Financial Inclusion Fund (FIF) — NABARD — Eligibility, Documents & Apply 2026 | Sarkaari Saathi

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Financial Inclusion Fund (FIF) — NABARD

वित्तीय समावेशन कोष — नाबार्ड

Ministry of Finance

💰 Benefit: Grants to enable last-mile banking and financial inclusion in rural areas

iAbout This Scheme

The Financial Inclusion Fund, maintained by NABARD, supports financial inclusion activities including capacity building, awareness, technology adoption for rural banking, Business Correspondent (BC) deployment, and digital financial services in unbanked areas. It was reconstituted by RBI in 2016 to consolidate Financial Inclusion Fund and Financial Inclusion Technology Fund.

🎁Key Benefits

Funds BC network deployment in unbanked villages
Technology infrastructure for digital banking in rural areas
Financial literacy and awareness campaigns
Support for SHG digitisation and digital payment adoption
Funding for micro-ATMs and AePS infrastructure in rural areas
Seed funding for fintech pilots in rural financial inclusion

✅Eligibility Criteria

1
Banks, MFIs, technology providers, and NGOs eligible for FIF grants

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📝How to Apply

Submit Proposal to NABARD

Eligible institution (bank, NGO, MFI) submits project proposal to NABARD.

NABARD Reviews Proposal

NABARD evaluates financial inclusion impact and cost-effectiveness.

Approval and Grant Sanction

Approved projects receive grant/support for technology, infrastructure, or capacity building.

Implementation and Reporting

Institution implements project and submits utilization certificates to NABARD.

❓Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NABARD Financial Inclusion Fund?

FIF enables last-mile banking access by funding technology infrastructure (micro-ATMs, AePS), capacity building of Business Correspondents (BCs), and financial literacy at village level.

How does FIF benefit rural citizens?

FIF funds BC agents and micro-ATM infrastructure in unbanked villages, enabling DBT collection, savings accounts, and payment services without traveling to a bank branch.

Required Documents

Institutional project proposal with detailed budget and outreach plan
Registration certificate of the applicant institution (NGO/MFI/bank)
Audited financial statements for last 2 years
Board resolution authorizing the application
Previous grant utilization certificates (if applicable)

Editorial note: This page is researched, written, and regularly reviewed by the Aditya Raj Hirve using official government sources and notifications. Information is verified against the originating ministry or department portal before publication. Last reviewed: July 2026.

Always verify critical details directly from the official government portal before applying.

Financial Inclusion Fund (FIF) — NABARD

iAbout This Scheme

🎁Key Benefits

✅Eligibility Criteria

📝How to Apply

❓Frequently Asked Questions

Required Documents

Required Documents

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