India achieves near-universal banking coverage as 99.92% of inhabited villages gain access to services

India has achieved near-universal banking coverage, with 99.92% of inhabited villages now served by a banking outlet within a radius of 5 km, the government has said. "This banking expansion is supported by a robust infrastructure of over 1.81 lakh bank branches, 17.36 lakh Business Correspondents (BCs), and 1.65 lakh India Post Payments Bank centers," government added.