Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Rural development in India is pursued through an extensive architecture of government schemes and policies that are increasingly implemented in partnership with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). As the apex development bank for agriculture and rural areas, NABARD functions as a bridge between policy formulation and grassroots implementation by providing refinance, developmental support, capacity building and policy feedback to government. This paper examines how government schemes and policies operate in collaboration with NABARD, focusing on credit linked interventions, infrastructure development, financial inclusion and climate resilient rural development. Drawing on secondary literature and recent assessments of NABARD’s operations, the paper analyses key collaborative mechanisms such as the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF), government sponsored agricultural credit schemes, self help group (SHG) and joint liability models, and NABARD’s role as National Implementing Entity (NIE) for climate funds. The study finds that government–NABARD collaboration has significantly expanded rural credit, improved infrastructure and strengthened financial inclusion, but also reveals persisting gaps in awareness, coverage and sustainability of benefits. The paper concludes with policy recommendations to deepen integration between schemes, enhance outreach and leverage digital and climate finance innovations for inclusive rural growth.
Author: Pankaj Kumari
Language: English
Subfield: Economics and Econometrics
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7203740802