Over 56 crore Jan Dhan accounts opened in 11 years, deposits cross ₹2.68 lakh crore mark, says FM

The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) saw opening of more than 56 crore Jan Dhan accounts over the last 11 years, garnering a total deposit balance of ₹2.68 lakh crore, according to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

“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,” Sitharaman said in a statement, marking 11 years of PMJDY.

PMJDY was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 28, 2014.

“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.

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, Sitharaman added.

Union Minister of State for Finance 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,” Chaudhary added.

“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,” the 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,” Chaudhary said.

The Ministry of Finance said it 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,” said the government.

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

There is no restriction of balances or amount of transactions in a fully KYC compliant PMJDY accounts, as per the ministry.

During the financial year 2024-25 a total of ₹6.9 lakh crore was credited to bank accounts under various DBT (direct benefit transfer) schemes.