Shiksha Finance: Fostering Financial Inclusion, Driving Sustainable Growth, And Supporting The MSME And MFI Sector.

Introduction To Shiksha Financial Services India Private Limited

Shiksha Financial Services India Private Limited, often known as Shiksha Finance, was founded in 2014 and began its operations in 2015 in Chennai. It is a non-deposit-taking non-banking financial company (NBFC?ND) with a heartfelt mission: to ease the financial burden of education for students, parents, and schools. The company offers affordable loan solutions for students and supports educational institutions with loans meant for building infrastructure, working capital, and asset creation.

Shiksha Finance stands out for its blend of social impact and financial responsibility. It is backed by reputed investors such as Aspada Investment Company, Zephyr Peacock India Growth Fund, and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, which lends strong credibility to its mission. Even during the stress of the COVID-19 era, the company maintained its focus on serving its core customers, students, and schools, while maintaining healthy capital and a strong buffer for growth

Board Of Directors Of Shiksha Finance

Here’s the current list of the Board of Directors of Shiksha Financial Services India Private Limited, along with their designations, based on official and company-registration sources:

1. Pradeep Vasudeo Bhide – Director
2. Pankaj Raina – Nominee Director
3. Vadakkancherry Lakshminarayanan Ramakrishnan – Whole-Time Director 
4. Pushya Sitaraman – Director
5. Srinivasaraghavan Soundararajan – CFO 

Source: Shiksha Finance¹

Products Offered by Shiksha Financial Services India Private Limited

1. School Loans

Loans are designed to support educational institutions such as schools, vocational institutes, polytechnics, and select colleges in building infrastructure and enhancing facilities. This can include building classrooms, sanitation facilities (e.g., separate toilet blocks for girls), painting and renovation, teacher training, library setup, computer labs, smart classes, playgrounds, and school vehicles.

Loan Types:

• Unsecured loans: INR 1 lakh to INR 15 lakhs
• Secured loans: Up to INR 250 lakhs 

Tenure:

• Unsecured: 6 to 48 months
• Secured: Up to 84 months
• Simple and transparent process, easy EMI options, eligibility based on norms, and creditworthiness
• Basic KYC, loan agreements, promissory notes, post-dated cheques, and collateral documents, if applicable

2. Student Loans

Loans for parents to cover educational expenses such as school tuition fees, books, uniforms, bags, or shoes for their children.

Loan Amount: Up to INR 50,000 per child or actual cost, whichever is higher
Eligibility: Salaried or self-employed parents of school-going children, with a good loan repayment track record
Features: Clear and easy-to-understand process, flexible EMI plans, eligibility based on norms
Documentation: Application form, KYC documents, bank statements (last 12 months), ITR (if self-employed), salary slips (if salaried), and proof of school admission.

3. BC-MFI Loans (Business Correspondent – Microfinance Institution Loans)

In partnership with Federal Bank, Shiksha acts as a Business Correspondent to offer microfinance loans to underserved communities, particularly in rural areas, extending basic banking and credit services through this model.
Loan Amount: Starting from INR 30,000
Tenure: Typically around 24 months
Features: Hassle-free process, affordable interest rates, transparent terms without hidden costs
Eligibility: Based on household income and credit health
Documentation: Minimal, just KYC documents and the loan agreement.

4. Loan Against Property (LAP) – Small Ticket

A secured loan where customers pledge property to borrow funds. Branded as “Small Ticket – Loan Against Property,” this product targets MSMEs and other deserving customers. This move is part of Shiksha’s diversification strategy, especially following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic-and provides an alternative income stream beyond education financing.
Launched in April 2021, this product aligns with the growing Indian Loan Against Property market, which is projected to grow at over 14% CAGR. Shiksha’s strategy is also geared toward maintaining sustainability by diversifying beyond education loans.
According to company updates (via LinkedIn), their Loan Against Property portfolio (ST LAP) has crossed INR 36 crores in assets under management (AUM), serving over 1,000 customers.

