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<article article-type="Research Article">
  <front>
    <journal-meta>
      <journal-id journal-id-type="publisher">journal-of-information-and-optimization-sciences</journal-id>
      <journal-title-group>
        <journal-title>Journal of Information and Optimization Sciences</journal-title>
      </journal-title-group>
      <issn publication-format="electronic">2169-0103</issn>
      <issn publication-format="print">0252-2667</issn>
      <publisher>
        <publisher-name>Taru Publications</publisher-name>
      </publisher>
    </journal-meta>
    <article-meta>
      <article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.47974/JIOS-2094</article-id>
      <title-group>
        <article-title>Digital financial inclusion for rural women : Challenges and opportunities for sustainable development</article-title>
      </title-group>
      <contrib-group>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Maheshwari</surname>
            <given-names>Sonali</given-names>
          </name>
          <aff>NIMS School of Business, NIMS University Rajasthan, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India</aff>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author" corresp="yes">
          <name>
            <surname>Pandey</surname>
            <given-names>Anupama</given-names>
          </name>
          <aff>NIMS School of Business, NIMS University Rajasthan, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India</aff>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Kumar</surname>
            <given-names>Ravi</given-names>
          </name>
          <aff>NIMS School of Aviation, NIMS University Rajasthan, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India</aff>
        </contrib>
      </contrib-group>
      <volume>46</volume>
      <issue>8</issue>
      <fpage>2719</fpage>
      <lpage>2734</lpage>
      <pub-date date-type="pub">
        <day>29</day>
        <month>11</month>
        <year>2025</year>
      </pub-date>
      <abstract>
        <p>Digital financial inclusion plays important role in advancing the rural women economic empowerment by granting access to essential financial services through technology. Despite progress in digital infrastructure, rural women in Rajasthan continue to encounter numerous obstacles such as limited digital literacy, scarce availability of mobile devices and the internet, and societal barriers. Digital financial services offer a transformative opportunity to enhance women’s independence and financial engagement. The study delves into how tools like microfinance, banking facility accessibility via mobile phone, and digital payment systems can uplift rural women economically and contribute to sustainable development. By enabling access to savings, insurance, credit, and payment services, the study underlines how digital finance can drive empowerment. It also examines how community-driven strategies, policy innovation, and technological progress can further assist rural women. Noteworthy strides have been made through initiatives by government such as Digital India initiative. Projects like BharatNet aim to provide high-speed internet to rural regions and integrate digital finance within Self-Help Groups (SHGs). Financial inclusion is key to sustainable development, supporting gender equality, poverty reduction, and economic resilience[1]. Digital financial inclusion ensures rural women can actively take part in economic processes [12], fostering inclusive growth and adhering to the UN’s sustainability framework [2]. The paper come to the conclusion with practical recommendations for policymakers, financial service providers, and civil society to craft inclusive digital financial solutions that reflect the unique needs and constraints of rural women.</p>
      </abstract>
      <kwd-group>
        <kwd>Digital financial inclusion</kwd>
        <kwd>Rural women</kwd>
        <kwd>Financial empowerment</kwd>
        <kwd>Fintech</kwd>
        <kwd>Sustainable development</kwd>
        <kwd>Digital literacy</kwd>
      </kwd-group>
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          <meta-name>access</meta-name>
          <meta-value>open</meta-value>
        </custom-meta>
        <custom-meta>
          <meta-name>retracted</meta-name>
          <meta-value>no</meta-value>
        </custom-meta>
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  </front>
</article>
