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Microfinance Loan defaults Proliferate -Current Affairs Oct 2025

Sharp Rise in Delinquencies:

  • Microfinance non-performing loans (PAR 30+) increased to 6.2% in 2024-25 compared to 2.1% in 2023-24 which shows that the sector is becoming more stressed.

Severe Non-Performing Trend:

  • The number of loans outstanding by 90+ days (serious NPAs) rose to 4.8 percent in the same period.
  • Bihar Worst Affected:
    • Outstanding microfinance loans highest: 57,712 crore (as at March 2025)
    • Highest PAR 30 or above: 7.2, above what is in the nation.
    • PAR 90+: 4.6% which means that it is more deeply in crisis over repayment.
  • Maximum Stress in Rural Areas:
    • Rural PAR 30+: 6.4%
    • Semi-Urban: 6.1%
    • Urban: 6.0%
    • Rural PAR 90+: 3.7, which is greater than 3.2 urban/semi-urban.
  • Reasons Causes of Rising Defaults:
    • Slow economic growth, inflation, agricultural crisis, low wages and earnings, and effects of natural disasters or pandemic crises.
  • Impact on Sector:
    • More credit risk to the micro financial institutions (MFIs).
    • The possible decrease in new lending.
    • Increased susceptibility of low-income borrowers.
  • Need of the Hour:
    • Increased credit evaluation, awareness of borrowers, and management of risk as well as provisions to rural borrowers.

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