The Financial Inclusion (FI) Index of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) stood at 70 for the financial year ended March 2026, up from 67 in March 2025, mainly on account of an uptick in usage. The index also recorded growth across all sub-indices.
Key Highlights
- RBI's Financial Inclusion Index rose to 70 in FY26 from 67 in FY25, on higher usage.
- The index recorded growth across all sub-indices, including Access, Usage, and Quality parameters.
What the FI Index Measures
The FI Index was introduced in 2021 to capture the extent of financial inclusion across the country through three broad parameters -Access (35%), Usage (45%), and Quality (20%) - each comprising various dimensions computed from a number of underlying indicators. It is a comprehensive index incorporating details of the banking, investment, insurance, postal, and pension sectors, developed in consultation with the government and respective sectoral regulators.
How the Index Is Scored
The FI Index captures information on various aspects of financial inclusion in a single value ranging from 0 to 100, where 0 represents complete financial exclusion and 100 indicates full financial inclusion. The rise to 70 in FY26 signals continued progress toward broader and deeper financial inclusion across the country.
Also Read: CBDT Sets Cost Inflation Index at 384 for FY27: Check Details
Recent Report
The CBDT has notified the Cost Inflation Index (CII) at 384 for FY 2026-27, up from 376 the previous year, a figure used to calculate inflation-adjusted long-term capital gains tax. While the annual notification is routine, it holds added significance since the Union Budget 2024 restricted indexation benefits to a narrower set of taxpayers - mainly resident individuals and HUFs selling land or buildings acquired before July 23, 2024, who can still opt for the older regime with indexation if it results in lower tax liability. For eligible taxpayers, the higher CII allows a larger inflation-adjusted purchase cost, reducing taxable capital gains on assets sold during FY27.
