UNIFIED LENDING INTERFACE(ULI): ENHANCING EFFICIENCY AND ACCESSIBILITY IN DIGITAL FINANCE

India has witnessed technological advancement and increasing adoption of artificial intelligence in the last decade. It has increased efficiency, productivity, quality, inclusivity, and competitiveness in financial services, especially in digital lending. However, there have been unforeseen repercussions as a result of increased dependency on third-party lending service providers, including misselling to financially unaware customers, concerns about compromised data security, unethical business operations, and illegal practices, while digital lendings current share of total credit in the financial system is inadequate to jeopardize financial stability, its rapid growth has significant stability implications. It is projected that increased access to digital financial services, technological advancements, and cost-effective business models would result in a parabolic rise in the share of digital lending in total credit.The bigger concern here is safeguarding customers from widespread unethical financial Activities and maintaining orderly growth. As evidenced by the pandemic-driven rise of digital lending, unrestricted extension of financial services to retail customers is vulnerable to a slew of conduct and governance challenges. The mushrooming rise of technology companies that extend and support financial services has made the regulatory function more difficult. Given the ease of scalability, anonymity, and velocity enabled by technology, it has become critical to handle existing and potential dangers in the digital lending ecosystem while not inhibiting innovation.ULI will prove a safeguard for customers who are not very aware of digital frauds and it will also protect the customers from the cobweb of higher interest rates. The Paper presents an eagle view of the digital lending landscape and the significant importance of ULI. The paper also reveals why ULI is needed despitethe presence of hundreds of financial, non-banking financial institutions in India.

The objective of the Study:

1.      To examine the present status of the Digital lending market in India.

2.      To examine the need for Unified lending interface (ULI) in India.