



Centre weighs mega microfinance credit guarantee scheme for NBFCs in upcoming budget
NEW DELHI: The finance ministry is weighing a plan to provide credit guarantee cover to funds that NBFCs raise from banks and ramp up their microfinance operations, according to two people familiar with the development.The proposed one-time credit guarantee scheme will help non-banking financial company-microfinance institutions (NBFC-MFIs) access funds from banks easily and tide over a liquidity crunch in maintaining their lending to low-income households that lack access to traditional banking.The guarantee cover under consideration will be larger than the ₹7,500 crore cover that was offered during the pandemic. The new scheme is likely to be managed by the state-run National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company, which will cover and underwrite the lending risk to NBFC-MFIs arising due to factors outside the control of small borrowers.This will help NBFC-MFIs to draw funds on easier terms from financial institutions.
The development assumes importance for India’s ₹3.34 trillion microfinance loan portfolio, which has been shrinking steadily.“The proposed credit guarantee scheme that has been under discussion in the government for some time now is being weighed for launch when budget proposals for 2026-27 are announced next month,” one of the two people said, requesting anonymity.“The one-time guarantee cover under examination is far larger than the ₹7,500 crore cover that was offered during the covid period, but the quantum is still to be finalised,” the second person said, asking not to be identified.The government formulated the Credit Guarantee Scheme for MFIs in 2021 to provide 75% guarantee on funding extended by member-lending institutions to NBFC-MFIs and MFIs for onward lending to small borrowers. That scheme was
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