Money Moves Unlock Your WEALTH POTENTIAL

Financially-strong women don't just check the self-empowerment box; as per a 2024 World Bank report, countries with higher female financial inclusion experience stronger GDP growth, reduced income inequality, and increased resilience against economic shocks. Kalwyna Rathod spoke to experts to compile this finance guide for the modern Indian woman

- Kalwyna Rathod

THE RISE OF THE FINANCIALLYSAVVY WOMAN

While financial inclusion for women is still far from ideal, on the national level, as per a report from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), India’s financial inclusion index has improved from 43.4 in 2017 to 64.2 in 2024. “Some statistics paint an impressive picture,” says Anushka Rathod, Surat-based finance content creator and author of The Money Guide. “What we have achieved is crucial, not just for women’s individual growth, but also because empowering women financially leads to transformative benefits for society as a whole.”

Anushka goes on to reveal some interesting numbers:According to the Women Power in Mutual Fund 2024 report from CAMS, a mutual fund transfer agency, as of February 2024, approximately 79 lakh women investors hold around 2 crore folios in mutual funds, reflecting a 25% increase in the women investor base over the previous year. On the Assets Under Management (AUM) front, from 2017 to February 2024, women’s AUM surged from ₹98,000 crore to ₹7.5 trillion — a remarkable 7x growth.

Anushka notes that almost half of all investments come from young women under 35. Data also suggests that women tend to be more disciplined in holding investments for the long term. “What we are witnessing is the foundation of a financially-independent generation of women,” she says. “Perhaps the most heartening shift is the change in mindset. The traditional Indian mindset of ‘saving for a rainy day’ is evolving into ‘investing for a better tomorrow’. Indian women are increasingly viewing financial independence as essential, proactively educating themselves, and taking control of their financial futures,” she adds.

And it doesn’t end here, we're only beginning...

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