UPSC Prelims 2026 · Question 53 of 96
UPSC Prelims 2026 question on Financial Inclusion Index
- ExamUPSC CSE
- Year2026
- PaperGeneral Studies Paper I
- SubjectIndian Economy
- TopicImportant Indexes and Reports
- DifficultyEasy
- TypeDirect
Which one of the following correctly represents the three key sub-indices of the Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)?
Show answer
Answer: C. Access, Usage, and Quality
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) introduced the Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index) in 2021. It measures the extent of financial inclusion across the country. Published annually, it is a single composite value ranging from 0 (complete exclusion) to 100 (full inclusion).
The FI-Index is based on 97 distinct indicators that capture data across banking, investments, insurance, postal services, and pensions. It is composed of three broad sub-parameters:
Access (35% weight): Measures the availability and infrastructure of financial services, for example the number of bank branches, ATMs, and digital access points.
Usage (45% weight): Evaluates how actively and frequently people use financial services, for example the volume and value of digital transactions, savings, and credit behaviour.
Quality (20% weight): Assesses the impact of these services on consumers, for example financial literacy, consumer protection, and reduction in service deficiencies.
Hence option (c) is the correct answer.