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International Journal of Innovations & Research Analysis (IJIRA) [ Vol. 6 | No. 1(I) | January - March, 2026 ]

Digital Access and Financial Inclusion in India

Shruti Kashyap

Global evidence suggests that India has made substantial progress in expanding financial access, with account ownership among adults rising from 35.2 percent in 2011 to 89 percent in 2024. However, this expansion has not been matched by equivalent growth in active digital financial usage, as only 48.5 percent of adults report making or receiving digital payments, and just 42 percent own a personal smartphone (World Bank, 2025). This divergence highlights a critical gap between financial inclusion and effective financial participation, underscoring the importance of digital connectivity in bridging this divide. Against this backdrop, the present study examines the relationship between digital access and financial inclusion in India. Financial inclusion is defined as ownership of a bank or savings account, while digital access is proxied by internet use and mobile phone ownership. The analysis employs a probit regression framework to estimate the likelihood of financial inclusion as a function of digital access, while controlling for key socio-economic and demographic factors, including education, household wealth, caste, religion, age, and sex. In addition, enabling conditions such as Aadhaar identification and access to electricity are incorporated, along with state-level fixed effects to account for regional heterogeneity. Using nationally representative microdata from the National Family Health Survey, the study provides a comprehensive assessment of disparities in digital and financial access across population groups in India. The empirical results indicate that both internet access and mobile phone ownership are positively and significantly associated with the probability of holding a bank account. The findings contribute to the literature on the digital economy and inclusive development by offering micro-level evidence on the role of digital infrastructure in enhancing financial participation. The study suggests that policies aimed at expanding digital connectivity, alongside improvements in digital literacy and affordability, can play a pivotal role in translating access to financial services into meaningful, sustained use.

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