National

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

Published

2 years 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

Marriage Turns into Alleged Fraud as Woman Flees with Jewellery

Published

2 days ago

October 7, 2026

Namma Kudla

Chandigarh: A woman who allegedly posed as a PCS officer and married an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader in Punjab reportedly fled with gold and silver jewellery and other valuables just a few months after the wedding.

AAP Joint Secretary Amarinder Singh Mandofal has alleged that he was cheated by the woman, identified as Manwinder Kaur. The two got married in February 2026 after Kaur’s family introduced her to Amarinder as a PCS officer.

According to Amarinder’s complaint, the woman was also presented as unmarried. However, he later allegedly discovered that she had been married earlier and had a son aged around 18. He also claimed that she had provided false information about her age.

The woman allegedly left the house with gold and silver jewellery and other valuable items a few months after the marriage. Amarinder said he became suspicious and later gathered information about her past.

Based on his complaint, police have registered a case against six people, including Kaur, on charges of cheating and forgery.

The FIR names her brother Tarlochan Singh, mother Varinderjit Kaur, cousin Narinder Singh Goldy, sister-in-law Rupinder Kaur, and former village sarpanch Surinder Singh Rana as co-accused.

Police said all the accused are residents of Sur Singh village under the Bhikhiwind police station limits in Tarn Taran district.

The wedding had been attended by several prominent AAP leaders and public representatives, including Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan and Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sondh.

Videos and pictures from the wedding celebrations have also gone viral on social media.

Police have begun an investigation into the allegations and the background of the accused.

National

Man Dies by Suicide after Jumping from 43rd Floor

Published

5 days ago

October 4, 2026

Namma Kudla

Noida: A man died by suicide after jumping from the 43rd floor of the Supernova Tower in Noida on Saturday.

The incident took place at the Supernova complex in Sector 94. A video shows the man standing near the railing before jumping. Another person tried to stop him but could not prevent the incident.

Police identified the deceased as Sambhav Jain, a resident of Manesar, Haryana. He had reportedly checked into an Airbnb in the building on Friday and was scheduled to leave on Saturday.

Police said Jain had called his father several times before the incident. His family has been informed.

The police and forensic teams inspected the spot and collected evidence. CCTV footage is also being checked as part of the investigation.

Police said Jain was reportedly under severe financial stress. His body has been sent for a post-mortem examination.

The investigation is underway.

National

Captain Smit Machchhar Shares Ordeal with PM Modi

Published

6 days ago

October 3, 2026

Namma Kudla

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Captain Smit Machchhar over a video call and praised his courage after he helped prevent a major air disaster.

Captain Machchhar was seriously injured after his co-pilot allegedly stabbed him during a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday. The Boeing 737 MAX reportedly lost nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds.

Passengers and crew members entered the cockpit and overpowered the co-pilot. A second pair of pilots then took control and safely landed the aircraft in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. More than 170 passengers and crew were on board.

Speaking from his hospital bed, Captain Machchhar told PM Modi that he was badly injured and had collapsed in the cockpit. He realised that the aircraft was rapidly losing altitude and that he had to act.

“I could not let all those people die,” he told the Prime Minister.

Captain Machchhar said his 17 years of flying experience helped him understand what was happening to the aircraft. He managed to open the cockpit door, after which passengers and crew came to his help.

He also said he was chanting the Hanuman Chalisa while fighting the pain and fear.

PM Modi praised the captain’s courage, patience and presence of mind. He said Captain Machchhar’s actions helped save many lives and called his effort a “monumental task.”

Captain Machchhar, who is from Gujarat, has more than 9,750 flying hours and has served as a captain for 11 years.