Money in Motion: Financial Literacy, Fintech and Behavioural Insights in Emerging India (ISBN: 978-93-49468-66-5)

Digital Financial Literacy and Cybersecurity Awareness Across Urban and Rural India: A Systematic Literature Review

Author: Pooja Swain, Deepika & Simran Bakshi

India is positioned 2nd in using the internet and 5th in digital economy globally and 4th in AI performance which is a clear indication that the people of India are highly engaged in financial services which are provided online like UPI, wallet, digital banking, fastags. Still distinction in DFL and awareness of cybersecurity remain significant among urban and rural populations. These disparities can further affect the integration of digital financial services and increase exposure to the digital risks, especially among marginalized communities. The study aims to synthesize and systematically review the existing literatures on digital financial literacy and cybersecurity awareness across urban & rural India. The review concentrates on analysing the digital financial literacy and cyber security awareness within rural and the urban citizen of India and identifying elements which causes the difference of the DFL and also exploring the interventions that are implemented to enhance the awareness among rural population. The study adopts an Exploratory and Descriptive research approach through a qualitative systematic literature review. Relevant studies were recognised through the database such as Google scholar, Scopus RBI website ResearchGate, & PIB websites. The selected studies were analysed by reviewing patterns of findings, research gap, and the theoretical and practical relevance of the available literature. This research adds on the increasing conversation on digital financial inclusion by reviewing existing knowledge and offering recommendations for policymakers, financial organizations, and educators who aim to encourage secure and inclusive growth in India. The findings highlight that significant disparity exists between rural and urban India regarding DFL and cybersecurity awareness. Urban populations have higher levels of DFL and cybersecurity awareness compared to rural Population, especially rural women due to poor Infrastructure and Connectivity, inadequate knowledge of cyber threats, and lower trust on digital financial platforms. The review further highlights taken initiatives and suggestions for bridging the gap among population.

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