Reserve Bank Governor Shaktikanta Das on Thursday said the financial sector can help in bridging the gender gap by providing more employment opportunities to women and creating tailored schemes for businesses promoted by them. Highlighting the importance of inclusive growth, the governor said a truly developed India must ensure that every citizen, regardless of their socio-economic status, has access to financial services and has the required financial literacy. In his inaugural address at the Annual FIBAC 2024 Conference organised jointly by FICCI and IBA, Das said India's female labour force participation remains lower than the global average. This gap, he said underscores the urgent need for targeted initiatives such as improving girls' education, skill development, workplace safety, and addressing societal barriers. He said entrepreneurship is a vital component of economic empowerment, yet in India, less than one fifth of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are owned by