Digital Financial Inclusion through Microfinance in Rajasthan: A Bibliometric Review with Contextual Evidence for Policy and Practice

This research represents a bibliometric assessment of how digital inclusion through microfinance is achieved in the state of Rajasthan, India by presenting evidence in terms of the literature available to help formulate sound public policy and advance the field of development practice. The bibliometric analysis employs published research studies that provide evidence about microfinance institutions; however, it does not employ primary field research conducted by the authors, i.e., there are no new qualitative or quantitative data collected by the authors to support the conclusions of this review. The analysis synthesises what has been written about the use of digital technologies, such as mobile banking, digital wallets and technology enabled lending platforms as they relate to increasing access to micro finance, transparency in micro finance transactions, and expanding the outreach of micro finance in the State of Rajasthan. The analysis also examines the relationship of secondary evidence regarding women, small entrepreneurs and low-income families with three Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1 (access to financial resources), SDG 5 (gender equality) and, SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth). The Bibliometric analysis maps trends in publications, identifies thematic clusters within the research body and generates keyword co-occurrences. Contextual evidence illustrates practical developments and the Results section distinguishes bibliometric patterns from contextual evidence drawn from cited studies. The analysis will provide micro finance institutions, and development practitioners with the evidence-based resources necessary to develop informed public policy and facilitate community development, although no direct data are presented to validate causal relationships.