Summary

Microfinance, a concept popularized by Muhammad Yunus, has grown tremendously in India. The growing understanding of achieving self sustainability among the rural and urban poor has led to the acceptance and implementation of this idea across India.

The report begins with an introduction to the microfinance sector covering different types of financial institutions, formal and informal, providing financial services to the rural and urban poor in India. The report provides an overview of the current state of microfinance in India covering extensively the two primary facilitators of microfinance-microfinance institutions (MFIs) and SHG's bank linkage programme (SBLP).

The report highlights the government's initiatives towards encouraging microfinance institutions in India. The report identifies key trends and characteristics in the sector including low penetration levels of microfinance, large scale PE/VC activity, high interest rate and repayment issues, lack of interest from formal financial institutions and opportunity in the urban sector. The report profiles the major players in the sector including brief business overview, client outreach, financials and future outlook for each player.

Table of Contents

Page 1: Executive Summary
Introduction
Page 2: Definition and major milestones
Page 3: Banking sector reforms
Types of Microfinance Institutions
Page 4-7: Various institutions
Overview
Page 8: Overview
Page 9-10: MFIs
Page 11-13: SBLP
Government Initiatives
Page 14-15: Government initiatives
Trends & Characteristics
Page 16: Summary
Page 17-21: Trends and characteristics
Major Players
Page 22-29: Major Players
Key Developments
Page 30: Key Developments
Appendix
Page 31: Overall progress under microfinance
Page 32: Savings of SHGs with Banks
Page 33: Bank Loans Disbursed to SHGs
Page 34: Bank Loan Outstanding Against SHGs
Page 35: Bank Loans Provided to MFIs