RAJESWARI, SREVATHI, KATURU2020-02-112020-02-112019http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810142866D5817Financial inclusion denotes delivery of financial services at an affordable cost to the vast sections of the low-income groups. Access to financial services by the poor and vulnerable groups is a prerequisite for eradication of poverty. The present study entitled “Financial inclusion among rural households in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh” was under taken to study the socio-economic profile, income and consumption expenditure of rural households, savings, pension, insurance and also to assess the awareness of households towards financial products. The study was conducted in Chittoor district of Rayalaseema region. The data required for the study was collected using a well defined and pre-tested schedule by the personal interview method. The detailed information was collected and it pertained to the financial year 2018-2019. The results revealed that 84 per cent of the respondents are mainly depending on agriculture and rest were non-farm labour (5.00%), hotel (3.00%), LIC agent (2.00%), recharge (1.00%) and cooldrink shop (1.00%), kirana (1.00%), hardware (1.00%), ration dealer (1.00%), tailoring (1.00%). 9.53 and 56.25 per cent of the agricultural and non agricultural households were young aged. 17 per cent of respondents were educated up to high school level and 20.50 per cent were illiterates. Average land possessed by agricultural households was 1.57 ha higher than non-agricultural households (0.90 ha). The annual income of the agricultural households was Rs. 194810.71 and for the non-agricultural households it was Rs. 214950. The consumption expenditure for non-agricultural households was higher (Rs.1555637.50) as compared to that of agricultural households (Rs.109213.57). The study revealed that 17.85 per cent of the agricultural households had borrowed from institutional sources (15.47 per cent from public sector banks and 2.38 from self help groups). In the case of non-agricultural households 18.75 per cent of the households had borrowed from public sector banks and 6.25 per cent from self help groups. In agricultural households 16.67 per cent of agricultural households were covered under old age pension scheme, 14.29 per cent were receiving widow pension, 1.19 per cent each had weavers pension and disability pension. In the case of non agricultural households only 18.75 per cent of the households were receiving old age pension of Rs.2000 from state government. The study further revealed that 54.76 per cent of the agricultural households had crop insurance i.e., Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bhima Yojana. The study observed that agricultural households (41.66%) and nonagricultural households (43.75%) were assessed to be having sound financial knowledge. 92.85 per cent of the agricultural households and 100 per cent of the non-agricultural households were found to be having positive attitude. While behavioural assessment reflected that less percentage of agricultural households (52.38%) and non-agricultural households (56.25%) were exhibited good financial behaviour. Overall 27.38 per cent of agricultural households and about 25.00 per cent of non-agricultural households were found to have good financial literacy.en-USnullThesis