical prices in order to cater to the needs of the poor and underprivileged people. Financial inclusion ensures ease of access, availability, and usage of the financial products and services to all the sections of the society. The book will help in recognizing the role of financial inclusion as one of the main drivers in reducing income inequality and thus supporting sustainable economic growth of the countries, especially of an emerging economy. The book provides conceptual and practical ideas from the practitioners, best practices from the experts, and empirical views from the researchers on the best practices and how to mitigate the challenges and issues plaguing the development of the financial inclusion.

Microfinance India: State of the Sector Report 2011 presents the growth of the microfinance sector in India in its entirety. It offers in-depth, well-researched and thoroughly analyzed evidence on how the sector has made an impact at various levels of the economy and society. The report collects information from authoritative sources, studies and reports on the sector and field studies on specific developments of interests. It also brings perspectives from key policy makers through exclusive interviews. Highlighting on more topical themes, this year's report begins with an overview of the microfinance sector, which faced significant problems during 2010–11. It then evaluates the performances of the SHG and MFI models and discusses thematic issues such as social performance management and financial inclusion in detail.

Inclusive Finance India Report 2014 presents in-depth research and analysis on financial inclusion with evidence on the decisive shift in the positioning of microfinance within the financial system of India. Following up on Microfinance State of the Sector Report 2013 by the authors, this year's report focuses on recent developments in inclusive financing and efforts by governments and banks in extending financial services to the unbanked and underbanked regions and populations. The report tracks the progress of financial inclusion initiatives across institutional structures and delivery models, including the main microfinance channels. It contributes to an understanding of the complexities of the financial inclusion process, reviews policy development on inclusive finance, and highlights key challenges and opportunities for diverse stakeholders. A comprehensive reference on annual trends and progress of financial inclusion and the microfinance sector, the report synthesizes data and inputs from the Reserve Bank of India, NABARD, Ministry of Finance, banks, apex financial institutions, technology services providers, sector experts, and resource agencies. It serves to provide a perspective on the practice of financial inclusion in India as well as informing the policy formulation process.

Microfinance India: State of the Sector Report 2010 presents the growth of the microfinance sector in India in its entirety. It offers in-depth, well-researched, and well-analyzed evidence on how the sector has made an impact at various levels of the economy and society. The report provides most recent statistical data relating to the sector's growth and expansion across models. It highlights perspectives on current issues and documents new interest, new investments and innovations in the sector. Included in the report are: a comparison of the performance of SHG and MFI models, Microfinance Penetration Indices that compare client outreach across states and discussions on innovations and novel experiments in the sector and themes of topical relevance. It also identifies knowledge and practice gaps that require further research and study.

The second issue in a new series, Global Financial Development Report 2014 takes a step back and re-examines financial inclusion from the perspective of new global datasets and new evidence. It builds on a critical mass of new research and operational work produced by World Bank Group staff as well as outside researchers and contributors.

This series of annual reports on the microfinance sector in India which seeks to document developments, clarify issues, publicize studies, stimulate research, identify policy choices, generate understanding, and enhance support for the sector. It highlights recent developments under each of the two main models of microfinance in India – the SHG and MFI models. The book highlights recent developments in Self Help Groups (SHGs) and SHG Bank Linkage Programme (SBLPs), and focuses on microfinance with regard to the investment scenario in India.