THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, August 28: Over the past eleven years, the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 28, 2014, has brought a massive shift in financial inclusion, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on the scheme’s anniversary.
Highlighting its reach, she noted that more than 56 crore bank accounts have been opened under the programme, with 67% belonging to rural or semi-urban residents and 56% to women—evidence of how millions from disadvantaged backgrounds have been connected to the formal banking network.
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Sitharaman emphasised that PMJDY has become a vital tool for empowering citizens by enabling access to banking services, encouraging savings and investments, and extending credit and social security.
The scheme has also served as a backbone for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), ensuring government welfare funds reach beneficiaries efficiently.
According to her, Jan Dhan accounts today hold deposits worth ₹2.68 lakh crore, while over 38 crore RuPay cards have been distributed free of charge, driving digital transactions and expanding financial participation across the country.
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She described financial inclusion as an essential driver of economic growth, enabling the poor and marginalised to engage fully in economic opportunities.
