IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science (IOSR-JHSS) Volume 22, Issue 7, Ver. 1 (July. 2017) PP 06-09 e-ISSN: 2279-0837, p-ISSN: 2279-0845. www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/0837-2207010609 www.iosrjournals.org 6 | Page Financial Inclusion in Rural Gujarat: A Review Shweta Bambuwala 1 , Dr.Sneha Shukla 2 1 (Assistant Professor, Gujarat Technological University, Gujarat, India) 2 (Associate Professor, N.R.Institute of Business Management, GLS University, Gujarat, India) Abstract: Implementation of Financial Inclusion Initiatives has come long way in last 10 years starting from many Social Schemes and models to Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna, from focusing only on access to financial services till identifying need for Financial literacy, Demonetization and digitalization and few more. India has now focused efforts and has also initiated herculean task of ensuring access through creating reach of financial services with the help of Banks, Financial Institutions and other bodies and ensuring usage by working on financial literacy. Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna, BC model and Financial Literacy campaigns have proved their potential to achieve financial inclusion however there are certain barriers which should be strategically taken care of to achieve maximum .This paper is an effort to review past performance of PMJDY, BC model and FLCs and their contribution to achieve financial Inclusion in spite of existing barriers in Rural Gujarat. Keywords: BC Model, FLC, PMJDY, Rural Gujarat I. INTRODUCTION Financial Inclusion was formaly introduced when a committee under chairmanship of Dr.C.Rangrajan was formed on June 26, 2006 to prepare a strategy of financial inclusion. (Joshi, 2011) Financial Inclusion as defined by RBI is process of ensuring access to appropriate financial products and services needed by vulnerable groups such as weaker sections and low income groups at an affordable cost in fair and transparent manner by mainstream Institutional Players. For any nation irrespective of their development status it is essential to have Financial Inclusivity as it significantly contributes to the GDP and development. In India Since last 10 years various initiatives, Schemes and Programs are introduced by RBI, NABARD and other regulatory bodies to achieve financial Inclusion. Over the years the financial inclusion drive has also focused on critical areas such as financial literacy and employment which must go hand in hand to remove financial Exclusion. Against this background this paper aims to review literature on recent studies carried out on financial inclusion and has made attempt to identify and evaluate status of Rural Gujarat. II. OBJECTIVES This research paper has mainly following three objectives 1. To understand Financial Inclusion Status in Rural Gujarat 2. To study Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna, BC model and Financial Literacy initiatives adopted by banks to achieve financial Inclusion 3. To analyze and study past performance towards reaching out unbanked areas under financial inclusion. III. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY This study is a descriptive study. For this study data has been collected from secondary Sources such as Research articles, Journals, RBI publication, Gujarat State Government publications, Reports of SLBC Gujarat Dena Bank and Ministry of Gujarat. IV. LITERATURE REVIEW iyer, 2016-17)The Indian government has chosen a unique route—beyond mandates, policies, and PSU banks—for bringing about financial inclusion. Through enabling frameworks such as Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana, RuPay card, and Direct Benefit Transfer scheme, it is ensuring that its financial inclusion drive benefits all strata of the society. With the present government making the right noises to further the economic development agenda, it may be an opportune time to deepen economic progress for its people through more financial inclusion.(S.Trivedi, 2016) This paper suggests that special concentration is required for many states disadvantageous population at an affordable cost. One of the most important facts is that there is a gender based gap in accessing formal financial services, which is represented through World Bank data.(Dr. Gomathy Thyagarajan, 2016)The author criticizes that despite the measures adopted and improved financial access, the