First time borrowers surge to 4 4 crore even as banks tighten lending rules

Women lead the jump while banks get pickier

India’s first time borrower base has climbed to 4.4 crore, signalling stronger credit growth and faster financial inclusion even as lenders tighten lending norms. Reports say women’s participation is rising sharply, and consumer durable loans are the main entry route. Despite tougher scrutiny, many of these new borrowers show solid repayment discipline, pointing to scalable opportunities in emerging and younger demographics.