India’s non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) are entering a new era of growth and capital stability, driven by robust lending activity and increasing retail credit penetration. According to recent estimates by CRISIL and ICRA, the total assets under management (AUM) of the NBFC sector are expected to exceed ₹48 lakh crore by the end of FY25, highlighting their growing prominence within India’s financial landscape. This expansion continues to be powered by demand in retail lending segments such as housing, vehicle, and MSME finance, supported by rapid digital adoption and wider credit access across Tier 2 and Tier 3 regions.
Credit growth within the sector is projected to sustain an annual pace of 15–17% through FY28. While this marks a moderation from the robust 20% expansion recorded in FY25, the momentum still exceeds the decade-long industry average, demonstrating the sector’s underlying strength and adaptability. Retail credit now accounts for around 58% of total NBFC lending, with consumer durables, gold loans, and personal financing increasingly contributing to portfolio diversification.
The cumulative value of NBFC loans stood close to ₹52 trillion as of December 2024 and is expected to breach ₹60 trillion by FY26. Analysts attribute this upward trend to large and mid-tier NBFCs backed by diversified parent organisations, efficient risk frameworks, and enhanced use of analytics and digital onboarding tools. These advances are also drawing significant attention from investors—private credit inflows into Indian financial services touched a record US$9 billion in the first half of 2025, signaling renewed global trust in the stability of India’s credit market.
Regulatory reforms introduced by the Reserve Bank of India this year have further strengthened growth prospects. Lowered risk weights for infrastructure lending and broader access to external commercial borrowing (ECB) markets are enabling lenders to scale operations while expanding loan affordability. However, experts caution that with rising household leverage and evolving compliance standards, asset quality vigilance will remain crucial—particularly in unsecured lending and microfinance categories.
The broader narrative of India’s NBFC sector in FY25 reflects a story of digital agility, financial inclusion, and investor optimism. As rural and semi-urban markets open up new credit opportunities and technological innovation lowers cost-to-serve models, NBFCs are emerging as essential engines of economic intermediation. By FY30, industry observers expect profits within the sector to nearly double, cementing their role as dynamic contributors to India’s growth-focused, digitally empowered financial ecosystem.
Source: ELETS BFSI, 22 October 2025
