RBI Boosts Financial Inclusion, MSME Credit, REIT Financing with New Measures

• RBI announces measures to deepen financial inclusion, improve credit flow to small businesses, and strengthen real estate financing.
• Governor Sanjay Malhotra highlights comprehensive review of Lead Bank Scheme, Kisan Credit Card Scheme, and Business Correspondent model.
• Draft revised guidelines for these schemes and a unified reporting portal for LBS data will be launched soon.
• Collateral-free loan limit for MSMEs to be raised from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh, enhancing liquidity.
• Banks will now be permitted to lend to Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) under prudential safeguards.