The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), the world’s largest financial inclusion programme, has completed 11 years, with more than 56 crore bank accounts opened under the scheme and deposits crossing ₹2.68 lakh crore, the finance ministry said on Thursday.
In a post on X, PM Modi wrote, “When the last mile is financially connected, the entire nation moves forward together. That is exactly what the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana achieved. It enhanced dignity and gave people the power to script their own destiny. 11YearsOfJanDhan.”
He also shared a post from ‘MyGovIndia’ highlighting the transformative impact of the scheme.
The post read, “Jan Dhan: More Than Accounts, It’s Empowerment. Eleven years ago, PM Narendra Modi gave Bharat a promise that no poor family would remain outside the world of banking. Jan Dhan was never just about accounts; it was about opening doors for a mother to save with dignity, for a farmer to receive support without middlemen, and for a villager to feel part of the nation’s growth. PM Modi’s vision turned financial inclusion into a reality, bringing hope into every home and confidence into every life.”
The accompanying visuals showed how PM Jan Dhan helped people open bank accounts and how it supported the growth of their businesses.
Launched on August 28, 2014 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the scheme has transformed access to formal banking for millions of underprivileged citizens. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said universal access to bank accounts enables the poor and marginalised to participate in the formal economy and benefit from opportunities. She noted that 67 per cent of accounts have been opened in rural and semi-urban areas, while women own 56 per cent of them.
“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 described PMJDY as one of the most successful financial inclusion initiatives globally, saying it was about “dignity, empowerment and opportunity.” He said the ongoing saturation campaign, under which camps are being held in 2.7 lakh gram panchayats till September 30, aims to ensure every eligible person has a Jan Dhan account and access to insurance and pension schemes.
According to official data, deposits in Jan Dhan accounts have risen nearly 12-fold in a decade, while the average balance per account has more than tripled to ₹4,768. The JAM (Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile) trinity, with PMJDY at its core, has facilitated the transfer of ₹6.9 lakh crore into beneficiaries’ accounts in 2024-25 alone under various DBT schemes.
Officials said PMJDY has strengthened the savings habit, enabled access to credit including Mudra loans, and accelerated digital payments through UPI and RuPay cards. The scheme, they said, continues to be a cornerstone of inclusive growth and economic empowerment.