NITI Aayog releases report on women’s credit market in New Delhi

Key facts

• NITI Aayog released the second edition of its report “From Borrowers to Builders: Women and India’s Evolving Credit Market” on 7 April 2026 in New Delhi.
• The report was prepared by TransUnion CIBIL and MicroSave Consulting (MSC) under the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP).
• Women borrowers hold ₹76 lakh crore credit portfolio, accounting for 26% of total system credit.
• Credit exposure of women expanded 4.8 times since 2017.
• Number of credit-active women borrowers grew at a CAGR of 9% between December 2017 and December 2025.
• Credit penetration among women increased from 19% to 36% during the same period.
• Total credit outstanding to women rose from ₹16 lakh crore in 2017 to ₹76 lakh crore in 2025.
• Credit to women business borrowers registered a CAGR of 31% between 2022 and 2025.
• 19% of active Microfinance Institution (MFI) borrowers now hold individual retail or commercial loans.
• Northern states such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh show increased growth in women’s credit access alongside southern and western states.
• The report analysed longitudinal credit bureau data of approximately 16 crore credit-active women and primary research with 161 rural women nano-entrepreneurs.