From Cash to Code: Digital Wallets as a Pathway to Financial Autonomy among Rural Women in Karnataka

Digital financial technologies are transforming access to money, savings, and credit in India’s rural economy. Among these innovations, digital wallets—such as PhonePe, Google Pay, and Paytm—are redefining women’s economic participation by bridging gaps of distance, time, and dependence. This study explores the role of digital wallets in fostering financial autonomy among rural women in Karnataka, one of India’s leading states in fintech adoption. Using a structured questionnaire administered to 250 women respondents across four districts—Tumakuru, Chikkamagaluru, Mandya, and Belagavi—the research assesses awareness, adoption, usage, and empowerment outcomes. The findings reveal that while 65.2% of respondents actively use digital wallets, the depth of empowerment depends on education, digital literacy, and control over devices. Statistical analysis confirms a strong positive correlation between frequency of wallet usage and financial autonomy index (r = 0.63, p < 0.01). The study concludes that digital wallets not only enable convenient transactions but also enhance women’s agency, independence, and confidence in financial decision-making. However, barriers such as cyber insecurity, limited literacy, and gendered technology control remain persistent. Policy implications emphasize gender-sensitive digital literacy, local-language fintech interfaces, and SHG-based digital capacity building.