The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), which is the biggest programme to include people in the financial system, has now reached its 11th year. Over 56 crore bank accounts have been opened under this scheme, and the total deposits have gone past ₹2.68 lakh crore, according to the finance ministry on Thursday.
On August 28, 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced a programme that has helped millions of poor people get access to formal bank accounts. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said having bank accounts for everyone helps the poor and those who are not well-off take part in the formal economy and get benefits from available opportunities. She said that 67 pc of the accounts were opened in rural and semi-urban areas, and women own 56 pc of those accounts.
“PMJDY has been a key channel for delivering benefits under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), providing credit facilities, social security and enhancing savings and investments,” Sitharaman said. She added that over 38 crore RuPay debit cards have been issued to account holders, boosting digital transactions.
Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary called PMJDY one of the most successful financial inclusion programmes in the world. He explained that it is focused on giving people "dignity, empowerment, and opportunity".
He also mentioned that the current saturation campaign, which is happening in 2.7 lakh gram panchayats until September 30, is meant to make sure every eligible person has a Jan Dhan account and can access insurance and pension schemes. Official data shows that deposits in Jan Dhan accounts have gone up about 12 times in the last ten years.
The average money in each account has also increased a lot, reaching more than ₹4,768. The JAM (Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile) system, with PMJDY as its main part, has helped send ₹6.9 lakh crore to people's bank accounts just in 2024-25 through different direct benefit transfer programmes.
Officials stated that the PMJDY scheme has helped people develop better saving habits, made it easier for them to get loans like Mudra loans, and speeded up the use of digital payment methods such as UPI and RuPay cards. They said the scheme remains a key part of promoting inclusive growth and helping people become more economically independent.
Also Read: PM Modi to launch projects worth ₹5,400 cr in Gujarat
Follow us
