Micro Finance: A Comprehensive Textbook

From self-help groups in village communities to today's digital lending platforms, microfinance has transformed how millions of low-income households save, borrow, manage risks, and build financial resilience. This book traces the evolution of microfinance, covering financial inclusion, its institutional and theoretical foundations, operational delivery models, sector challenges and innovations, and the self-help group movement central to rural credit in India.Designed for undergraduate and postgraduate students of Commerce, Management, Banking, and Economics, the book combines conceptual foundations with practical understanding. Each of its six chapters follows a structured, classroom-oriented approach, featuring learning objectives, worked examples, Student Note boxes, case studies, glossaries, chapter summaries, and NEP 2020-aligned assessment questions.The book helps students understand not only what microfinance is, but also how it operates, connecting theory with institutions, practices, and real-world developments.