Disability and Financial Inclusion in India: Rights, Access, and Realities

Shilpi Mayank Awasthi, Tanwi Shams, Rilina, Vikas Dixit and John Maria E.I.

Delighted to share the publication of our edited volume:
Financial Inclusion for Viksit Bharat: Innovations, Evidence and Pathways Toward Equitable Development Palgrave Macmillan | Springer Nature, 2026
Edited by Vikas Dixit, Rilina Basu Banerjee and Nisar Ahmad Khan
Bringing together 11 contributions from academics, policymakers and practitioners, the volume explores how financial inclusion can move beyond access to become a meaningful instrument of equity, empowerment and sustainable development. It engages with Digital Public Infrastructure, financial literacy and innovation, disability-inclusive finance, gender gaps, retirement planning, FinTech and informal credit, digital financial inclusion, crop insurance, and microfinance—combining global perspectives with national, subnational and grassroots evidence.

For colleagues, researchers, students and practitioners interested in financial inclusion and the broader vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, details and access options for the book are available on Springer Nature: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-92-0807-4

Pre-order now from Amazon: https://amzn.in/d/0864ZKcn

Abstract

This chapter critically examines the intersection of disability and financial inclusion in India, highlighting systemic barriers and policy responses. Grounded in constitutional and international human rights frameworks, it explores how persons with disabilities (PwDs) remain marginalized in India’s financial ecosystem despite progressive legislation like the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. The chapter delves into socio-economic and demographic profiles of PwDs, revealing disparities in education, employment, and access to financial services. It evaluates legal and policy foundations, including global commitments (UNCRPD, SDGs), national schemes (Accessible India Campaign, DAY-NRLM), regulatory interventions by RBI, IRDAI, and SEBI, and legal interventions from time to time by Supreme Court and High Courts. Despite these efforts, persistent gaps in digital accessibility, attitudinal biases, and infrastructural inadequacies hinder meaningful inclusion. Drawing on lived experiences and stakeholder interviews, the chapter underscores the need for early financial education, inclusive employment practices, and universal design in financial services. It calls for systemic reforms to ensure that PwDs are not only included but empowered as equal participants in India’s journey toward inclusive development under Viksit Bharat @2047.