Micro-finance initiatives in India refer to the provision of small-scale financial services such as credit, savings, insurance, and remittance facilities to low-income individuals who lack access to formal banking institutions. These initiatives have played a crucial role in promoting inclusive growth, reducing rural poverty, and strengthening agricultural development by empowering small and marginal farmers, landless laborers, and rural women. In a country like India, where a large proportion of the population depends on agriculture and allied activities for livelihood, access to affordable financial services is essential for improving productivity, income stability, and resilience against risks. One of the most significant micro-finance initiatives in India is the Self-Help Group (SHG)–Bank Linkage Programme launched by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) in 1992. Under this model, small groups of individuals, particularly women, come together to form savings groups and later obtain loans from banks based on collective guarantees. The SHG model has been widely successful in mobilizing rural savings, promoting financial literacy, and providing collateral-free loans for agricultural activities, livestock rearing, small enterprises, and consumption needs. The programme has also strengthened women’s participation in decision-making processes within households and communities, contributing to social empowerment alongside economic development. Another important initiative is the Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) model, where specialized institutions provide financial services directly to low-income clients. MFIs operate through Joint Liability Groups (JLGs), especially among small farmers and tenant cultivators who do not possess formal land titles required for bank credit. By reducing procedural complexities and providing doorstep services, MFIs have increased credit accessibility in remote rural areas. Although concerns about high interest rates and over-indebtedness have emerged in certain regions, regulatory oversight by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has improved transparency and borrower protection in recent years. The Government of India has also launched several schemes to promote micro-finance as part of rural and agricultural development strategies. The National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), also known as Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana (DAY-NRLM), focuses on organizing rural poor households into SHGs and federations, providing them with