The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 28th August 2014, now marks 11 years of transformative impact in India's financial landscape. As the world’s largest financial inclusion initiative, PMJDY continues to redefine access to banking for millions of underserved citizens.

On this occasion, Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, in a message, said, “Financial inclusion is a key driver of economic growth and development. Universal access to bank accounts enables the poor and marginalised to participate fully in the formal economy and benefit from its opportunities.”

“PMJDY has been one of the major channels for delivering benefits under various schemes using Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), providing credit facilities, social security, and enhancing savings and investments,” the Union Finance Minister said.

“Over the last 11 years, more than 56 crore Jan Dhan accounts have been opened, garnering a total deposit balance of Rs. 2.68 lakh crore. More than 38 crore free-of-cost RuPay cards have been issued, facilitating digital transactions,” Smt. Sitharaman said.

“It is noteworthy that under PMJDY, 67% of the accounts are opened in rural or semi-urban areas, and 56% of the accounts are opened by women, indicating how underprivileged individuals living in far-flung areas of the country have been brought into the formal financial sector,” the Union Finance Minister said.

In his message on the occasion, Union Minister of State for Finance Shri Pankaj Chaudhary, said, “PMJDY has been one of the most successful financial inclusion initiatives not only in the country but in the whole world. The Jan Dhan Yojana is about dignity, empowerment and opportunity.”

“The Prime Minister, in his 2021 Independence Day speech, announced that every household should have a bank account and every adult should have insurance and pension coverage. With the continuous efforts in this direction through various saturation drives carried out across the country, we have achieved near saturation in bank accounts and there has been continuous increase in insurance and pension coverage across the country,” Sh. Pankaj Chaudhary said.

“We have launched a saturation campaign where at least one camp will be held in each of the 2.7 lakh GPs in the country where eligible persons can open PMJDY accounts, enrol under Jansuraksha schemes and also do their re-KYC and update nominations in their Bank accounts. Our effort is to bring the financial services to the doorsteps of the common man. While the saturation drive will have culmination on 30th September, the initial reports have been encouraging and I urge all of you to derive full benefits from this campaign,” MoS Finance said.

“With the support of all stake-holders, banks, insurance companies and state Governments, we are moving towards a more financially inclusive society and PMJDY would always be remembered as a game changer for financial inclusion in the country. Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana not only serves as an important example of Governance in Mission Mode but also demonstrates what a Government can achieve if it is committed to the welfare of the people,” Sh. Pankaj Chaudhary said.

Expanding Financial Inclusion:

The Ministry of Finance remains committed to supporting marginalised and economically disadvantaged sections through robust financial inclusion strategies. PMJDY ensures that every unbanked adult has access to a basic bank account—with zero balance requirements and no maintenance charges.

Each account comes with a free RuPay debit card, offering an accident insurance cover of ₹2 lakh, encouraging digital transactions and financial security. Account holders are also eligible for an overdraft facility of up to ₹10,000, providing a safety net during emergencies.

Features of PMJDY accounts:

• There is no restriction of balances or amount of transactions in a fully KYC compliant PMJDY accounts. It is a BSBD account. The following free of cost facilities provided to PMJDY account holders:
• The deposit of cash at bank branch as well as ATMs/CDMs.
• Receipt/credit of money through any electronic channel or by means of deposit /collection of cheques drawn by Central/State Government agencies and departments.
• No limit on number and value of deposits that can be made in a month.
• Minimum of four free withdrawals in a month, including ATM withdrawals at any ATM including Metro ATMs. Subsequent withdrawals may be charged by Banks.
• Free RuPay debit card with inbuilt accident insurance coverage of Rs. 2 lakh.

More than a decade of transformation:

Over the past 11 years, PMJDY has catalyzed both transformational and directional change, strengthening the banking ecosystem to serve even the poorest and most remote citizens. It has become a cornerstone for Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT), enabling transparent, efficient, and corruption-free delivery of government subsidies and payments.

PMJDY accounts have also played a pivotal role in extending life and accident insurance to millions of workers in the unorganized sector, through schemes like Jan Suraksha Schemes- Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana.

The JAM Trinity: A Game-Changer:

The Jan-Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) trinity, with PMJDY at its core, has proven to be a diversion-proof mechanism for subsidy delivery. Through JAM, the government has successfully transferred welfare benefits directly into the bank accounts of the underprivileged, eliminating intermediaries and delays. During financial year 2024-25 a total of Rs. 6.9 lakh crore was credited to bank accounts under various DBT schemes.

Financial Inclusion schemes saturation campaign (01.07.2025 - 30.09.2025): Banks are organizing camps from 1st July, 2025 to 30th September, 2025 to update KYC details, open new accounts, and promote micro-insurance and pension schemes. Continued emphasis is being laid on educating account holders to maximize the use of banking services and prevent dormancy. Banks are also making efforts to reduce inoperative accounts under PMJDY by contacting account holders. Since the launch of the campaign on 1st July 2025, a total of 1,77,102 camps have been conducted across various districts to facilitate beneficiary enrolment under key schemes and promote financial literacy.

Milestones and Achievements:

1. PMJDY Accounts: 56.16 crore (As on 13^th August’25)

As on 13th August 2025, total number of PMJDY Accounts have reached 56.16 crore; 55.7% (31.31 crore) Jan-Dhan account holders are women and 66.7% (37.48 crore) Jan Dhan accounts are in rural and semi-urban areas

2. Deposits under PMJDY accounts – 2.68 Lakh Crore (As on 13^th August’25)

Total deposit balances under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) accounts have reached ₹2,67,756 crore. While the number of accounts has increased three-fold, the total deposits have grown by approximately 12 times. (Aug’25 / Aug’15)

3. Average Deposit per PMJDY account – Rs 4768 (As on 13^th August’25)

Average deposit per account is Rs.4,768 as on 13.08.2025. The average deposit per account has increased by 3.7 times compared to August 2015. Increase in average deposit is another indication of increased usage of accounts and inculcation of saving habit among account holders

4. RuPay Card issued to PMJDY account holders: 38.68 crore (As on 13^th August’25)

38.68 crore RuPay cards have been issued to PMJDY accountholders: Number of RuPay cards & their usage has increased over time.

With the issue of over 38.68 crore RuPay debit cards under PMJDY, installation of 1.11 crore PoS/mPoS machines and the introduction of mobile based payment systems like UPI, the total number of digital transactions have gone up from 2,338 crore in FY 2018-19 to 22,198 crore in FY 2024-25. The total number of UPI financial transactions have increased from 535 crore in FY 2018-19 to 18,587 crore in FY 2024-25. Similarly, total number of RuPay card transactions at PoS & e-commerce have increased from 67 crore in FY 2017-18 to 93.85 crore in FY 2024-25.

PMJDY’s success is driven by its mission-mode approach, regulatory backing, public-private partnerships, and the integration of digital public infrastructure like Aadhaar for biometric verification.

It has enabled savings and credit access for those previously excluded from formal finance. With visible saving patterns, account holders are also availing loans, including Mudra loans thereby empowering individuals to grow their incomes and build financial resilience.

As PMJDY enters its 12th year, it continues to be a beacon of inclusive growth, digital innovation, and economic empowerment. Its enduring success reflects India’s commitment to ensuring that no citizen is left behind in the journey towards financial independence.

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