PMJDY marks 11 years, boosts financial inclusion
New Delhi
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday celebrated 11 years of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), calling it a major step toward a self-reliant India. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for launching the scheme, describing it as the world’s largest financial inclusion initiative, aimed at connecting women, farmers, and underserved communities to formal banking.
HM Shah noted that over 56 crore beneficiaries, nearly 56 percent of them women, now directly access government schemes including banking, insurance, and pensions. The scheme has empowered citizens to manage their finances and contribute to the nation’s socio-economic growth.
Prime Minister Modi said PMJDY enhanced dignity and allowed people to “script their own destiny,” while Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted the scheme’s role in Direct Benefit Transfers, credit provision, and promoting savings and investments. Over 38 crore RuPay cards have been issued, with digital transactions rising to 22,198 crore in 2024–25, up from 67 crore transactions in FY 2017–18 to 93.85 crore in FY 2024–25.
Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said nationwide saturation drives are ongoing until September 30 to further expand coverage. At least one camp will be held in each of the 2.7 lakh gram panchayats, enabling account opening, insurance enrolment, and re-KYC updates.
Government data shows total deposit balances under PMJDY have reached Rs 2,67,756 crore, with the number of accounts tripling and total deposits growing approximately 12 times since inception. Over 67 percent of accounts are in rural or semi-urban areas, reflecting the scheme’s reach and impact on financial empowerment across the country.