New Delhi, Aug 27: Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as one of his very first programmes on 28th August 2014, the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) has completed 12 years. These 12 years of PMJDY have witnessed a transformation in India’s financial landscape, and the scheme has become a torchbearer for financial inclusion worldwide. As the world’s largest financial inclusion initiative, PMJDY continues to redefine access to banking for all Indians.
Expanding Financial Inclusion:
The Ministry of Finance remains committed to supporting marginalised and economically disadvantaged sectors through robust financial inclusion schemes and outreach. PMJDY ensures that every unbanked adult has access to a basic bank account—with no minimum balance requirement 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.
PMJDY accounts have also played a pivotal role in extending life and accident insurance to millions of workers in the unorganised sector, through Jan Suraksha schemes, viz. PM Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and PM Suraksha Bima Yojana.
On the occasion, Union Minister of State for Finance, Shri Pankaj Chaudhary, said, “On 28th August 2014, the Hon’ble Prime Minister inaugurated the National Mission on Financial Inclusion, popularly known as Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY). Today, I am happy that Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) is celebrating its 12th anniversary. We should not see PMJDY just in the light of the opening of more than 59 crore accounts, garnering a deposit balance of ₹3.17 lakh crore, or the issuance of 41.29 crore free-of-cost RuPay cards, but in its transformation of the banking and financial landscape of the country, where the delivery of financial services to the last person in society—the poorest of the poor—has been made possible without delay or the involvement of middlemen.”
Under PMJDY, 78% of the accounts have been opened in rural or semi-urban areas, and approximately 56% of accounts are owned by women, depicting the priority of the scheme, which was to bring the underprivileged living in far-flung areas of the country into the formal financial sector.
PMJDY has empowered millions, particularly the marginalized sections, to access banking and financial services to improve their socio-economic conditions. Account ownership has enabled the common man to have insurance and pension coverage. Through relentless saturation drives across every state and district, we have moved towards near-universal coverage of bank accounts and steadily widened the reach of insurance and pension schemes to those who need them most.
On the occasion of the 12th anniversary, I appreciate the efforts of bankers and business correspondents deployed throughout the country in taking the PMJDY scheme to the common man and making it a grand success.”
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 the direct delivery of financial assistance. Through JAM, the government has successfully transferred welfare benefits directly into the bank accounts of the underprivileged, eliminating intermediaries and delays.
Milestones and Achievements:
a. PMJDY Accounts: 59.09 crore (As on 19th August ’26)
As on 19th August ’26, the total number of PMJDY accounts stands at 59.09 crore; 55.7% (32.92 crore) of Jan Dhan account holders are women, and 77.8% (45.95 crore) of Jan Dhan accounts are in rural and semi-urban areas.
b. Deposits under PMJDY Accounts – ₹3.17 lakh crore (As on 19th August ’26)
Total deposit balances under PMJDY accounts stand at ₹3,16,514 crore. Deposits have increased about 12.8 times, while the number of accounts has increased 2.3 times in the last 12 years (Aug ’26/Aug ’15).
c. Average Deposit per PMJDY Account – ₹5,356 (As on 19th August ’26)
The average deposit per account is ₹5,356 as on 19.08.2026. The average deposit per account has increased 3.4 times in the last 12 years (Aug ’26/Aug ’15). The increase in the average deposit is another indication of the increased usage of accounts and the inculcation of saving habits among account holders.
d. RuPay Cards Issued to PMJDY Account Holders: 41.29 crore (As on 19th August ’26)
41.29 crore RuPay cards have been issued to PMJDY account holders. The number and usage of RuPay cards have increased over time.
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 continues to be the first step towards financial inclusion, with further progress being achieved by enabling savings and credit access for those previously excluded from formal finance. With visible saving patterns, account holders are now eligible for loans, including MUDRA loans, empowering individuals to grow their incomes and build financial resilience.
As PMJDY enters its 13th 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 well-being.
