28 AUG 2025, New Delhi
Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), the world’s largest financial inclusion scheme, has completed 11 years today. Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 28 August 2014, the scheme has brought crores of poor families into the banking system.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that over 56 crore Jan Dhan accounts have been opened so far with deposits of ₹2.68 lakh crore. She added that 67% of the accounts are in rural and semi-urban areas and 56% belong to women, showing how the scheme has empowered the poor and underprivileged.
Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary called PMJDY “a symbol of dignity, empowerment and opportunity” and said it is one of the most successful financial inclusion programs in the world.
Under PMJDY, account holders get zero-balance savings accounts, free RuPay debit cards with accident insurance cover of ₹2 lakh, and overdraft facilities up to ₹10,000. The scheme also supports Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT), ensuring subsidies reach beneficiaries directly without middlemen.
In the past 11 years:
- 56.16 crore accounts opened
- ₹2.68 lakh crore deposits
- 38.6 crore RuPay cards issued
- ₹6.9 lakh crore transferred via DBT in 2024-25
The government is currently running a nationwide saturation drive (July–Sept 2025) to expand Jan Dhan accounts, insurance, and pension coverage.
PMJDY has become the backbone of India’s JAM Trinity (Jan Dhan–Aadhaar–Mobile) and is considered a game changer in making India a more financially inclusive society.
Source: PIB
