Citation:

Dr. Sunil Abraham Thomas. "The Fintech Dividend: Digital Finance, Economic Inclusion, and India's Path to Prosperity" International Research Journal of Economics and Management Studies, Vol. 5, No. 4, pp. 162-169, 2026. Crossref. http://doi.org/10.56472/25835238/IRJEMS-V5I4P120

Abstract:

India’s financial technology sector has become one of the most consequential forces reshaping the country’s economic landscape. Powered by the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), digital lending platforms, insurtech, and mobile investment tools, fintech is fundamentally changing how money moves, credit flows, and financial services reach ordinary citizens across a nation of 1.4 billion people. This paper explores how fintech growth connects to India’s broader economic development, examining its role in financial inclusion, MSME financing, agricultural credit, employment generation, and rural progress. It also looks at the regulatory framework that governs this sector and identifies challenges that still need to be addressed. Drawing on data from 2021 to 2026 and projections through 2030, this paper makes the case that fintech is not just a feature of India’s digital economy, it is a driving force behind it.

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Keywords:

Fintech, India, Economic Development, UPI, Financial Inclusion, Digital Lending, MSME Credit, India Stack, RBI, Digital Payments, Neobanks, InsurTech, WealthTech.