• Dr. V. Ramanujam
• A. Ajitha
• Rithika.G

Digital financial inclusion (DFI) has increasingly become a strategic pillar in India’s pursuit of inclusive economic development, particularly in extending financial access to historically marginalized groups such as migrant workers and informal entrepreneurs. The advent of digital public infrastructure—collectively known as the India Stack—has significantly accelerated integration into the formal financial system through innovations like Aadhaar-enabled e-KYC, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), Jan Dhan bank accounts, and Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT).Despite notable progress in expanding access, a persistent gap remains between availability and effective, sustained usage—especially for migrant-led microenterprises. Structural challenges such as inadequate documentation, language and digital literacy barriers, and a pervasive lack of trust in institutional systems continue to hinder meaningful engagement. Moreover, financial products are rarely designed with the fluidity, informality, and unique needs of migrant entrepreneurship in mind.This paper critically assesses whether India’s digital financial ecosystem has moved beyond mere access to foster genuine empowerment. By synthesizing insights from scholarly literature and secondary data, it identifies key friction points and design-level shortcomings that constrain usability. It further proposes actionable policy measures aimed at deepening inclusion and enhancing resilience for migrant entrepreneurs—a vital yet underrepresented segment in the nation’s digital financial journey.

digital financial inclusion, India Stack, UPI, PMJDY, DBT, migrant entrepreneurs, e-KYC, cybersecurity, literacy, grievance redressal

"Digital Financial Inclusion and Migrant Micro-Enterprises in India: Assessing the Transition from Access to Empowerment", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 9, page no.e344-e358, September-2025, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2509438.pdf

"Digital Financial Inclusion and Migrant Micro-Enterprises in India: Assessing the Transition from Access to Empowerment", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 9, page no. ppe344-e358, September-2025, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2509438.pdf