National

Increasing Number of Women Pursuing Credit and Monitoring Their Credit Scores: NITI Aayog Report

Published

11 months ago

March 3, 2025

NITI Aayog unveiled its report titled “From Borrowers to Builders: Women’s Role in India’s Financial Growth Story” on Monday. The report, launched by CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, highlights a significant trend: more women in India are seeking credit and keeping track of their credit scores. By December 2024, 27 million women were actively monitoring their credit, representing a 42% increase from the previous year, indicating a rise in financial literacy among women. The report was produced by TransUnion CIBIL, the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) of NITI Aayog, and MicroSave Consulting (MSC).

During the launch, Subrahmanyam emphasized the importance of financial access in empowering women entrepreneurs. He remarked, “The government understands that access to finance is vital for fostering women’s entrepreneurship. The Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) is committed to creating an inclusive ecosystem that promotes financial literacy, credit access, mentorship, and market connections. However, achieving equitable financial access requires a collaborative effort.”

He further stated, “Financial institutions must design inclusive financial products suited to women’s needs, and policy initiatives must address systemic barriers to foster progress in this area. Under the WEP, the Financing Women Collaborative (FWC) has been established to pursue this objective. We invite more stakeholders from the financial sector to join the FWC and support this mission.”

Anna Roy, Principal Economic Advisor at NITI Aayog and Mission Director of WEP, noted: “Promoting women’s entrepreneurship is a crucial way to provide employment opportunities for women entering the workforce in India. It also serves as an effective approach for stimulating equitable economic growth. By supporting women’s entrepreneurship, we could create jobs for 150 to 170 million people and enhance female participation in the labor market.”

The report reveals that women’s share of the overall self-monitoring credit base rose to 19.43% in December 2024, up from 17.89% in 2023. Notably, more women from non-metro areas are actively monitoring their credit compared to those in metro regions, with a 48% increase in non-metro areas and a 30% increase in metro areas. In 2024, the states of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana comprised 49% of all self-monitoring women, with the southern region leading with 10.2 million participants.

Additionally, northern and central states, such as Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, reported the greatest compounded annual growth rates (CAGR) in active women borrowers over the past five years. Since 2019, the share of women in business loan origination has risen by 14%, while their share in gold loans has increased by 6%, with women constituting 35% of business borrowers by December 2024.

Despite these advancements, challenges such as credit aversion, poor banking experiences, barriers to credit readiness, and issues related to collateral and guarantors remain. With growing credit awareness and improved scores, financial institutions have the chance to offer gender-sensitive financial products designed to meet the unique needs of women.

National

Three Burned Alive as Car Falls from Bridge in Gujarat’s Rajkot

Published

1 week ago

January 31, 2026

Namma Kudla

Gujarat: A tragic accident claimed the lives of three people in Gujarat’s Rajkot district on Monday.A car fell from a bridge and caught fire, killing all occupants on the spot.

The incident occurred on the Gondal–Atkot highway.The car was travelling from Chhota Udepur towards Gondal.

According to reports, the vehicle hit the bridge’s safety barrier.After the collision, the car fell nearly eight feet into a small stream below the bridge.

Soon after the fall, the car caught fire.The occupants were trapped inside the vehicle and were unable to escape.All three were burned alive and died at the scene.

Police and fire personnel rushed to the spot after receiving information.The fire was later brought under control.The bodies were recovered and sent for post-mortem examination.

The exact cause of the accident is under investigation. Further details are awaited.

National

Girl Records Reels Inside Jail, Video Sparks Debate

Published

1 week ago

January 30, 2026

Namma Kudla

Bhopal: A young woman has come under public attention after recording reels inside a jail while meeting her boyfriend.

The incident happened at Raipur Central Jail in Chhattisgarh, which is known for high security. Mobile phones are strictly not allowed inside the jail. Despite this rule, the woman carried her phone into the visitor room.

She recorded videos while talking to her boyfriend during the meeting. In the video, she speaks emotionally about visiting him on his birthday. She says she feels sad because she cannot stay with him on his special day.

After the meeting, she uploaded the video on her social media account. The video quickly went viral on different platforms. The inmate seen in the video is identified as Tarakeshwar.

He is currently lodged in Raipur Central Jail. He is an accused in a case under the NDPS Act. The incident has raised serious questions about jail security.

People on social media are criticising jail staff and officials. Many users are asking how a mobile phone was allowed inside the jail.

They are also questioning the checking process at the jail entrance. So far, jail authorities have not given any official reaction.

National

MBBS Student Alleges She Was Drugged, Raped by Friend in Delhi Hotel

Published

4 months ago

October 6, 2025

Namma Kudla

New Delhi: An 18-year-old MBBS student has accused a 20-year-old male friend of drugging and sexually assaulting her at a hotel in Delhi’s Adarsh Nagar area. The alleged incident took place on September 9, police officials said.

According to the complaint, the accused, who is also a medical student, invited the woman to “Hotel Apple” on the pretext of spending time together. Once there, he allegedly gave her a drink laced with drugs and then raped her.

The survivor told police that the accused recorded obscene videos and took pictures during the assault. He later threatened to make the content viral if she reported the incident.

The woman, a native of Jind in Haryana, is currently staying at the hostel of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College in Rohini, Delhi.

Based on her complaint, police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. A search is underway to locate and arrest the accused, officials added.

In a separate case earlier this month, a school manager in Uttar Pradesh was arrested for allegedly raping a Class 8 student. In February, a tuition teacher in Delhi’s CR Park area was accused of repeatedly raping a 15-year-old student over three years and threatening her with blackmail.