Microfinance provides financial services like loans to low-income and self-employed individuals who traditionally lack access to banks. It helps meet personal emergencies as well as life events like weddings or childbirth. Major microfinance institutions in India include SKS, Share Microfinance, and Spandana Sphoorty. While banks charge interest rates from 10-12%, microfinance institutions charge much higher rates around 26%. However, the state government passed an ordinance removing interest rate limits. Better regulation is needed to provide affordable loans and prevent over-lending issues faced by some microfinance clients.