Source: Shiksha Finance²

Additional Notes:

1. Shiksha initially focused on school loans and student loans but has now expanded into microfinance and loan-against-property products to enhance financial inclusion and institutional resilience.
2. The company has also partnered with Federal Bank since January 2022 to offer BC-MFI services, with the microfinance loan portfolio growing significantly—reportedly over INR 75 crores in AUM and serving more than 35,000 customers.

Shiksha Financial Services India Pvt Ltd. Customer Care

For any loan-related queries or support, the Shiksha Finance customer care team is here to assist you. You can reach them at +91 4443 0666 63 or email: info@shikshafinance.com

Key Strengths Of Shiksha Financial Services India Private Limited

1. Diversified Business Model

Shiksha started with education loans but has now expanded into Loan Against Property (LAP) and business correspondent (BC) operations for microfinance. This diversification helps balance its revenue sources and reduce dependence on a single product.

2. Strong Investor Backing

The company has well-known private equity investors like Lightrock (Aspada), Michael and Susan Dell Foundation (MSDF), and Zephyr Peacock India Growth Fund Ltd. Together, these investors hold 72% of the company’s equity, which provides both financial strength and credibility.

3. Expanding Network

As of March 31, 2025, Shiksha operates 32 branches across five states (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana), giving it a good regional presence in South and Western India.

4. New Subsidiary for Growth

In November 2023, Shiksha created a wholly owned subsidiary, Shiksha Business Services Pvt. Ltd., to expand its business correspondent activities. This became operational in April 2024 and will help the company scale faster in the microfinance space.

5. Improving Profitability

After losses in earlier years, Shiksha turned profitable with a PAT of INR 0.7 crore in FY2024 and INR 0.9 crore in FY2025 (Provisional). This shows improvement in financial health and better cost management.

Source: ICRA, Shiksha Finance³

Commitment to Financial Inclusion and Social Impact

Source: Annual Report, Shiksha Finance⁴

Shiksha Financial Services was built with a vision to bridge the financial gap for individuals and institutions that often remain outside the reach of traditional banks. Their primary focus is on families, schools, and small businesses that need timely credit but struggle to access it due to limited financial history or collateral. By offering simple and affordable loans, Shiksha ensures that education does not stop for children because of money, and schools can continue to improve their facilities even with limited resources.

Beyond just lending, the company’s approach reflects a strong commitment to financial inclusion. Shiksha serves customers at the bottom of the economic pyramid, such as low-income households and rural borrowers, who are typically underserved by the formal banking system. Their loans—whether for students, schools, microfinance, or property—are designed not only to meet immediate financial needs but also to empower communities, improve education standards, and create long-term social value. In this way, Shiksha Finance combines financial growth with meaningful social impact, ensuring that progress is shared across society.

References:

1. Shiksha Financial Services India Pvt Ltd, accessed from: https://shikshafinance.com/board/
2. Shiksha Financial Services India Pvt Ltd, accessed from: https://shikshafinance.com/products/
3. ICRA Ratings, accessed from: https://www.icra.in/Rating/ShowRationalReportFilePdf/135589
4. Shiksha Financial Services India Pvt Ltd, accessed from: https://shikshafinance.com/annual-reports/

Want to stay at the top of your finances? 

Join the community of 4 lakh+ investors and learn more about Grip Invest, the latest financial knick-knacks, and shenanigans in the world of investing.

Happy Investing!

Disclaimer - Investments in debt securities/municipal debt securities/securitised debt instruments are subject to risks, including delay and/ or default in payment. Read all the offer-related documents carefully. The investor is requested to take into consideration all the risk factors before the commencement of trading.
This communication is prepared by Grip Broking Private Limited (bearing SEBI Registration No. INZ000312836 and NSE ID 90319) and/or its affiliate/ group company(ies) (together referred to as “Grip”) and the contents of this disclaimer are applicable to this document and any and all written or oral communication(s) made by Grip or its directors, employees, associates, representatives and agents. This communication does not constitute advice relating to investing or otherwise dealing in securities and is not an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any securities. Grip does not guarantee or assure any return on investments and accepts no liability for the consequences of any actions taken based on the information provided. For more details, please visit www.gripinvest.in

Registered Address - 106, II F, New Asiatic Building, H Block, Connaught Place, New Delhi 110001