This study scrutinizes Small Finance Banks (SFBs) in India from 2019 to 2022, focusing on efficiency and their post-COVID-19 role in financial inclusion. It employs a two-stage Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) framework, revealing SFBs' resilience despite a brief 2020-21 dip due to lockdowns. The study offers valuable insights for niche segment expansion, expense management, and liquidity risk mitigation, recommending stock exchange listings and policy support to enhance the SFB ecosystem and their contribution to financial inclusion in India.
JEL: C24, C80, G29